Applied Brain Research

There is a lot of brain research that is now being popularized and presented in ways that are useful to people that aren’t science researchers in the field.

Sharpbrains is a new company dedicated to brain fitness research and marketing. They have published a book on the brain fitness market that is available from their Web site.

Who wouldn’t want to have a Sharp brain? Or maybe not a Sharp brain but a unique mind that they make the most of. Of course we all have one but who couldn’t benefit from understanding the brain more with practical tips on how to make use of that increased understanding for achieving results in our projects?

Some other brain research resources that have caught my attention recently:

Brain Rules

– EXERCISE | Rule #1: Exercise boosts brain power.

– SURVIVAL | Rule #2: The human brain evolved, too.

– WIRING | Rule #3: Every brain is wired differently.

– ATTENTION | Rule #4: We don’t pay attention to boring things.

– SHORT-TERM MEMORY | Rule #5: Repeat to remember.

– LONG-TERM MEMORY | Rule #6: Remember to repeat.

– SLEEP | Rule #7: Sleep well, think well.

– STRESS | Rule #8: Stressed brains don’t learn the same way.

– SENSORY INTEGRATION | Rule #9: Stimulate more of the senses.

– VISION | Rule #10: Vision trumps all other senses.

– GENDER | Rule #11: Male and female brains are different.

– EXPLORATION | Rule #12: We are powerful and natural explorers.

Pragmatic Thinking and Learning

A pragmatic approach to thinking and learning based on information on our brain’s architecture and wiring. Andy Hunt’s book gives a programmer’s perspective on how to learn more efficiently to progress from a novice to expert through the 5 stage Dreyfuss model.

1. Novice

2. Advanced Beginners

3. Competent

4. Proficient

5. Expert

Brain that changes itself

Stories of personal triumph from the frontiers of brain science. The discovery of neuroplasticity, that our thoughts can change the structure and function of our brains, even into old age lends some credence to the power of positive thinking.

Mind Hacks: Tips and Tricks for using your Brain

Neuroscience and psychology tricks discussed and perhaps explained. Some examples of mind hacks:

– Release Eye Fixations for Faster Reactions

– See Movement When All is Still

– Feel the Presence and Loss of Attention

– Detect Sounds on the Margins of Certainty

– Mold Your Body Schema

– Test Your Handedness

– See a Person in Moving Lights

– Make Events Understandable as Cause-and-Effect

– Boost Memory by Using Context

– Understand Detail and the Limits of Attention

Steven Johnson, author of “Mind Wide Open” writes in his foreword to the book, “These hacks amaze because they reveal the brain’s hidden logic; they shed light on the cheats and shortcuts and latent assumptions our brains make about the world.”

Whole New Mind

Daniel Pink’s book promotes that right brain creativity is becoming more valuable and appreciated. The cover actually says that right brainers will rule the future.

Scott Berkun

Scott, the author of “Myths of Innovation”, “Secrets of a Public Speaker” and “Making Things Happen” (all excellent books), lauds Brain Rules as the best book he has read this year and while sympathetic to Daniel Pink’s premise, he is critical of the lack of supporting material in a Whole New Mind.

If you are interested in this type of stuff or know someone who is, there will be more on my blogs about how brain research information can help with your projects. For those of you that are on the twitterverse and like to get information as it happens you can also follow me personally @glenesharp or professionally @sinnosol.