Mind-Body Connection

Brainpower Newsletter

This week we have a new page on the mind-body connection, and a news item on an amazing old man from Japan. Enjoy!

Many books have been written about the mind-body connection. Many studies have demonstrated that people can learn to control involuntary body functions consciously, using just their minds. Unfortunately, so much of the research and writings have been challenged on the one side, and exaggerated on the other, that many of us are justifiably skeptical of claims for this kind of "mind power."

How much control can we really have over our bodies using the power of our minds? Why not find out? Try simple and safe experiments, like the ones suggested below.

Mind Power Over The Autonomic Nervous System

My mother was studying yoga when we were children. She taught me and my brothers how to relax and enter a meditative state. We found that while in this state, we could "order" the blood to flow to one arm or the other, causing a noticeable increase in the warmth of that arm. Our little experiment was...

Continued here:
http://www.increasebrainpower.com/mind-body.html

- Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

- There are only thirteen blimps in the world.

- The white part of your fingernail is called the lunula.

If you have me, you want to share me. If you share me, you haven't got me. What am I?

(Solution at the bottom of the newsletter.)

I can remember that the mathematical constant pi starts with 3.1415... That's good enough for most of the uses I have for it. How many digits of pi can you remember and recite? How many could you remember and recite if you worked on it for a while?

How about 100,000 - in order- with no mistakes. That is what Akira Haraguchi, form Japan, did a few weeks ago. It took more than sixteen hours just to recite the digits. That broke his previous record of 83,431 digits, set in 2005.

Haraguchi uses a memorization technique based on rhyming the numbers with Japanese words. He is 60 years old, and says, "I'm certainly no genius. I'm just an ordinary old guy."

...how you can train yourself to be a better listener:

First, when you do speak up in a conversation, don't bother to express your opinion. Mostly people don't care, or they would ask for it. Instead, ask a question about something the other person has said. This is a better way to listen and to learn something new.

Second, to go get over the habit of dominating a conversation, start purposely going silent. Notice what percentage of the time you are speaking. Practice listening to a conversation without saying too much. Ideally, listen while two or three others talk. Try to say nothing unless...

Continued here:
http://www.increasebrainpower.com/c10-listening.html

MYTH #1 ) "If you sleep longer, you'll be more awake and have more energy in your life."

TRUTH: Sleeping Longer ROBS You of Energy and Damages your Sleeping System.

There are several reasons why sleeping longer damages your sleep system. What most people don't know is that there is a very important element of your inner sleep clock which is prior wakefulness. When you sleep longer you limit your prior wakefulness which puts stress on a number of other factors such us your melatonin hormone levels, your exposure to sunlight, and your body temperature rhythm.

Getting longer sleep or "catching up on sleep" only...

Continued here:
http://www.increasebrainpower.com/sleep-myths.html

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Until next time,

Steve

www.IncreaseBrainpower.com

Riddle answer: A secret.

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