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Training exercise boosts brain power, Johns Hopkins researchers say

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Re: Training exercise boosts brain power, Johns Hopkins researchers say

#101

Post by SilasX »

dibujante wrote: post #100
SilasX wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not being sociable and fun at parties is a sign of intelligence? Charisma doesn't come from the liver. (believe that was Yudkowsky)

Are you kidding? Did the "bright, socially awkward person" stereotype get put out to pasture while I wasn't looking?

That's a folk stereotype, not a rigorous demonstration that "intelligence" (in the appropriate sense) must cause worse social interaction, as your comment would imply.

Edit: To clarify, even accepting that (some narrow definition of) intelligence (associated with math) is anti-correlated with social skills, that wouldn't imply that someone who is already "good at parties" should worsen their social skills by improving their intelligence.

Edit2: I agree that my earlier comment was poorly worded, and that, if you knew nothing else you should expect "conventionally smart" people to have less social skills. But that wouldn't seem to be relevant here, for the above reasons. And charismatic people are intelligent, in a sense.

Re: Training exercise boosts brain power, Johns Hopkins researchers say

#102

Post by dibujante »

SilasX wrote: post #101
dibujante wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you kidding? Did the "bright, socially awkward person" stereotype get put out to pasture while I wasn't looking?

That's a folk stereotype, not a rigorous demonstration that "intelligence" (in the appropriate sense) must cause worse social interaction, as your comment would imply. Edit: To clarify, even accepting that (some narrow definition of) intelligence (associated with math) is anti-correlated with social skills, that wouldn't imply that someone who is already "good at parties" should worsen their social skills by improvin…

Ah, well, I wasn't even trying to imply that anyways. I was looking at the pros: better attention, better executive control, better focus. Whether he's great at parties is totally beyond my comprehension.

Re: Training exercise boosts brain power, Johns Hopkins researchers say

#103

Post by SilasX »

dibujante wrote: post #102
SilasX wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a folk stereotype, not a rigorous demonstration that "intelligence" (in the appropriate sense) must cause worse social interaction, as your comment would imply. Edit: To clarify, even accepting that (some narrow definition of) intelligence (associated with math) is anti-correlated with social skills, that wouldn't imply that someone who is already "good at parties" should worsen their social skills by improvin…

Ah, well, I wasn't even trying to imply that anyways. I was looking at the pros: better attention, better executive control, better focus. Whether he's great at parties is totally beyond my comprehension.

If the change resulted in you being less able to do what you did before because of a higher mental load from the environment, that would be evidence against having improved intelligence.

Re: Training exercise boosts brain power, Johns Hopkins researchers say

#104

Post by smartbit »

dkersten wrote: post #74
hinkley wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did when I was younger and my theory is that one of the reasons some people have trouble with endurance exercise is the same reason they can't do yoga or meditation. It's just too much time alone with your own thoughts and it's scary for some people. I'm not convinced that it's the actual running that's predominantly responsible for the neurogenisis (although we know that exercise causes an uptick in HGH so it's pl…

This video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsVzKCk066g and this book https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316113514/ref=as_li_tl?ie... suggest that it’s movement. They talk about how complex movement in creatures typically correlates with the size of the brain. Anecdotally, I’ve been doing the Cambridge Brain Sciences[1] tests every so often over the past few months to see how various things affect my score (mainly bec…

The youtube video mentions BDNF. The hilarious 'Exercise boosts brain power' video https://player.vimeo.com/video/16335377 of http://brainrules.net/brain-rules-video says "BDNF are created when you exercise".

Highly recommended book BTW, IMHO a must for anyone who learns as it explains scientific brain research in layman's terms. It explains how we humans are ruled by our brains. When you understand your brains better, you can make better use of them. In conjunction with Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy Baumeister, a golden couple.

Re: Training exercise boosts brain power, Johns Hopkins researchers say

#105

Post by nether »

mrfusion wrote: post #99
dangerlibrary wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. No, not for bouldering, though it helps to have climbing shoes. 2. It's generally considered impolite to give advice on how to climb something, unless the person asks. 3. Most bouldering/climbing gyms have small workout areas in addition to the walls, and memberships that aren't a lot more expensive than a regular gym.

Thanks! I’ll check it out. So you’re saying I can just show up and boulder or are there lines? Or appointments?

You can just show up any time the gym is open. There are bouldering walls, just find a problem (what bouldering "routes" are called) that no one is on and go for it. Gym bouldering is usually pretty social, most people will be happy to answer any questions you have about anything, easier problems to try or techniques, etc.

Re: Training exercise boosts brain power, Johns Hopkins researchers say

#106

Post by krrrh »

harbie wrote: post #22
taeric wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amusingly, I would not be surprised to find some people need both. In particular, exercise is boring. Very very boring. Anything that can help with concentration during boring tasks is useful. Obviously, that is my experience. Ymmv

This was how I felt about lifting weights. I know about all of it's amazing health benefits, but you've got 3-5 minutes rest between sets, with most programs having you do at least 9 sets total. That's not even counting the time added on if someone else asks to work in sets with you. Plus the need for a spotter when benching. Point is, I ended up getting into bouldering. If you want to send a bouldering problem, you…

If that rest time between sets is timed, it's a perfect opportunity to drill a second language in Anki, or Duolingo. Get your memory reps in between your lifting reps.

Re: Training exercise boosts brain power, Johns Hopkins researchers say

#107

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

vbuwivbiu wrote: post #20
JamesBarney wrote: post #6

When the first studies by Jaeggie on IQ came out a few years ago I hit dual n back pretty hard trying to improve my IQ. I don't think I got any smarter, but I did notice a few things. Pros My attention got better, I was less easily distracted. My executive function was better, I made better choices in life.(less junk food, fewer beers) My thoughts slipped less often, I had those "what was I just talking about" moment…

pretty much my experience too. I never got that good at dual n-back (4 I think, and only if I was well-rested) and my IQ didn't improve, but I did find an increase in the ability to relate recent events to the present and keep track of recent events. For example, during meetings I was much more able to recite back to someone things they had said earlier in the meeting in the context of what we were presently discussi…

So the working memory exercise... improved your short term memory? :)

But it is good to hear that it worked well for you

Re: Training exercise boosts brain power, Johns Hopkins researchers say

#108

Post by [deleted] »

pm90 wrote: post #78
harbie wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This was how I felt about lifting weights. I know about all of it's amazing health benefits, but you've got 3-5 minutes rest between sets, with most programs having you do at least 9 sets total. That's not even counting the time added on if someone else asks to work in sets with you. Plus the need for a spotter when benching. Point is, I ended up getting into bouldering. If you want to send a bouldering problem, you…

On the contrary, lifting weights has been one of the most fruitful additions to my life. I started around 5 years ago and it visibly changed my body in a year; something which I've wanted for a long time. Every time, its a thrill to be able to lift more weights, to complete the reps and know that I'm stronger than I was a month ago. I'm guessing what bothers you the most is the idea of doing the same thing over and o…

[deleted]

Re: Training exercise boosts brain power, Johns Hopkins researchers say

#109

Post by heyheyhey »

Anyone have tricks to boost their memory?

Lately, I've felt my memory has been a little off. I feel like I'm not remembering things I would normally easily remember.

Like the other day, I was trying to remember what they speak in Iran (Farsi) or who the head coach of the Boston Celtics or what was the name of the Scorsese movie with Wahlberg/Damon/Nicholson. These are all subjects I'm very familiar with so it bothered me that I couldn't remember the answers immediately.

Re: Training exercise boosts brain power, Johns Hopkins researchers say

#110

Post by seanmcdirmid »

nether wrote: post #96
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless you live in say Salt Lake City or near a national park, these aren't activities you can do everyday on a schedule. Cycling is fine, as long as you live in a place that supports it well enough (so a Deep South city with no bike trails might not be a good idea).

You can combine approaches. I'm a "weekend warrior" with climbing, hiking etc., and my passion for those activities spurred me to train during the week on a schedule. I'd gym climb or work out at home with dumbbells, so that I could do harder objectives during the weekend. This can be a gateway drug, and cause you to change your whole lifestyle and move to a place with such activities in abundance.

Well, I guess you don't have kids yet. Lifestyles need to be sustainable. For many, machines in the gym downstairs is the only thing that fits (many don't have that).
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