Thinking with the whole brain
AT first, people thought they had only one brain. Then Dr. Roger Sperry demonstrated that we had, in effect, two brains, the left and the right.Dr. Paul MacLean of the California Institute of Technology proposed the Triune-Brain (or three-in-one) theory of the brain.
According to Dr. MacLean, the human brain evolved millions of years ago in three distinct stages. The first to appear or develop was the reptilian brain composed of the brain stem, the mid-brain and the basal ganglia.
This primitive brain’s function was simply to recoil and attack. It recognized habit patterns and territorial integrity. As long as its territory was not touched or crossed, there’s no problem: the reptilian brain would not react. But when it felt that its territory or habitat was threatened or endangered, it would attack or retaliate.This is the brain we have in common with reptiles. Thus, the name “reptilian.”
The next portion of the brain to develop over long periods of evolutionary process was the mammalian brain or limbic system. It is the seat of emotions and controls the body’s autonomic nervous system (breathing, heart beat, etc.) This is the brain we have in common with rats, dogs, horses and other mammals.
The last part of the brain to develop is the neo-cortex, which enables humans to think, especially in an abstract and rational way. The neo-cortex is divided into two hemispheres, the left and the right.
Civilized society
The emergence or development of the neo-cortex enabled humans to discover and develop language, science and technology. In other words, it gave birth to civilized society.
As if these new theories on how the brain works were not enough, along came Ned Herrmann, who proposed that we not only have one, or two or three brains, we have in effect four!
As head of General Electric’s Management Training and Development Department, Herrmann was concerned about improving the way the company trained its staff and managers. He had to learn how people learned. He developed tests and, because of this, his efforts resulted in a novel way of looking at the brain.
He said a person thought in four different ways depending on which part of his brain was dominant or more preferred. He divided the brain into four theoretical quadrants, each representing a distinct pattern of thinking.
On the upper left quadrant, he said people thought “factually, logically, rationally, theoretically and mathematically.” On the lower left quadrant, their thinking was “ordered, detailed, sequential, controlled and conservative.”
On the upper right quadrant, they thought in an “artistic, holistic, intuitive, flexible, imaginative and synthesizing manner,” and on the lower right quadrant, people thought in a “musical, spiritual, emotional and empathic manner.”
Examples of upper-left brain thinkers are scientists, military officers and mathematicians. Lower-left brain thinkers are accountants, lawyers, statisticians. Upper-right brain thinkers are entrepreneurs, novelists, creative writers. Lower-right brain thinkers are entertainers, social workers, sales personnel, etc.
Preferred modes
These are styles or preferred modes of thinking. They are not fixed or unchangeable. They show which theoretical part of the brain our preferred thinking pattern uses.
People’s thinking preference will gravitate toward any one or a combination of these quadrants. If you find yourself at home in all four quadrants or styles of thinking, then you are a whole-brain thinker. That means one quadrant is not more dominant or preferred than another.
This theoretical whole-brain model of thinking proposed by Ned Herrmann has gained much acceptance in business and industry abroad. Training programs have been developed to train executives for whole-brain thinking.
This brain skill is especially true as one goes up the organizational business ladder. The person at the top must think in a whole brain manner to survive competition.
We are now in the midst of a tremendous and often dizzying knowledge revolution. The only way to survive is to use our whole brain in problem solving and decision-making. Otherwise, we will most likely be left behind.
My next ESP and Intuition Development Seminar will be held 9 a.m.-5 p.m., July 15-16. Call 8107245 or 8926806 for details.
http://showbizandstyle.inq7.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=9108
According to Dr. MacLean, the human brain evolved millions of years ago in three distinct stages. The first to appear or develop was the reptilian brain composed of the brain stem, the mid-brain and the basal ganglia.
This primitive brain’s function was simply to recoil and attack. It recognized habit patterns and territorial integrity. As long as its territory was not touched or crossed, there’s no problem: the reptilian brain would not react. But when it felt that its territory or habitat was threatened or endangered, it would attack or retaliate.This is the brain we have in common with reptiles. Thus, the name “reptilian.”
The next portion of the brain to develop over long periods of evolutionary process was the mammalian brain or limbic system. It is the seat of emotions and controls the body’s autonomic nervous system (breathing, heart beat, etc.) This is the brain we have in common with rats, dogs, horses and other mammals.
The last part of the brain to develop is the neo-cortex, which enables humans to think, especially in an abstract and rational way. The neo-cortex is divided into two hemispheres, the left and the right.
Civilized society
The emergence or development of the neo-cortex enabled humans to discover and develop language, science and technology. In other words, it gave birth to civilized society.
As if these new theories on how the brain works were not enough, along came Ned Herrmann, who proposed that we not only have one, or two or three brains, we have in effect four!
As head of General Electric’s Management Training and Development Department, Herrmann was concerned about improving the way the company trained its staff and managers. He had to learn how people learned. He developed tests and, because of this, his efforts resulted in a novel way of looking at the brain.
He said a person thought in four different ways depending on which part of his brain was dominant or more preferred. He divided the brain into four theoretical quadrants, each representing a distinct pattern of thinking.
On the upper left quadrant, he said people thought “factually, logically, rationally, theoretically and mathematically.” On the lower left quadrant, their thinking was “ordered, detailed, sequential, controlled and conservative.”
On the upper right quadrant, they thought in an “artistic, holistic, intuitive, flexible, imaginative and synthesizing manner,” and on the lower right quadrant, people thought in a “musical, spiritual, emotional and empathic manner.”
Examples of upper-left brain thinkers are scientists, military officers and mathematicians. Lower-left brain thinkers are accountants, lawyers, statisticians. Upper-right brain thinkers are entrepreneurs, novelists, creative writers. Lower-right brain thinkers are entertainers, social workers, sales personnel, etc.
Preferred modes
These are styles or preferred modes of thinking. They are not fixed or unchangeable. They show which theoretical part of the brain our preferred thinking pattern uses.
People’s thinking preference will gravitate toward any one or a combination of these quadrants. If you find yourself at home in all four quadrants or styles of thinking, then you are a whole-brain thinker. That means one quadrant is not more dominant or preferred than another.
This theoretical whole-brain model of thinking proposed by Ned Herrmann has gained much acceptance in business and industry abroad. Training programs have been developed to train executives for whole-brain thinking.
This brain skill is especially true as one goes up the organizational business ladder. The person at the top must think in a whole brain manner to survive competition.
We are now in the midst of a tremendous and often dizzying knowledge revolution. The only way to survive is to use our whole brain in problem solving and decision-making. Otherwise, we will most likely be left behind.
My next ESP and Intuition Development Seminar will be held 9 a.m.-5 p.m., July 15-16. Call 8107245 or 8926806 for details.
http://showbizandstyle.inq7.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view_article.php?article_id=9108
posted by Misteryo Philippines Network (MPN) at 12:17 AM
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