Sleep more, learn more. Researchers are beginning to understand that sleep is not only for rest; while we sleep, different parts of our brain 'talk' to each other about the day, the patterns we saw, the emotions we felt, and lessons we learned.
When you think about it, we awake each day as somewhat different people, especially those of us who get plenty of sleep!
From Harvard's Division of Sleep Medicine, To Understand The Big Picture, Give It Time – And Sleep
No surprises in this New York Times story by NATALIE ANGIER. Every time we (scientists, thinkers, researchers) divide the world to try to understand it better, we end up deciding it can't be partitioned discretely.
Or at least that it can't be divided without changing it.
Gut Instinct’s Surprising Role in Math
A story in today's paper confirms something I posted a few weeks back, here: Whole-body exercise is better for your mental faculties than brain-only exercise. (I must admit I want to try the new vision software that's out for the GameBoy DS.)
"So instead of spending money on computer games or puzzles to improve your brain’s health, invest in a gym membership. Or just turn off the computer and go for a brisk walk."
New York Times story
The analytical technique of reducing a problem or phenomenon into its parts is a foundation of western civilization. It leads to conclusions that are sometimes marketable, often simplistic, and usually miss the greater meaning.
The folks at Harvard Business School's Working Knowledge for Business Leaders talked to Rogers and Milman about their behavioral research into our various personas:
"People often behave as if they possess multiple selves with different, competing interests. We call 2 of these metaphorical selves the "want-self" and the "should-self."
"The want-self is myopic and desires instant gratification. If left to its own devices, the want-self would always act on immediate, visceral desires (e.g., spending instead of saving money, eating junk food instead of health food). The should-self, on the other hand, prefers to behave in a way that will maximize long-run benefits. If left to its own devices, the should-self would always act on behalf of an individual's long-term best interests (e.g., saving money or donating it to a good cause instead of spending frivolously, eating health food instead of junk food)."
Link to HBS Interview by Sarah Jane Gilbert, Understanding the 'Want' vs. 'Should' Decision
Working paper authors: Todd Rogers and Katy Milkman
"Busy people are familiar with the feeling that their heads fill up
with a jumble of facts during the day, like an overstuffed inbox," says
Stickgold, assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
"Such people often say, 'I need to sleep on it.' They do, and their
heads feel less cluttered in the morning. Much of the excess detail is
gone, and the important facts seem clearer."
"Moral decision making is based on our emotional reaction to situations
as much as it is to any kind of rational thought..."
We are just built that way.
ScientificAmerican.com story; drawing credit
J. Craig Venter's two-year search for new ocean life has uncovered a staggering number of unknown social life forms. They are mostly little tikes we call microbes. The targeted population for my futuristic concept of "multi-social networks," which I posted on here, just exploded a thousand times. Venter says we have just scratched the surface. His discoveries appear to be following the crude progression followed by historical explorers from the ancient Phoenicians to NASA's Mars Pathfinder, though I believe our path will progress more quickly:
As we explore, our knowledge and choices expand. As our choices expand, we must become better critical thinkers and more open deciders. As always, if we don't do this for ourselves, someone else will.
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Research report at PLoS Biology; today's newspaper story, Seas Yield Surprising Catch of Unknown Genes; Venter Institute home; Microbe Wiki; photo
Fifty years ago, Doris Day sang, "Que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be, the future's not ours to see."
Twenty-seven percent of people believe that getting cancer is up to fate. Wow. That is one out of every four people.
This is can be partially explained by ignorance or misinformation. Despite 40 years of public education linking cancer to personal behaviors like sunbathing and smoking, there may be some who haven't gotten the message. Maybe they believe they will be like 85-year-old Uncle Harry, who is going strong after four scotches and a cigar every day for the past 60 years. But I doubt it. Most people know the facts, they know what is right to do, but they choose to delude themselves anyway.
The predominance of delusional behavior is disturbing for the future of choice and the quality of decisions we make. Delusions are irrational and erratic. People will sacrifice their lives to serve them. Businesses may delude themselves that their products are good for customers, or that they know what people want. Governments and churches may delude themselves that everyone should live under their version of democracy, communism, or some other dogma.
I may be deluded that we can make our future far better than our past. At least my delusion is unlikely to hurt anyone.
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TIPS TO CUT CANCER RISK
Stop smoking - Giving up, even at the age of 60, can cut the risk of lung cancer dramatically
Be SunSmart - Protect yourself in the sun and take care not to burn
Stay in shape - Be active and keep a healthy body weight
Look after number one - Know your body and see your doctor about anything unusual
Eat and drink healthily - Limit alcohol and choose a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables
