A while back, I had a conversation with an old classmate who has been working for the chipmaker Intel. During our conversation, we talked extensively about the latest innovation in the world of chip making – the Intel Core Duo. I was thoroughly impressed by the chip’s specifications; the Core Duo greatly enhances computational performance and boosts the computer’s multitasking capability by twofold. This new technology made me thinking. If we could come up with technology to improve the computer’s multitasking, surely we can come up with ways to enhance the multitasking level of the human brain.
The following is a simple brain training exercise that I think you will come to like.
Steps:
1) To perform this exercise, you will need a piece of paper and two markers (or pencils.)
2) Draw a square with your left hand & a circle with your right hand. Do the two tasks simultaneously. No pausing or alternating.
3) Keep doing the same step until you are able to draw perfect square and circle.
4) Once you master the technique, do the same thing again but with both eyes closed.
Additional exercise: Work with more complex shapes.
This brain training exercise can either be a cakewalk or an impossible challenge. It all depends on how sharp your brain is, at the moment of the exercise. Try it at different times. Tell me what you think.
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This is a great idea, a nice first step! I once tried writing with both hands at the same time and I failed miserably
OK… here’s a short review of the 5 tries I’m going to do:
1. circle’s not joined up, but it IS a circle… the square is more like an elongated circle
2. The oposite from the 1st try has happened- s square and a squared circle
3.NOW they look like two STUPID blobs…. I’m starting to get quite annoyed… oh well, two more tries…
4. (I decided to do the square with my right hand and the circle with my left hand, to see how it turns out) WOW!!! This is turning better. It’s a wobbly circle, and a wobbly, not quite square square, but at least they DO resemble the shapes quite well-ish
5. Last try… I ACTUALLY think I’m improving!! A lot like the one before, only more acute shapes… I DID slow down from the first time I did it, but I guess rushing through this isn’t the answer.
And that’s all… In five tries, and from disaster to quite well-ish… not TOO bad!! Thanks for these mental exercise… I’m always enjoy these kind of challenges :–)
This is a very good exercise. I am able to do it easily.
In getting to the question of “why can’t we come up with ways to enhance the multitasking level of the human brain? ”
We can come up with many ways. Problem is most people are to lazy to participate for a beneficial amount of time.
Then they quickly forget to practice.
Adam
Interesting challenge. I assume you already know about the Stroop test? Your psychologist friend will, for sure – it’s the verbal equivalent of your physical/spatial task, where participants have to report the colour of the ink in which (different) colour names are printed.
I’m scared to try your test, in case I can’t do it.
I tried it once in the morning after a cup of coffee and did fairly well.
During the evening I just tried it (while I’m very tired), and it was a bit more of a struggle.
I want to test it again tomorrow, though.
It’s a good idea. It might work. Can you write well with both hands? Brush your teeth? Those are also worth trying.
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leafless – the whole idea is to do many tasks well at the same time.
I found it quite impossible at many tries. It seems that the right hand wants to do the same thing as the left hand and vice visa. Got it done though even with the eyes close…hmmm about doing many tasks at the same time?..is it multitasking?
Thank you for this leafless..it is educational.
Cheers
Sugali:)
Hi Leafless,
I can’t do this at all after several tries, my hands want to do the same thing. I wonder if people who have had the connectors between the left and right hemispheres of the brain severed (post surgical epileptics for example) are able to do this more easily? I will keep on trying over the next days.
LA
Reminded me of one of my post
http://www.gingerchai.com/2009/05/08/conditioning-the-mind/
btw , i just wrote a topic on premonition … have a look
will look forward for your opinion on it …
I have read your post a while back and found it to be quite interesting. It takes a lot of thinking at first glance for sure.
Well, I’m no good at all doing it
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But I noticed that, the drawings got better after doing it mentally first.
I hope it improves my brain processors.
Regards
I must admit… I can’t do it with my eyes open… weird I can with them closed… cool task
Sometime the eyes obstruct the mind.
im able to do it quite easy however i finish the circle before the square.. it annoys me because i think im doing it wrong!
Remember to draw the two shapes simultaneously. You should be able to finish both shapes at the same time.
It’s excellent. For some it may look an easy task just with a piece of paper and pencils but it’s not that easy when performing.