Nothing is born this way, don’t let cognitive biases limit your brain’s capabilities

It has been difficult for me to distinguish between east, west, north and south since I was a child. Later, when I arrived in a big city, many roads were circular or even S-shaped, making it even more difficult to distinguish the direction. Many people understand my situation, because in their eyes, girls are "naturally crazy".

Some people also think that this is a choice in the process of human evolution: in primitive times, men often went out to hunt. In order to return to the cave where they lived in time, they needed a good sense of direction, while women only needed to walk around, After long-term training and evolution, men's sense of direction has become stronger and stronger, while women's skills in this area have gradually weakened.

In addition to the sense of direction, many people have had headaches in mathematics classes since childhood. They always claim that they are insensitive to numbers and lack mathematical acumen. They will also show Mr. Qian Zhongshu’s math score of 19 points in the college entrance examination. As an illustration. Not only that, not long after Einstein's death, his brain was used by scientists for various studies. People tend to believe that the brains of these geniuses are inherently different from those of other people, as if their achievements depend on their talent.

How much influence can the brain have on a person's ability? Can this situation be changed through hard work?

British journalist Caroline Williams decided to embark on a journey to find the truth. The book "Cognitive Iteration" records the author Caroline Williams' wonderful experiences and discoveries about the brain. By visiting experts from major universities and institutions, Caroline not only discovered more truths and secrets about the brain, but also gained a deeper understanding of the brain, and also gained a new understanding of life and work.

Caroline Williams, a graduate of Imperial College London, is a science journalist and contributes features to New Scientist magazine. In a scientific spirit and attitude, Caroline visited experts and scholars from well-known institutions such as Harvard and Oxford, and personally tested scientific intervention and treatment methods for the brain.

In this book, we can come into contact with a large number of scientific methods about brain training and treatment, and see the therapeutic effects and shortcomings of these methods. Most importantly, through the guidance of these scientific methods, we will have a new understanding of brain function and our own abilities.

1. About the brain’s attention and creativity

The author Caroline wants to improve her concentration and change her tendency to be anxious and distracted at work. In fact, this is also a problem that most people encounter at work. Anxiety always interferes with our mood at work, and distraction can seriously affect work efficiency.

In order to improve this state, Caroline performed electromagnetic stimulation of the brain at the Medical Association Center and received some professional training. Through these methods, she found the secret to improving concentration and creativity:

1. Try to keep yourself in a relaxed state at work

When you find that you cannot focus on your work, Don't be depressed and anxious, as these emotions can seriously affect brain function.

At this time, you can try to do other things, such as going for a walk outside, having a cup of afternoon tea, etc., to adjust your mentality. Only with a positive attitude can the brain be positively affected by the hormones in the body and perform corresponding functions.

2. Do a job that you like and is slightly challenging

Having a job that you like and be able to support yourself is a dream pursued by many people.

But just liking it is not enough. If the work loses a certain level of challenge, it will become dull and boring, and the work you originally loved will feel useless. Someone once said that if you feel hard at work, it means you are on the upswing. Challenging work not only stimulates work enthusiasm but also greatly improves work ability.

3. Maintain a good mood

People often say that a smile will last ten years. A happy mood can not only delay aging, but also help improve the brain's creativity. Research by psychologists shows that good creativity requires a good mood. You should not be too relaxed, nor should you care too much about whether what you are doing is beneficial. Only in this state can it be easy to enter the "flow" mode.

"Flow" is a term used in the field of psychology to describe a person's state of concentration. Many celebrities throughout history have made a lot of jokes because they often enter "flow" mode.

When the sculptor Rodin showed his work to a friend, he discovered a flaw. He immediately picked up the tools and began to correct it, completely forgetting the existence of his friends around him. Newton once boiled his watch like an egg, and the great inventor Edison conducted experiments and research in the laboratory when he got married, and even forgot about the wedding. But many great works and inventions were produced in this state of selflessness.

2. About time perception

After working, life gradually enters a fixed pattern, and I always feel that time is passing faster and faster. Not only that, I can’t even remember what I did at the same time last year. did something. Life seems to be passing by faster, which makes us anxious. What’s even more frightening is that our memory and storage of life are becoming less and less.

Is it because you are older and you are more sensitive to time? What does our perception of time have to do with it?

"Cognitive Iteration" says, "There is no significant difference in the perception of time between people of different age groups, whether young or old. , the only thing that can change the perception of time is what they are doing and their mood when doing it. ”

When you are in a happy mood, or are fully immersed in the present, you will feel that time passes quickly; If you feel bored, time will slow down.

But for us, it makes no sense whether time flies or slows down in perception. Because the truth is that time never changes, and living in the present is the wisest thing to do. The author Caroline said, "Don't pay too much attention to the past that has flown by, but focus on the present moment." This is the meaning of time and the meaning of life.

3. About the sense of direction

The author Caroline is probably what we call a "road addict". It is difficult to move without navigation when going out. So with the help of experts, she wore a smart belt, hoping to enhance her sense of direction by stimulating the hippocampus of the brain. After a period of training, Caroline was able to quickly associate the vibration of the belt with the recognition of the north and south directions, effectively improving her sense of direction. But there were no changes in the structure of her brain.

In other words, during the entire training process, the stimulation of the belt did not change the hippocampus of the brain, but the brain completely integrated the two originally unrelated feelings and improved the brain's skills. .

In the end, the author believes that instead of spending a lot of time and energy to "change the brain structure and strengthen brain circuits" through professional training and equipment, it is better to "change one's own abilities, including adding new skills and becoming more efficient." Utilize existing skills”

4. About mathematical minds

A mathematics professor at Oxford University believes that “there is no such thing as a person without mathematical minds. We are all mathematicians, because mathematics is basic The best is the ability to discover patterns”

So stop attributing your unbearable math performance to your lack of mathematical talent

Maybe you are like the person in "Cognitive Iteration" The author is the same, it is not because of poor talent, the main problem is that he has lost confidence in his ability in mathematics. Roy Cohen Kadosh, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Oxford, believes that worry and fear about being unable to do something will definitely cause the brain to lose the resources it originally needs. Cognitive biases about one's own abilities will form a vicious cycle: the more afraid you are, the less capable you are, and the less capable you are, the more afraid you are.

Many people are accustomed to setting limits on themselves in life and work. For example, if university majors limit one's career development, those who study computers can only go to Internet IT companies, those who study finance can only go to securities firms and investment banks, and those who study chemistry can only go to chemical plants. After entering the society, we often complain that we chose the wrong major in college, resulting in no way out and no opportunities. A writing teacher I know majored in logistics in college, but entered the publishing industry, published his own book, and is now a big V on various platforms.

College is only four years away, and there are still many four years left in life. You have enough time to pursue the life and work you like, and don’t let your own prejudices and narrow cognition limit your development space.

We may not try various tools and training methods to change our brains like the author of "Cognitive Iteration", but if we want to gain greater talents and abilities, we must first break through the limitations of thinking. , change the understanding of the brain: The brain has strong plasticity, no one is born the way it should be, as long as you take action, everything can be changed!