LHTL - ALT 2 - JHB Flashcards
What is the “flashlight-analogy” for the diffuse mode of thinking?
The diffuse thinking-mode can be though of as a flashlight set so that it casts its light very broadly, but not very strongly in any one area.
Why is the diffuse mode of thinking good to use when you need to understand something new?
The neural resting states that underlie the diffuse mode seem to allow you to be able to cast your thinking much more broadly. That way you can more easily begin to understand something new.
Describe the focused mode of thinking
Focused mode of thinking is the type of intense concentration you need to work through a problem, step-by-step.
What is the “pinball-analogy” for focused mode of thinking?
The focused mode of thinking can be seen as a pinball machine that has bumpers which are very tightly grouped together, so the pinball (the thought) can’t go very far without bumping into a bumper.
How did Salvador Dali switch between focused and diffuse thinking modes?
He used to rest in idleness with a set of keys in his hands.
When he fell asleep, he would drop the keys. That took him back into a more focused mode, still with the diverge ideas from his diffuse mode in mind.
What happens on the dendrites of neurons when you learn something new?
Many new synapses (connections) are formed on the dendrites.
Why is “spaced repetition” good for learning new things?
Spaced repetition builds stronger neural structures by repeating them over a number of days.
What happens to the metabolic toxins in the brain when you sleep?
Sleep allows the brain to wash away metabolic toxins (maily because the brain cells shrink) so they disappear from the brain.
When you sleep, what happens to the important and not-so important memories that you have formed throughout the day?
Sleep allows your brain to strengthen important parts of memories even as it erases less important memories.
Why is it a good idea to take a break or go to sleep if you are stuck on a problem?
Taking your attention off of what you want to solve helps allow other neural modes to have access to the material.
You won’t be conscious of your brain continuing to work in the background on the problem–but it is!
Sleep in particular appears to be a powerful time for subconscious problem-solving.
What happens with the slight neural discomfort that arises when we work on something hard, new or boring, after we have forced ourselves to work on it for a while?
Not long after you start working on something that you find unpleasant, that neural discomfort disappears.
So an important aspect of tackling procrastination is to just get yourself through that initial period of discomfort (the Pomodoro technique helps you do that).
What is chunks and chunking?
Chunks are compact packages of information that your mind can easily access.
Chunking is the mental leap that helps
you unite bits of information together
through meaning.
Creating a chunk involves three steps, which are they?
- Focus your undivided attention on the information you want to chunk
- Understand the basic idea you’re trying to chunk
- Gaining context
Why is it important to have focused attention on what we try to learn?
When you first begin to learn something, you’re making new neural patterns and connecting them with preexisting patterns
that are spread through many areas of the brain.
Learning something new takes a lot of effort and it is recommended to have all working memory capacity dedicated to it.
Can you create a chunk if you don’t understand what you are chunking?
Yes, but it’s often a useless chunk that won’t fit in with, or relate to other material of your learning.
Learning takes place in two ways, which?
- A bottom-up chunking process
- A top-down big picture process
What is a better, more simple, alternative to re-reading material for better learning?
Recall
After you’ve read the material, simply look away and see what you can recall from the material you’ve just read.
Why is concept-mapping (drawing connections and relationships between the concepts you try to learn) not a really good learning technique?
If you’re trying to build connections between chunks before the basic chunks are embedded in the brain, it doesn’t work as well.
It’s like trying to learn advanced strategy in chess before you even understand the basic concepts of how the pieces move.
Rereading can be good in some occations. When is it useful?
Rereading text seems to be effective if you let time pass between the readings, so that it becomes more of an exercise in spaced repetition.
What is one of the most common “illusions of competence”?
Merely glancing at a given solution and thinking you truly know it yourself.
You must have the information persisting in your memory if you’re to master the material well enough to do well on tests and to think creatively with it.
How can we make sure that we are not fooled into an illusion of competence?
By testing ourselves on what we want to learn.
Describe the idea of transfer of chunks
When you grasp one chunk, you’ll find that that chunk can be related in surprising ways to similar chunks, not only
in that field, but also in very different fields.
What is the law of serendipity?
Luck favors the one who tries
When can overlearning be useful?
Overlearning can help produce an automaticity that can be important when there is a risk of choking.
For example when executing a serve in tennis, playing a perfect piano concerto or performing a speech in front of an audience.
Procrastination is called a keystone bad habit, what does it mean?
Procrastination can be a single monumentally important keystone bad habit, a habit that influences
many important areas of your life.
If your keystone habit falls, other bad habits might follow it down.
Why are rewards important?
Habits are powerful because they create neurological cravings. It helps to add a new reward if you want to overcome your previous cravings.
Only once your brain starts expecting that reward, the important rewiring will take place that allows you to create new habits.
What is the term Zombie mode used to refer to when talking about procrastination?
“Zombie mode” refers to the relaxed state your mind enters when you are performing common and habitual tasks.
Examples of zombie states and habitual behavior include
- Riding a bike
- Getting dressed in the morning
- Being able to back your car out of a driveway (if you are familiar and comfortable with driving).
Why is concept mapping a quite misunderstod method for learning new material?
Although concept mapping can have its place, research has shown that it’s less effective than another powerful technique – simple recall.
Remember, connecting concepts isn’t going to help if you don’t have the concepts already well-embedded in the brain.
It’s like trying to learn higher strategy in chess without having learned the basics about how the pieces move.
Why is it good to practice deep breathing in times of stress, such as before a test?
When stressed before a test, you should turn your attention to your breathing.
Taking deep breaths can control your stress level and fight the “fight or flight” instinct.
Describe the impostor syndrome
The impostor syndrome is quite common and is seen across all academic and non-academic disciplines.
Getting a good grade on a test but being convinced that it was luck and that you are sure to fail the next test and be exposed as a fraud, is a good example of the impostor syndrome.
