SelvaRani's blog: 2013

Build your Brain Power

Dr.(Mrs).S.SelvaRani

Principal,Sarada Niketan College.

The Brain is the most important organ in any living being, particularly in human beings. It is the centre of the nervous system. Even the most sophisticated computer in the world cannot have the storage capacity and processing ability of the brain of even an ordinary person. But humans use only a little bit of it. Even the great scientist like Eienstin used only a fraction of his brain capacity. No one has tapped brain’s full potential so far. There are approximately 100 billion neurons in human brain.

Brain waves

The brain emits faint electrical impulses in the form of mental waves. These waves can be measured in microvolts by an electro encephalograph. These waves represent a manifestation of certain internal psychological states of the mind. According to the emotion, the waves are classified into four types as Alpha waves, Beta waves, Gama waves and Delta Waves. When the brain waves reach Zero point, the brain is dead.

Right and Left Brain

The brain is divided into right and left hemispheres. Each hemisphere is responsible for different modes of thinking, each specializing in certain skills. The thinking processes of the left brain are logical, linguistic, reality-based, dealing with abstract ideas and micro approach. The right brain thinking modes are creative, imaginative, art & music, visualisation and micro approach. To lead an effective life both hemispheres are equally important. Most geniuses use both left and right brains.

Impact of Ageing

Recent studies have shown that, with proper stimulation, the brain can continue to grow and produce enhanced intelligence, memory power and better functioning even at the age of 90.

Use your brain …..

The more you use your brain, the sharper it gets. So, brain should be constantly used, else it loses its power. When the brain is stimulated intellectually and physically you can see the measurable changes in its structure.

The brain can grow new cells and more thinking power can be obtained out of the existing cells. Recent studies prove that new connections can be formed virtually at any age.

Thinking Exercise

Albert Einstein says, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. Creativity comes only through imagination”. Open your mind to infinite possibilities of new ideas. Learn how to sharpen your innate power of comprehension, insight, intuition and sensory perception. The brain is extraordinarily stimulated when it is engaged in creativity and imagination. The thought of problems leads us to solutions.

The magnificent computer or a safety pin came first in the form of ‘thought’. Inventions, discoveries, progress, advancement, innovations etc., are the result of thought by the people using their brain. As William James has correctly pointed out:

“Dynamic thought or belief helps create the actual facts”

James Allen has said,

“A man can only rise, conquer and achieve by lifting up his thoughts”.

One can become an Einstein and a Newton, by keeping one’s brain in thinking mode, not by keeping it mute. The great scientist Archimedis invented the ‘Archimedis’ Principle’, by immersing his mind all the time in the same thought, even while bathing immersed in water tub. You must read the books of great scientists and achievers and know how they achieved and invented things.

Present Education System

The curriculum in our education system must be designed in such a way to extract the potentials of the brains of youth. I recall my good old days at School where we used to solve ‘Riders’ in our SSLC class, Elective Mathematics. By Solving, riders, one’s brain is stimulated and the Intelligent Quotient (I Q) improves. Also, in those days , Primary school children were trained to do “mental sums” in Mathematics within a short time. Certainly, through this type of mental exercises, brain is triggered and sharpened.

Today, the curriculum is not designed to exhibit one’s intelligence and skills. The present examination system is to test the memory power rather than intelligence. One can obtain even State ranks and University first ranks by simply ‘roting’ the lessons and reproducing them in exams. Some competitive examinations like IIT-JEE are exceptional and they could pick the ‘brainy’ leaving the rest.

Mental Exercise

Bernard Shaw says,”Activity is the only road to knowledge”. So, to improve your brain power, solve crossword puzzles, mathematical riddles, magic squares, etc. The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. Students of Mathematics can stimulate their brain power by framing mathematical equations and models, choosing the relevant probability tests in testing of hypothesis in statistical problems, and solving riders, instead of mechanically doing problems in Algebra, Calculus, etc.

Yoga, Meditation & Prayer

When we are meditating, the thinking process must come out from the brain. Words without thought are the mere verbal repetition of prayer in which the mind does not participate. As Shakespeare wrote,

“My words fly up, my thoughts remain below

Words without thoughts never to heaven go”.

Yogic exercises of asanas, pranayama and meditation boost brain power considerably. Concentration of mind triggers the brain power to achieve great things. In Maha Bharata, Arjuna won in the arrow competition by concentrating his mind only on the pupil of the eye of the bird.

Be Quiet …… Listen to Good Music

Eienstein pointed out, “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind”. Research has established that music is very effective for concentration, memory skills and control of stress. So listen to good music, enjoy Nature, and meditate deeply. You can also fresh up your mind by changing your works. But, one should not be idle, since, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. By doing different types of works, the brain is energized and rejuvenated.

Reading

“Books are the gateways to knowledge.” You can empower your brain power by reading good informational, inspirational and motivational books about leaders, scientists, inventors and all famous people in different fields. Such books induce you to think, act and achieve to build a better life. It is not enough to know what they have achieved, but it is essential to know how they have achieved and then start emulating them.

Positive Thinking

Always fill your brain with positive thinking. Let it go into your brain and flow through your body and maximize your mental strength. Be optimistic. Then success is yours. With the powerful positive thought, one can achieve, even what the world calls impossible.

Nutrients, sleep

Nutrients strongly influence mental functioning Nutritional deficiencies can cause brain imbalances like fatigue,

forgetfulness, depression, anxiety, etc. Sleep is generally considered as a natural phenomenon that allows the brain

and other organs to get energy. Happy frame mindset, maintaining good health and avoiding stress are essential things to have effective brain power.

Indian Minds

When I was reading the book ‘ignited minds’ by our former President His Excellency Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, I was very much inspired by our Indian scientists and Mathematicians. The great Mathematicians Aryabhata, Brahmagupta and Bhaskaracharya who contributed much to Algebra, Trigonometry, Astronomy, value of ‘pie’ etc. inspired even Albert Einstein to remark, “ We owe a lot to the Indians who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made”. Then genius Srinivasa Ramanujan, Nobel Lauretes C.V.Raman and Prof.S.Chandrasekhar, Scientist J.C.Bose, Dr.Homi J.Bhabha, Dr.Vikram Sarabhai and Dr.D.S.Kothari stand with the “best” in the world.

Dear Students! Instead of differentiating among yourselves, integrate in every field and invent new things. You must go through the life history of great Mathematicians and Scientists and ignite your brain to achieve great things. What is needed is inexhaustible spirit!

Swami Vivekananda said, “The infinite library of the universe is in your own mind. The external world is simply the suggestion, the occasion which sets you to study your own mind. The falling of an apple gave the suggestion to Newton, and he studied his own mind. He rearranged all the previous links of thoughts in his mind and discovered a new link among them, which we call the Law of Gravitation”.

Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam says,

“Dream, Dream, Dream

Dreams transform into thoughts

and thoughts result in actions”.

Note the dreams are not the usual ones coming in sleep but those that make you awake!

My dear students! It is time for you to set your goal. Dream, Think and Act upon it. If there are no thoughts, no action will emanate. You energise yourself, sharpen your brain, trigger your brain power to achieve great things! Make your life a masterpiece!

References

1. G.Francis Xavier : Boost Your Brain Power,

2 Barendra Kumar :’Can’ is the word of Power,

3. S.P.Sharma: Success through Positive Thinking,

4. APJ Abdul Kalam : Ignited Minds.

5. Selections from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda.