THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE BRAIN --- EVERYDAY APPLICATIONS
FROM MIND-BRAIN RESEARCH by Pierce J. Howard. Bard Press, 2nd edition, 2000
    THE QUICK CONTENT GUIDE (p14)

    PREFACE --- Why this book? (p15-19)

      The available books about the brain can be divided into two categories --- research reports and practical applications. Neurobiology texts belong in the first category, and how-to-books belong in the second. This book serves to create an explicit overlap between these two categories.

      The intention of this book is to yoke the two categories together as a team.

      The author's interest in brain research, or Cognitive Science, was started by the book, The Universe Within, by Morton Hunt, the science popularizer who introduced the English-speaking world to Cognitive Science. Cognitive Science is the interdisciplinary approach to understanding the workings of the mind-brain.

      This book is unique in that it stands with one foot in the research camp and the other in practice. Also, it reflect's the author's 20 plus years' experience as a management consultant. And only brain research findings that have widespread practical applications are included. Finally, the book's structure is aimed at readers who will use the research, not the researchers themselves!

      The basic structure of the book uses the "So what?" format. Every piece of brain research reported is followed by one or more specific suggestions for its application.

      This book is designed to be an encyclopedia or resource book of application ideas divided into ten parts or chapters. It was written to tweak your interest in opportunities for personal improvement. Because the scope is so inclusive, you may want to get more details by contacting or locating such sources as:

        [1] Your public reference librarian

        [2] Educators at the continuing education department of your local college

        [3] Officers in various professional groups

        [4] The authors of the reference books mentioned under specific topics by writing to them

        [5] Internet resources listed at the end of this book or conduct your own Internet keyword searches

        [6] The reading materials listed at the end of each chapter and in the Bibilographic Resources section at the end of this book that relate to the ideas in which you are interested.

    THE AUTHOR (p20-21)

    PART 1 --- FORMING A FOUNDATION --- The context for using your owner's manual (p22-58)

      1) Getting started --- a framework for exploring mind-brain concepts (p25-36)

        [1] The mind-brain dichotomy

        [2] Human or animal --- what's the difference?

        [3] What is the mind-brain?

        [4] The core principles of cognitive science

        [5] The nature-nurture debate --- the pendulum swings

      2) Brain basics --- a refresher course in hardware and hormones (p37-50)

        [1] Two key features of the brain --- RAS and the Gap

        [2] Neurotransmitters --- the "alphabet" of personality

        [3] The two sides of the brain

      3) Tools of the trade --- brain imaging technology and other research methods (p51-58)

        [1] Computerized axial tomography

        [2] Positron-Emission Tomography

        [3] Single-Photon Emission-Computed Tomography

        [4] Magnetic Resonance Imaging ("MRI")

        [5] Optical scanning

        [6] The use of animals in human research

        [7] The scientific method --- a warning!

    PART 2 --- WELLNESS --- Getting the most out of every day (p 60-211)

      4) Starting well --- windows of opportunity (p63-78)

        [1] The pregnant brain --- an up-front note to moms and dads

        [2] Effects of various agents on the embryo

        [3] Prenatal learning

        [4] Temperament and the prediction of adult personality

        [5] Breast-feeding

        [6] Infant feeding --- schedule versus on-demand

        [7] The critical years --- birth to age three

        [8] Maturation and the brain --- ages two, six, and twelve

        [9] Irreversible damage --- age eight

        [10] Adverse conditions and the resilient child

        [11] Memory in early childhood --- infancy to ages seven to ten

        [12] The adolescent brain

      5) Nourishment --- food for the body, fuel for the brain (p79-103)

        [1] Recommended food balance

        [2] Daily calorie allowance

        [3] Appetite control

        [4] Taste

        [5] Metabolism

        [6] The role of fat

        [7] Food and mood --- the role of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and sugars

        [8] Breakfast

        [9] Violence and sugar

        [10] Sodium

        [11] Vitamin and mineral differences

        [12] Food additives

        [13] Diet and peak physical performance

        [14] Undernourishment and performance

      6) Powders and elixirs --- mind-altering agents (p105-126)

        [1] Alcohol

        [2] Aspirin

        [3] Caffeine

        [4] Cocaine

        [5] Marijuana

        [6] Nicotine

        [7] Prescription drugs

        [8] Brain nutrient drugs

        [8] The effects of chemicals on the elderly

      7) A good night's sleep --- cycles, dreams, naps, and nightmares (p127-154)

        [1] The sleep cycle

        [2] The circadian rhythm

        [3] Time-zone changes

        [4] Sleep and exercise

        [5] Sleep and diet

        [6] Sleep and weight

        [7] The effect of odors on sleep

        [8] The effect of sleep deprivation

        [9] Sleep and medication

        [10] Naps

        [11] Dreams

        [12] Nightmares

        [13] Sleep differences between the sexes

        [14] Getting back to sleep

        [15] Sleep and aging

        [16] Stability in sleep patterns

        [17] A note on yawning

      8) The body cognitive --- the effects of exercise (p155-166)

        [1] Physical activity

        [2] Aerobics

        [3] The importance of choice

        [4] Altering mood and cravings

        [5] Extreme exercise and the staleness syndrome

        [6] Exercuse and testosterone

        [7] Exercise and smoking

        [8] Soccer headers

        [9] Peak athletic performance

      9) Humoring the mind --- laughter as free (or cheap) medicine (p167-175)

        [1] The structure of humor

        [2] Humor and the immune system

        [3] Humor and gender

      10) Music --- as a means and as an end (p177-189)

        [1] Learning music

        [2] Musical training and spatial ability --- the "Mozart Effect"

        [3] When music interferes with learning

        [4] Music and mathematical ability

        [5] Music and the injured brain

        [6] The effect of music on mood

        [7] Music and personality

        [8] Music as psychotherapy

      11) Finishing well --- use it or lose it (p191-211)

        [1] General effects of aging

        [2] Old age and mental ability

        [3] Maintaining control and optimism

        [4] Diet and aging

        [5] Exercise and aging

        [6] Combining diet and exercise

        [7] Night vision

        [8] Memory and aging

        [9] Aging, versatility, and creative genius

        [10] Sex and longevity

    PART 3 --- SEX, GENDER, AND RELATIONSHIPS --- The birds and the bees (p212-347)

      12) Sex and gender --- the wiring is different (p215-243)

      13) Love and relationships --- the wiring is the name of the game (p245-259 )

    PART 4 --- ILLNESS AND INJURY --- What we know about brain repair (p260-347)

      14) Brain related disorders and their treatment --- background information (p263-282)

      15) Structural disorders --- bats in your belfry (p283-298)

      16) Insults and injuries --- a blow by blow account (p299-312)

      17) Degenerative conditions --- slowly falling apart (p313-326)

      18) Mood disorders and addictioins --- chemicals gone haywire (p327-347)

    PART 5 --- BEING IN CONTROL --- Emotions, motivation, stress, and burnout (p348-406)

      19) EQ, call home --- getting savvy about your emotional side (p351-376)

      20) Motivation, stress, and burnout --- taking charge of your life (p377-406)

    PART 6 --- INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES --- Appreciating our many gifts (p408-466)

      21) The big five --- a universal language for personality traits (p411-442)

      22) Getting smart about IQ --- the many ways to be intelligent (p443-467)

    PART 7 --- LEARNING --- The brain as student (p468-588)

      23) Designing instruction --- building blocks for learners (p471-498)

      24) The role of the teacher --- techniques for facilitating learning (p499-524)

      25) Learning that sticks --- insights for enhancing memory (p525-550)

      26) A matter of style --- how we differ in our approaches to learning (p551-560)

      27) Giftedness --- letting the genius out of the bottle (p561-570)

      28) Building Babel --- the acquisition and development of language (p571-588)

    PART 8 --- CREATIVITY AND PROBLEM SOLVING --- Making mountains out of hills (p590-)

      29) Getting to new you --- the psychobiology of creativity (p593-610)

        [1] The creative act

        [2] The psychology of the creative personality

        [3] The biology of the creative personality

        [4] The four stages of the creative process

        [5] Creative giants

        [6] Creativity and madness

        [7] Assessing for creativity

      30) Chipping off the old block --- removing barriers to creativity (p611-628)

      Fostering creativity

        [1] General principles for developing creativity

        [2] Obstacles to creativity

        [3] Csikszentmihalyi

        [4] The persistence of the past in present creative acts

        [5] The influence of social networks on creativity

        [6] Hypnosis and creativity

        [7] Epstein on barriers to creativity

        [8] Using "synesthesia" to move from the humdrum to the creative

      31) Creating leverage --- a guide to problem-solving breakthroughs (p629-646)

    PART 9 --- WORKING SMARTER --- The brain in the workplace (p648-721)

      32) From waltz to tango --- brain-friendly approaches to change (p651-678)

      33) Brain ergonomics --- workplace design for quality and productivity (p679-721)

      34) Stop, look, and listen --- the five senses in the workplace (p699-721)

    PART 10 --- SCHEMAS, REALITY, AND SPIRITUALITY --- Looking beyond appearances (p722-746)

      35) Epistemology --- finding common denominators (p725-734)

      36) States of consciousness --- phases of the mind (p735-742)

      37) Updating your owner's manual --- continuing the search for new mind-body applications (p743-746)

    TRADITIONAL PARADIGM -------------------------- EMERGING PARADIGM
    ===============================================================

      [1] Motivators are external ----------------------Motivators are internal

      [2] There are four personality traits-------------------The "Five Factor" model emerges

      [3] Aging lowers ability----------------------Use it or lose it!

      [4] IQ is a single-faceted, academic concept-----------------IQ is multifaceted

      [5] There are no sex differences-------------------The sexes are wired differently

      [6] Nurture is the main factor---------------------Nature is the main factor

      [7] Germs cause disease-------------------The mind controls disease

      [8] Diet is unrelated to the brain---------------------Diet influences mental function

      [9] The brain is seen as a computer-------------------The brain is seen as a pharmacy

      [10] Memory is retrieval of complete episodes------------------Memory is construction of episodes from bits of information

    APPENDICES --- A-M (p747-772)

    DEFINITIONS (p773-781)

    BIBLIOGRAPHY (p782-797)

    INTERNET RESOURCES (p798-804)

    INDEX (p805-829)

    ABOUT "CentACS" (p831)

Go to: Thoughts Training Abstracts
Go to: Feelings Category List
Go to: Motivation Category List
Go to index: Interactive Index of Factual Ideas