Nothing in life is free. You pay for everything, and the bottom-line medium of exchange is energy. Brain energy! Part of growing up involves deciding the price you are willing to pay.
—Arlene Taylor PhD
Every human brain develops
uniquely. Because of this no two brains
are ever identical in structure, function,
or perception—not even brains
of identical twins! This understanding
has been immensely helpful in allowing
me to avoid meaningless argument and
foolish controversy. Much of the time
arguments simply involve perception
differences between two brains, although
some people believe that if they talk
louder, faster, and longer, somehow
that might force the other person’s
brain to perceive the information in
the same way. In the main I have given
up all expectations for another brain
to understanding mine completely (I
don’t even understand it completely),
and vice versa.
Learning about brain function gives
you the option to apply the knowledge
you gained on a daily basis. No doubt
you can figure out many practical applications
on your own, and you will need to do
just that in order to live your life
by design, expend your energy efficiently,
and thrive. Because it is often easier
to start from something than from nothing,
and in response to numerous requests,
I have prepared a collection of practical
application summaries. My goal is to
share information that will stimulate
thinking and observation, trigger increased
awareness at an individual level, and
provide another way to view behaviors.
Use these summaries as a springboard
for your own practical applications
and have fun in the process!
In preparing these summaries, I have
relied heavily on brain function research,
a plethora of studies, collaboration
with other brain researchers, and discussions
with experts in a variety of genres.
Nevertheless, the summaries represent
my own brain’s perception. There
will be some who do not agree with my
opinions. In those cases I suggest the
individuals study the research for themselves
and come to their own conclusions.
Typically,
conclusions from research projects and
studies are presented in the form of
generalizations that apply to nearly
70% of the population (to the first
standard deviation on either side of
the mean). There are always exceptions
based on individuality. No two brains
are ever identical in function, structure,
or perception—not even those of
identical twins.
If some of your personal characteristics
don’t match a specific generalization,
it doesn’t invalidate the research
findings. It does exemplify individual
uniqueness. Avoid discounting first-impression
mismatches too quickly. Perhaps you
haven’t had the opportunity to
hone a specific skill, or your personal
past experiences have impacted you in
unusual ways.
Typically,
conclusions from research projects and
studies are presented in the form of
generalizations that apply to nearly
70% of the population (to the first
standard deviation on either side of
the mean). There are always exceptions
based on individuality. No two brains
are ever identical in function, structure,
or perception—not even those of
identical twins. 