PERDEV

• Brain


  • Like an incredible living machine
  • Two-fist-sized organ weighing an average of 3 pounds
  • Responsible for the overall functioning of our body
  • Functions as a command center that directs the action happening physiologically
  • Serves as the critical information processing unit
  • Capsule of our consciousness, what we know, and our memories
  • Core information-processing unit in the body, makes learning possible
  • Main organ responsible for performing tasks like reading, writing, and computing numbers
• Working memory


  • Unique system in the brain that makes it possible to access the stored information for use in specific activities
  • Because of its critical role in your learning and development, caring for it and nurturing its gifts is imperative
• Parts of the brain

  • Hindbrain
  • Midbrain
  • Forebrain
• Hindbrain


  • Responsible for our instinctive, autonomic behavior and serves survival functions
  • Medulla controls vital functions like respiration, blood circulation, digestion, and heart rate
  • Cerebellum regulates posture, balance, and muscular coordination
  • Pons bridges medulla and other parts of the brain, regulates movement, sleep, and arousal
  • Reticular activating system regulates attention, movement, sleep, waking, and reflexes
• Midbrain


  • Conduction and switching center of the brain that transpires responses like muscle movements and auditory and visual system processing
  • Problems with auditory or visual processing may result in specific learning disabilities like dyslexia and central auditory processing disorder
• Forebrain


  • In charge of our intellectual activity and consciousness
  • Cerebrum acts as the "executive center" of the brain, responsible for remembering, learning, thinking, and taking charge of language and emotion
  • Thalamus relays sensory information
  • Hypothalamus secreted hormones and controls physiological functions like temperature, hunger, and thirst
  • Corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres
  • Pituitary gland is the master gland that secreted hormone and controls the endocrine system
• Numerous types of research came about to enlighten us—one remarkable feat was the work of brain surgeon and researchers Joseph Bogen (1926-2005) and Roger Wolcott Sperry (1913-1994), who investigated the brain's function and found that there are different ways of processing information in the two hemispheres of the brain, each having distinct abilities to handle different mental tasks

  
• They researched patients who underwent split-brain operations that reduced epileptic seizure attacks
• Cerebrum


  • Large part of the brain responsible for language and thinking
  • Known as the seat of complex thought
  • Has a critical fissure (looking like a valley) that seemingly divides the cerebrum in half
  • The halves are considered two hemispheres with distinct intellectual and emotional functions

  
• Left Hemisphere


  • Controls right side of the body
  • Responsible for logical and intellectual functions necessary for understanding, writing, and speaking
  • Factual, logical, analytical, sequential/organized, controlled
• Right Hemisphere


  • Controls left side of the body
  • Takes care of creative, intuitive, and emotional aspects
  • Intuitive, holistic, spontaneous, open and flexible
• The latest brain imaging students indicate that brain functions are not strictly pigeonholed into particular areas

  
• Dominance is not necessarily exclusive, such that you are either right- or left-brained
• Openness to varied ways of learning, commitment to growth, nurturing relationships, and being guided by sound values are critical elements to achieving a holistic, balanced life
• Whole Brain Theory


  • Ground-breaking brain research of Sperry and Bogen inspired William Edward "Ned" Herrmann (1922-1999) to dig deeper into how the brain works
  • Herrmann studied the results of EEG or electroencephalograph (a brain wave machine) scans that gave him more insights into how the brain functions
  • His studied developed the whole brain theory, another perspective of looking at the brain

  
• Types of thinking identified by Herrmann

  • Analytical
  • Practical
  • Relational
  • Experimental
• Analytical


  • Factual, objective, quantitative, focuses in the here-and-now
• Practical


  • Follows step-by-step procedures, values detailed plans, consistent
• Relational


  • Feeling-oriented, intuitive, attuned to others' feelings, values relationship and communication, nurturing
• Experimental


  • Artistic, integrative, imaginative, follows 'gut feel', likes to try new things, takes risks, future-oriented
• Creative Thinking


  • An expansive way of driving your thoughts to venture into possibilities, thinking outside the box
  • Creativity does not rest on intelligence alone; it accesses different modes of thinking to make a breakthrough
• Techniques for stimulating creative thinking

  • Associative Thinking
  • Mind Mapping
• Associative Thinking


  A mental technique that lets you explore an idea by considering all possible areas (ideas, experiences, images, and symbols, among others) related to the topic at hand to get fresh insights
• Mind Mapping


  • A creative way of exploring ideas through a graphic or visual presentation
  • It expands your brain by using words, images, numbers, colors, and spatial awareness
  • It uses mental skills that enhance brain activity to produce ideas, learn through clearer thinking, and perform better
• How to Mind Map


  1. Begin at the center of a blank page to give your brain the freedom to expand your ideas freely in different directions

  2. Choose a central idea and give it a visual representation to make it appealing, catch your attention, and keep you focused

  3. Put colors on your work to make it appear vibrant and exciting

  4. Draw main branches around your central idea to stand for the associations you make with it, use one key word for each association, connect other branches (second- or third-level branches) to expand your thinking

  5. Curve your branches to make them appealing

  6. Use images to represent your ideas in your mind map
• Thomas Alva Edison, an acclaimed inventor who perfected the light bulb for consumer use, epitomizes optimism, persistence, and imagination
• He did not complete formal education, yet he persevered in his pursuit to discover new things by generating thousands of ideas as his optimism high and remained focused on his invention
• He considered his hearing problem a "grace" rather than a setback
• Behind the famous saying, "Genius is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration." and "I haven't failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
• Mental Health


  • The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as a "state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community"
  • Is also related to high-level wellness
• Wellness


  • A broad subject with concepts related to it that are encompassing
  • Wellness pioneer John Travis was quoted as saying: Wellness begins when an individual sees himself or herself as a growing, changing person, High-level wellness means giving care to the physical self, using the mind constructively, channeling stress energies positively expressing emotions effectively, becoming creatively involved with others, and staying in touch with the environment
• Psychological Well-Being


  • Another concept related to mental health
  • Carol D. Ryff (1989) considers well-being multidimensional and covers different aspects
  • It is not only about having positive emotions but also refers to several positive psychological functions
• Positive psychological functions of psychological well-being


  • Self-Acceptance
  • Positive Relations
  • Autonomy
  • Environmental Mastery
  • Purpose in Life
  • Personal Growth
• Self-Acceptance


  You accept yourself and have a positive attitude toward who you are, there is acceptance of what happened to you in the past
• Positive Relations


  You have warm, trusting, and satisfying relationships with others, there is give and take in your relationships
• Autonomy


  You are independent and can resist social pressures, you can manage or control your behavior, you evaluate yourself based on your standards
• Environmental Mastery


  You can manage you environment and maximize the opportunities that match your values and suit your personal needs
• Purpose in Life


  You strive to have meaning in your life by setting goals, directions, and intentions for what you do
• Personal Growth


  You commit yourself to developing your potential and becoming the best person you can be
• The level of well-being depends on how you are balances and whole across those given dimensions