MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'brain power'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:11:25 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3934626&cid=t_136786_180_f&fid=38606&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAchieveIt%2F%7E3%2Fr4GYrGe15HQ%2F Taking notes can be very difficult for people like me. My attention is always torn between the speaker and what I am writing. Often times, I write too much of the not important stuff and miss the important stuff while I write the unimportant.  “Uhh… what did she say while I was writing ‘The restrooms are up the hallway to the left’ ?” It’s frustrating to me and apparently many others out there. I found out that for me a better technique is Mind Mapping. By simply jotting one word thoughts and branching them out, I could write faster, keep the ideas straight while also maintaining attention. Below is my interview with my friend Gina Trapani over at Fast Company where Gina gives her method and I describe mine. Which one works best for you? Let us know in... Persistence Unlimited blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3934626 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:43:29 +0100 3934626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3885563&cid=t_136786_180_f&fid=38606&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAchieveIt%2F%7E3%2F85PjxAwgNFQ%2F Editor’s note: This is a guest post by James Adams whose ideas on building a better brain are top notch. Brainstorming is a valuable method for rediscovering your creativity. Some days, you are drowning in an ocean of ideas. Others, you are looking at the desert and hoping for an oasis. You are creative, your brain just needs a bit of priming. Here are ten methods for brainstorming to get the idea river gushing. 1. Free Writing Stream of consciousness writing is one of the most unpredictable forms of writing. You do not know where your brain will lead you, but you can be assured that it will be interesting. There is no special preparation for this method. Open a new Notepad window or pick up a sheet of paper and start writing. 2. Wordplay Start writing poetry about your favorite to... Persistence Unlimited blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3885563 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:00:19 +0100 3885563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3441093&cid=t_136786_180_f&fid=38606&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAchieveIt%2F%7E3%2FDza9lmmizf8%2F “We are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones. Most people are never going to die because they are never going to be born. The potential people who could have been here in my place but who will in fact never see the light of day outnumber the sand grains of Arabia. Certainly those unborn ghosts include greater poets than Keats, scientists greater than Newton. We know this because the set of possible people allowed by our DNA so massively exceeds the set of actual people. In the teeth of these stupefying odds it is you and I, in our ordinariness, that are here.” – Richard Dawkins I’ll grant Richard Dawkins‘ views on life and death are controversial, but I still love this quote. To me, it asks several important questions. Only the naive among us will ne... Persistence Unlimited blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3441093 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:26:00 +0100 3441093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3267248&cid=t_136786_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FsRW4hXlr5zg%2F Image courtesy of SpaceCollective Have you noticed when your computer gets slow when you run many programs (or open many windows) at the same time? Likewise our brains get slower when our brains are filled with so many thoughts and other distractions. Have you ever noticed your brain is filled with incessant mental chatters, which make you worried, stressful, distracted or angry? These unwanted thoughts hinder your career and drain energy from your brain. Incessant mental chatter (or simply incessant chatter) is a stream of thoughts, for example, a thought about your past, a worry about your future, criticizing yourself or others, fantasizing about something, arguing with someone, inner narration, (resentful) memories, non-constructive thoughts, images, tunes, and other thoughts. Incessant... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3267248 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:49:56 +0100 3267248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3193779&cid=t_136786_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F21%2Frunning-mice-suggests-brain-fitness%2F I’m not a big fan of reporting on animal studies, because the results are often not replicated with humans. Animal studies are like the small surveys conducted in undergraduate psychology classes — you can find interesting results that may mean nothing except to the subjects you studied (e.g., well-educated young adults, most of whom are still teens). In the case of mice, well, we can say the results generalize to mice. (If we wanted to be even more specific, one could argue that lab mice bred for laboratory experiments are different than mice bred and raised in the wild, but let’s leave that leaf unturned.) But in a 24/7 news cycle, even mice studies can get mainstream media pickup. Case in point, this article in the UK’s The Guardian. It starts off well enough, ma... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3193779 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:35:08 +0100 3193779 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3039844&cid=t_136786_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F29%2Fwhen-all-else-fails-brain-surgery%2F Like many others, I’ve never been a big fan of surgery as a solution for mental disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or depression. A medical procedure done on a bodily organ whose functioning we’re only beginning to grasp — the brain — seems a little premature. It hits too close to the thinking behind frontal lobotomies and the justifications doctors used for them back in the 1950s and 1960s, “By cutting and removing the front part of the brain, we help quiet the unrest in these troubled minds.” As we later found out, we also quieted the entire person to the point of many of those people become drooling vegetables. That was considered “progress” by many well-educated professionals for many, many years during this time. Amazing.... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3039844 Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:22:31 +0100 3039844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927597&cid=t_136786_180_f&fid=38606&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAchieveIt%2F%7E3%2FAxHMFJ6u_gQ%2F Today I was in the mood to try something different. I’ve known from years of experience that by trying something new and having fun, creativity surges. Even if you fail, by trying new things, you get out of your world and into the unfamiliar. So today, I decided to try baking a pie from scratch. A pumpkin pie, in fact. Funny thing is, I don’t care for pumpkin pie all that much. But as I’ve said about a million times, it’s the journey. If you’d like to follow my progress and make your own pie, I will be posting the recipe and my updates on my Twitter stream today. Feel free to heckle me along the way if you like. My Twitter stream http:/www.twitter.com/brad_isaac – Brad Isaac (Source: Persistence Unlimited) Persistence Unlimited blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927597 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:12:42 +0100 2927597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2807660&cid=t_136786_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F17%2Fwhats-your-personality-like%2F An important part of improving one’s life, searching for happiness, and even helping us with mental health issues or our relationships in life is self-discovery. The more you know about yourself — your preferences, your way of thinking, your way of looking at the world — the more you can actually go ahead and make changes in your life. If you’re a big question mark to yourself, it’s lot more difficult to start to improve those areas of your life that you’d like to improve upon. For years now, Psych Central and other websites have offered online personality quizzes and tests that help give you some insight into your personality. And while these work well for what they can say about you, they don’t always give you as much information as you might lik... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2807660 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:32:18 +0100 2807660 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2782102&cid=t_136786_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FCMk8YTJmeK4%2F Every time I read something about boosting memory skills, I just cringe. The suggestions I see usually have to do with things no one has time (or let’s face it, really wants) to do. But this article from CNN gave some great suggestions from the age of 30 and up. Each age group has some suggestions for making your memory strong, and they aren’t difficult. In some cases, they are even pretty fun. In the your 40s, for example, they recommend playing more. Just dragging out some games and even inviting someone over for conversation and game playing. In this economy, this suggestion not only helps the memory but your bottom line. In your 30s, they recommend working out and doing a crossword puzzle, or something else that uses both your body and mind together. In your 50s, something... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2782102 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:45:09 +0100 2782102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2712404&cid=t_136786_180_f&fid=38606&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAchieveIt%2F%7E3%2F7a1AY4pPrqI%2F Although I don’t get the opportunity to take many naps, I like mine to be quick and refreshing. I hate to sleep over an hour and wake up more tired than I was when I laid down. Twenty minutes is just about right for me. Frequently, I use Pzizz generated naps to help me accomplish this. I’ve written before about Pzizz power nap software. Basically, the software generates a new relaxing soundtrack for you to listen to each time. Before, you had to fire it up on a Mac or PC desktop and generate MP3s to download to your player. However, I found out today, they released a version for iPhone and iTouch. At $2.99 it’s a great deal since their software is normally $20 and their stand alone device runs $60 (I think). Anyway, I bought a license today and tried it out. The settings ... Persistence Unlimited blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2712404 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:41:26 +0100 2712404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2588485&cid=t_136786_180_f&fid=38606&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAchieveIt%2F%7E3%2Fj98UBb9mp3k%2F Stressful jobs, recession money woes and unrelenting pressure from family and social duties can turn even the most cheerful person into an anxious pessimist with little motivation. But positivity is all in your mind, and once you understand that your mood and your outlook on the life is something you can actually control, you’ll be more ready to tackle any challenges that life hurtles your way. Here are ten little tips that will help you turn negatives into positives, ultimately letting you lead a life with less worry. Speak in the positive. Even if you have to convey a negative thought or emotion, say it in the positive. For example, instead of saying or thinking “I can’t get through this,” say, “I’m lost” or “I need help.” Speaking in the negative just reiterates your ... Persistence Unlimited blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2588485 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:00:52 +0100 2588485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2349069&cid=t_136786_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F24WEO4FpkcE%2F Round-up of recent articles on neuroscience, brain development and cognitive health: Encephalon 68: A carnival of neuroscience: Chris hosts a great collection of neuroscience and psychology posts in his signature Q&A style. Bilingual Babies Get Head Start --- Before They Can Talk: - Unlike the monolingual group, the bilingual group was able to successfully learn a new sound type and use it to predict where each character would pop up. - The bilingual babies' skill applies to more than just switching between languages. Mehler likened this apparently enhanced cognitive ability to a brain selecting "the right tool for the right operation"—also called executive function. - In this basic process, the brain, ever flexible, nimbly switches from one learned response to another as ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2349069 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:20:11 +0100 2349069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347890&cid=t_136786_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fhealthbolt-funtimes-word-play%2F Have you heard about The Mensa Invitational ? It’s a ‘play on words’  list that’s been floating around the internet and emails for a few years now. image from sxc.hu Each of the words that have had a single letter added, deleted, or to create a new word with a humorous meaning. Here’s the list so far… Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period. Inoculatte : To take coffee intravenously when you are running late. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfort... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347890 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:29:57 +0100 2347890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2200490&cid=t_136786_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2009%2F02%2F18%2Fits-healthbolt-carnival-time-10%2F       It’s Healthbolt Carnival Time again. So grab a coffee and start clicking… Madeleine Begun Kane from Mad Kane’s Humor Blog entertains us with Multi-Task Madness. Orna Ross suggests people should F-R-E-E-Write Your Way to Wellness?. To help you learn more about the Vegan lifestyle, Piotr Stepien from we overstep provides a list of Inspiring Vegan Links. C. Myers from Mind Mart suggests several natural remedies for Boils in Boil, Boil, Toil and Trouble. Tami Blodgett from Online Wellness: A Safe Haven offers a review of the book FAMILY MATTERS the Soul of a Family. Dan Abshear from Informaproject reports on The Power Of Bacteria. myln from ManageYourLifeNow.com looks at How to tell if someone is lying. Alvaro Fernandez from SharpBrains: discusses Brain Train... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2200490 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 06:19:44 +0100 2200490 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1717279&cid=t_136786_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2FR9LU1beqmsA%2F Ivanhoe News video about Boosting Your Brain Power… Tags: Alzheimer's Videos, Alzheimers-disease, brain power, keeping fit, videosShare This (Source: Alzheimer's Notes) Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1717279 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:39:47 +0100 1717279 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1331746&cid=t_136786_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F259320050%2F Interested a good, non-technical, summary of the implications of recent brain science in our daily lives? Biologist John Medina offers that in his article below (as part of our Author Speaks Series) and in his new book: Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. Enjoy! (Note: John will be in the Bay Area on April 8 and 9th, speaking at Google and San Jose Rotary). ---------------------- Brain Rules -- By John Medina Go ahead and multiply the number 8,388,628 x 2 in your head. Can you do it in a few seconds? There is a young man who can double that number 24 times in the space of a few seconds. He gets it right every time. There is a boy who can tell you the exact time of day at any moment, even in his sleep. There is a girl who can correctly determi... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1331746 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:34:18 +0100 1331746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=779053&cid=t_136786_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F140599496%2Fthe_power_of_silence_to_awaken.html There been a great deal of talk in the past few years about the power of music on concentration and focus. And new facts about different kinds of music that enhance different operations of the brain leave us whilslin’ more while we work. In every case – some adults tell you that silence works more in their favor – especially while they learn new skills at work or in college. Now a Stanford study show how the brain gets going when the music stops. Is it possible that all these finding can be true – at the same time?In this recent study, Mercury News writer Lisa Krieger claims that … Silent pauses len clues on mental processes.  In Krieger’s words … “While music may soothe the savage breast, the brain thrills to the sound of silence.&rdq... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=779053 Sat, 04 Aug 2007 11:46:58 +0100 779053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=775554&cid=t_136786_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F140125198%2Fare_you_satisfied.html I just read an amazing solar energy story on CNN.com about Ram – a young man without high school education – who transformed an Indian village through solar power.  In fact … similar projects are lighting up many remote and inaccessible villages in India, Africa and China. Young solar engineers apparently get a rush from learning to install solar equipment in their villages and then to maintain these without external support. India’s solar energy stories are especially chalked full of adrenalin rush descriptions -  business leaders call satisfaction.It comes as mind-bending rewards for their hard effort and amazing talent as solar engineers. The same potential exists for all workers and yet it often goes unnoticed at work. So where is it? W... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=775554 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:47:14 +0100 775554