I recently enjoyed the audiobook version of Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains. Yes, I did the audiobook version. Sometimes while I was driving. At double playback speed. Yes, I get the irony…or hypocrisy? In The Shallows, Mr. Carr chronicles the history of various ways we have dessimated information …Read More
“The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains” by Nicholas Carr (Book Recommendation)
Jun 11, 2011
“The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us” (Book Recommendation)
May 12, 2011
I recently completed the audiobook version of The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us is by scholars and professors Christopher Chabris, Ph.D. and Daniel Simons, Ph.D. As the name implies, they describe the results and implications of fascinating research on the fallibility and shortcomings of human perception, attention, and memory. They introduce concepts such as “change …Read More
Levels of Learning
Apr 27, 2011
Many children, adolescents, and college students who come to the ApaCenter for help with learning have difficulty remembering the things they study. For some, lots of repetition can be helpful. For others, information into context and making is meaningful is the most helpful. Typically, repetition can allow us to learn and memorize simple information such …Read More
Helping Your Child Succeed In School IV: Successful Study Habits
Nov 9, 2010
What helps kids best learn information when they study for school? The answer might be different than you think. A recent article in the New York Times reviewed research literature on what kinds of study habits help our brains retain most of the information we are learning. This is the fourth installment in a series of …Read More
Preserving Our Memories?
May 7, 2010
A while back, I listened to the unabridged audiobook by Jonah Lehrer Proust Was a Neuroscientist. I have to say this was one of the densest books that I have ever read (er, listened to). Lehrer is a graduate of Columbia University, has studied at Oxford as a Rhode Scholar, and has worked under a famous …Read More
That Mind-Body Connection
Mar 1, 2010
I listened to an NPR story today from Michelle Trudeau entitled “The Aging Brain Is Less Quick, But More Shrewd”: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124118077 In one part of the story, Trudeau cited some research from neuroscientist Art Kramer of the University of Illinois that caught my attention. In a study, Dr. Kramer found that “aging couch potatoes” who …Read More
The Brady Bunch, Football, and Head Injuries
Feb 21, 2010
You are probably saying to yourself, “I see how the last two things are tied together, but what about the Brady Bunch?” I will tie these together – I promise! Now, I probably date myself by bringing up the Brady Bunch, but alas, I must admit…I did watch the Brady Bunch when I was young …Read More
Doodling Might Aid Memory Recall
Mar 3, 2009
A new study published in the most recent issue of the Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology suggests that doodling can aid in memory recall. In the study, researchers had 40 participants listen to a 2.5 minute telephone conversation. Half of these participants were asked to shade in some shapes that had already been drawn, while …Read More
Gingko Might Not Be As Helpful As Once Thought
Feb 11, 2009
For many years Gingko has been touted as a brain booster. In a trial published by the American Medical Association in November 2008, the results suggest that Gingko may not be helpful as once thought to help prevent dementia in an age group of 75+. This was part of the largest gingko / dementia trial …Read More