Mind expanding: 7 ways to fine-tune your brain

 

(Image: Nigel Sussman)
The human mind is the most complex information processing system we know. It has all sorts of useful design features but also many glitches and weaknesses. The problem is, it doesn't come with a user's manual. You just have to plug and play.
But if anyone knows how to get the best out of our brains, it's neuroscientists. So we asked some of the best to explain how the human brain performs many of its most useful functions and how to use them to the max.

1: ATTENTION

How to hack your attention span

Boost your ability to stay focused and you can improve at almost anything. Here are the latest tips for bringing your brain's two attention systems to heel
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2: WORKING MEMORY

Get your memory working

Working memory is your brain's scratch pad and contributes to anything that needs effortful, focused thought. Here's how to keep your mental pencils sharp
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3: LOGICAL AND RATIONAL THOUGHT

Become a logical and rational being

Logic doesn't come easily to humans, but it is possible to go beyond your gut reactions - if you practice
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4: LEARNING

Think like a child to learn faster

Learning a new skill can rewire your brain within hours. But to keep those circuits strong, you may need to think back to a time when you knew nothing
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5: KNOWLEDGE

Harness the power of knowledge

Knowledge goes beyond memory, forming a a rich and detailed understanding of your world. But you can know too much
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6: CREATIVITY

Creativity on demand

Great ideas sometimes come out of the blue, but we don't always have time to wait around. Here are the latest tips to get your creativity flowing
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7: INTELLIGENCE

Can you increase your IQ?

Like it or not, most of our intelligence is genetic - but there's one part of our brain power that we can count on improving with age
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THE RIGHT TIME?

Set your watch for genius

From razor-sharp focus to creative thinking, your brain is at its best at different hours of the day. Here's how to plan your schedule for greatness
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