Posts Tagged → learning
The brain is capable of perceiving more than previously thought
Most people have had the experience of feeling as though they were being watched without actually seeing the person watching them. A new study published in the journal Psychological Science suggests that the full depth of brain potential may explain this phenomenon.
An international group of researchers found that the human brain can pay attention to something and remember aspects of it later without actually being aware that it was present in the moment.
It may seem counterintuitive that the mind can pay attention to an object without even being consciously aware of it, but the researchers said that this characteristic of brain potential likely evolved to help the early ancestors of the human race identify and differentiate between potentially threatening and beneficial objects more quickly.
"We need to be able to direct attention to objects of potential interest even before we have become aware of those objects," said Po-Jang Hsieh, who led the investigation.
The findings help underscore author and philosopher Ilchi Lee's points about the extent of brain potential, and support his idea that through rigorous mental exercise, it may be possible to develop these parts of the mind that most people don't even know they have.
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Research uncovers importance of mental flexibility
The degree of a person's mental flexibility may be strong predictor of their ability to learn and of their brain potential, according to a recent study from a group of researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
The researchers said that everyone has different degree of mental flexibility. Those whose brains are more plastic may be better able to adapt to and process new information.
For the study, the researchers took brain imaging scans of participants while they completed tasks that involved processing various volumes of information. Individuals whose brain regions were more interconnected – a measure of flexibility – performed better on the tasks.
The findings could have major implications for learning and mental development. A person's brain flexibility is not set. There are processes through which individuals may be able to improve their ability to adapt to new experiences.
For example, Ilchi Lee says that Brain Education programs can help a person clear their brains of less important thoughts to make room for deeper thinking. This may also improve a person's mental flexibility.
