Neurofeedback on the Brain

Just for Fun: Turn Your Brain to Mush

Dr. Karen — 2009-05-01T18:19:00-04:00

I had to share this! I saw it another blog -- This Old Brain -- and knew it was my responsibility to share with you some excellent strategies for Turning Your Brain into Mush. Of course, I usually try to share strategies for the Proper Care and Feeding of your brain. But I recognize that there may be some people out there who are determined to drive their brains into...well...mush. None of MY readers, of course, but perhaps people you know. People you can see everyday working hard to do the most damage to their brains that they possibly can. Well, now you can help them! Just share this link with them and they're good to go! On the other hand, if they decide that's not working out so well for them...

The Universe and the Brain: Are They So Very Different?

Dr. Karen — 2009-01-05T19:53:00-05:00

Someone on one of my neurofeedback forums shared this beautiful not-quite-6-minute video of the universe from large to small: Sweet View.

The best bit for those of us intrigued by the brain is at the very end, so do stay tuned throughout....

Nonlinear complexity theorists tell us that the same principles are visible from every "size" of system in our universe - which is what makes this little video so impressive. I'd love to frame that last shot for my office!

Don't know what I'm talking about?

That's your sign you need to go watch -- then come back and share what you thought!

Just for Fun: 100 Fascinating Facts You Never Knew About the Human Brain

Dr. Karen — 2009-01-02T12:10:00-05:00

Alisa Miller alerted me to her fun list of 100 Fascinating Facts about the Brain -- what a great collection of all sorts of tidbits about the brain!

Once I saw it, I wanted to share it with all of you --

Feel free to share -- what's your favorite factoid? The most surprising? The hardest to believe?

The one that caught my attention today was:

#47: Decision-making. Women tend to take longer to make a decision, but are more likely to stick with the decision, compared to men, who are more likely to change their mind after making a decision.

This makes total sense to me after a holiday period of trying to decide on a new dishwasher - I'm the researcher, my husband is the "let's just get one!" half of the team.

Looking forward to hearing what catches your attention in this fabulous list!

Just for Fun+: Exercise Your Brain and Donate to the Hungry

Dr. Karen — 2007-12-04T18:21:00-05:00

This is an excerpt from Daphne Gray-Grant's newsletter Power Writing. I thought it was such a great idea I wanted to share it with as many people as possible.

She's telling us about an on-line self-test of your vocabulary. It's a great idea because:
(1) using the language networks in your brain strengthens them;
(2) exercising your brain in general strengthens it, and
(3) for every word you get right, 20 grains of rice are donated to the United Nations' World Food Program.

Practice a lot ;-)

So…Here's her description:

All of this is a pep-talk designed to persuade you to try a new, fr'ee vocabulary website launched this October by U.S. computer programmer John Breen. Basically an on-line vocabulary test, much like the SAT, it presents you with a series of multiple choice definitions. Your answer to each question is scored immediately and you move on to the next one. (You can set options so that when you leave your computer the site “remembers” your score for the next time.)

Think you're pretty smart already? (Or worried about not being smart enough?) No worries! The site, which is called FreeRice, automatically adjusts to your vocabulary level. When you get a word wrong, the next word provided is from an easier level. When you get three consecutive words right, you move to a higher degree of difficulty. (Experts say that this constant fine-tuning of levels is the best way to ensure you are learning and not just playing a game.) FreeRice has 50 levels in total, but staff say it's rare for people to get past level 48. Go ahead; knock yourself out.

But you're probably wondering about the site's odd name. And therein lies the best news of all. Each time you get a word right, the site's sponsors donate enough money to pay for 20 grains of rice for the United Nations' World Food Program. That may sound like a pitifully small amount, but the site has already raised more than five billion grains of rice in less than two months.

So you can build your vocabulary, become a better writer, have fun and help reduce world hunger – all at the same time. How great is that?

I'm up to 2020 grains today -- how about you?

The Beauty of the Brain: Brain Painting with EEG - Updated

Dr. Karen — 2007-11-08T14:36:00-05:00

I've come across a site with the most gorgeous images of brain activity I've ever seen. And these aren't just inspired works of art, they are actually images derived from EEG activity. Here's just a couple to inspire you to go and look at more....

Just for Fun: The Gratitude Dance!

Dr. Karen — 2007-09-29T14:13:00-04:00

This is a fun little video of 2.5+ minutes that carries a serious message about taking the time to appreciate the good in your life. Once I saw it, I just wanted to share it! And imagine the joy if everyone were doing it -- now, that's a wonderful form of social contagion!

Just for Fun: Need to Keep Your Thoughts Private?

Dr. Karen — 2007-02-02T19:23:00-05:00

You may have heard about the practice of using aluminum foil as a way to block the reading of your brain waves by nefarious technologies. But does it work?...... Here's a study from MIT that thoroughly explores that question:

Just for Fun: The Threat of Positive Psychology

Dr. Karen — 2007-01-13T12:44:00-05:00

I came across this article Psychology Returns to Old Unhappy Roots on the website The Spoof. While it is a funny spoof on what might happen if...

Just for Fun: Date-a-Brain!

Dr. Karen — 2006-12-24T15:16:00-05:00

I came across a great little video describing the different evolutionary layers of the brain. It's from a site called Global Mind-Shift, which looks like a promising site for those interested in the need and processes for creating a shift in how we all think and feel and act to create a better world.

Just for Fun: Brain Art!

Dr. Karen — 2006-09-29T18:32:00-04:00

Reading the Toronto Star this past weekend, I was delighted to come across "Brain Art"!