13. BRAINPOWER LITERACY PLAN
Are you a genius or an ignoramous concerning how your brain works? Are you "smart" or "dumb" regarding the way the new brain science explains human behavior? How much do you know about the way your vital brain parts and functions influence all aspects of your life, including all your thoughts and feelings and behavior? In short, is your knowledge about your brain up-to-date with the scientific reality of the 21st century?
When you think about these questions, remember to think in terms of a "continuum" of relative values and not a strict "dichotomy" of absolute differences when you answer the questions about your own brainpower knowledge and your capacity to change your mind.
If you don't know the names of your fourteen main brain parts and their five major functional regions, you don't have to be ignorant or embarrassed anymore. You can use the accurate information on this website to learn the essential brain science facts of life that make living meaningful. You will be able to decide if you need to take time to learn more about your brain by using the following four action steps of the Brainpower Literacy Plan that are designed for quick learning:
[Step 1] = A self-administered Brain Parts and Functions "Inventory Form" (questionnaire).
[Step 2] = A self-administered Brain Parts and Functions "Names Form" (answer sheet).
[Step 3] = A list of Brain Parts and Functions "Definitions Form" (14 parts and 5 functional regions defined).
[Step 4] = The Brain Awareness Vocabulary "Memorization Form" (spaced-repetition method of remembering).
You can print the brain parts and functions "inventory form" or questionnaire at the following link. Then you can name the parts and functions of your brain that you already know by writing the names on the numbered blank lines on the printout:
Action Step #1 Brain Parts and Functions Inventory Form
Next, you can print the form at the following brain parts and functions "names form" link (or view the screen) to compare your knowledge of the names of the most important parts of your brain with those on the "inventory form":
Action Step #2 Brain Parts and Functions Names Form
The next link provides the opportunity for you to learn the "definitions" of the parts and functions of your 14 main brain parts and five major brain functional regions:
Action Step #3 Brain Parts and Functions Definitions Form
Next, you can use the link to action step #3 to help you move the brain science facts from your short-term memory to your working memory and finally to your long-term memory by using the memory consolidation process.
This memorization method starts with the brain "assemblies" at the ends of your "dendrites", which are the roots of your trillions of brain tissue cells. Higher concentrations of visual and auditory and other sensory signals are being saved because of the repetition and your conscious attempt to remember what the electro-chemical signals from your eyes (visual cues) and your fingers (tactile clues) are telling you about what you are experiencing.
Your brain tissue has the capacity to make whatever you are thinking about stick in your long-term memory resources for easy recall later. This happens best if the thought is accompanied by intense emotions, such as a traumatic life-threatening experience or a willful conscious choice that you want to remember the thing to which you are paying attention because of the intense joy or sorrow it is causing you.
This memorization process creates new brain tissue to store the new neural connections of ideas about whatever you want to remember by increasing the dynamic activity of your "synapses". Your conscious choice or willpower initiates the electro-chemical activity of your synapses to make the new memories stronger or to reinforce old memories in the context of any new experience you are having.
The creative process of memorization requires your active involvement no matter what you want to learn. This method makes possible the creation of new memories by adding new brain tissue to your billions of existing "neuron networks". It is important to be careful what you select to memorize because whatever it is may become a part of the brain tissue in your long-term memory!
Finally, the Brainpower Mindset form at the next link can be printed and used to synthesize and integrate all the new information about your brain. You can concentrate on the way that you will benefit from the association of ideas and the systematic repetition of the names of your 14 key brain parts and how your five brain regions function to keep you alive.
The following brain awareness vocabulary "memorization form" provides you with the space to make a brief outline of your new brainpower knowledge so you can use it for your personal growth in the future as your personal goals and social roles change:
Action Step #4 Brain Awareness Vocabulary Memorizing Form:
The last thing to remember about the memorization process is to choose to repeat the four action steps of this memorization process as many times as you need to. You can track your progress by saving the printouts you use to accomplish the goals of the memorization process.
Doing these simple memory exercises several times a day for several days can increase your brainpower potential and knowledge greatly, since the process actually creates new connections in your brain's neuron networks giving you heightened self-awareness of the brainpower potential you are creating by doing the memory exercises.
This can help you solve problems faster and focus on high priority goals based on the quality of your core personal values.
Why be fearful or angry or depressed when you can have so much fun learning how your amazing brain gives you the brainpower potential to be conscious of a huge range of options as you function fully using all your brain's true brainpower dynamics? Your "mindfulness" of your powerful factual SELF can keep you speeding along the Freeway to Happiness forever instead of experiencing the "mindlessness" of pursuing the fictional metaphors and myths of dead people and failed societies?
Why not celebrate the fact that your brain struggles so hard to keep you alive? The new brain science facts of life can help you both feel more confident and be more comfortable as you become more happy and satisfied with yourself and your friends. Do you feel like a worthy "stakeholder" in this self-awareness process? What is your stake in it, if it is not to become the best person you can be?
Return to essay #1: The Brainpower Theory of True Happiness
Go to index: Interactive Index of Factual Ideas