| The term half-wit may actually be more true than | | | | humming a tune, they are in rhapsody with their |
| we realize. And it also may be more common | | | | right brain. |
| than we care to admit. | | | | The way to be smarter is to develop more of |
| There isn't really a term for thinking with all of | | | | your brain both vertically and horizontally. |
| your brain, so we'll call it whole brain thinking. | | | | By developing your reflexive responses, your |
| Whole brain thinking is not only top to bottom | | | | emotional range, your sensitivity to pleasurable |
| thinking but also left to right thinking. | | | | stimulation, and your ability to figure things out, |
| Evolution has created three brains, and they built | | | | you are developing your brain vertically. You can |
| themselves one on top of the other. | | | | also develop it horizontally by doing more of the |
| The first brain is the Reptilian Brain. It emerges | | | | things you are not very good at doing. If you |
| directly from the spinal column. It controls basic | | | | have a scientific view of the world, you should |
| instincts and responses. Those who are good at | | | | develop your artistic side; and if you have an |
| video games or racing cars where reflexive, | | | | artistic leaning, then develop the skills of sequential |
| fast-action thinking is important have this early | | | | reasoning. You will instinctively know what to |
| brain well developed. | | | | develop by working on what you are weakest in. |
| The second brain is the Limbic System. It is also | | | | It's not that those parts do not exist for you; |
| called the Mammalian Brain. This includes the | | | | they are just dormant through lack of exercise. |
| hypothalamus and pituitary gland. It controls | | | | Previously, it was believed that intelligence is fixed |
| emotions, sexuality, and pleasure. People who are | | | | and that it deteriorates with age. This is simply |
| ruled by strong feelings stimulate this brain quite | | | | not true. These ideas evolved during the times |
| often. | | | | when neuroscience was not as sophisticated as it |
| The third brain is the Neo-Cortex. This is the new | | | | is today. Today we know that a well-used brain |
| brain, the "thinking brain," the one we use to | | | | gets smarter as time unfolds. |
| figure out what things mean. When someone is | | | | The way to be smarter is to work on providing |
| described as intelligent, it is a reference to this | | | | an enriched environment for your brain. Besides |
| brain. This is the brain that goes to school. | | | | exposing yourself to more interesting and |
| At first blush, it may seem that all we need to do | | | | challenging things, this also includes improving your |
| to develop more intelligence is to just focus on | | | | physical health, diet, and attitude. |
| the most recently evolved brain. But this is not | | | | It takes a lot of effort to develop a really fit and |
| entirely true. The limbic system, for example, | | | | healthy body. It actually takes less effort to |
| once aroused can improve learning, too, because | | | | develop a really sharp brain because the brain, |
| emotional arousal activates more mental powers | | | | unlike a muscle, can work longer and harder. |
| than normally used. | | | | Is it worth the effort? After all, why bother to be |
| Now looking at the Neo-Cortex, we see two that | | | | smart when most people are content with just |
| it splits into two brains, with a tissue in between, | | | | coasting by with what they know, indulging in |
| the corpus callosum, that acts as a type of type | | | | mundane conversations and engaging in mindless |
| of communication bridge. | | | | television programs for hours on end? |
| The left brain is what is most developed in | | | | Here is why it is worth it: |
| Western Cultures, especially through the process | | | | Life becomes increasingly more interesting |
| of education. It specializes in serial, sequential | | | | because you actually start to experience more of |
| thought. It is logical and likes step by step | | | | it. You literally let more of your experiences come |
| reasoning. When you appeal to someone to be | | | | alive for you. You not only have more |
| rational, it is an appeal made to this part of the | | | | experiences, both literal and vicarious, but you also |
| brain. | | | | enjoy more vivid ones, experiencing more |
| Someone who is considered well-spoken and has | | | | aspects of any situation. |
| a good vocabulary, shows mathematical ability, | | | | Also, in a world that is becoming increasingly more |
| argues in a logical way, and likes things to be | | | | complex, with information exploding at a rapid |
| organized and sequential is using the left brain. | | | | rate and technology and social interaction |
| The right brain is what is most developed in | | | | becoming more sophisticated, learning how to |
| cultures that are considered more artistic. The | | | | learn and pushing yourself to understand more of |
| right brain grasps things all at once. It sees whole | | | | the amazing world around you might just make |
| patterns. It synthesizes. People who are | | | | your life a whole lot better. |
| right-brained are able to see patterns, enjoy | | | | The future depends not on people who |
| spatial reasoning, and show a talent for music. | | | | understand a few things but by those who are |
| They are imaginative. They like to visualize new | | | | fascinated by the rich diversity inherent in any |
| possibilities. The next time you see someone | | | | experience. |