Expand Your Spatial Intelligence - Visualize, Project, Construct

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When you visualize, project (into the future, thinking of various next moves or paths beyond just simple extrapolation of a recognized pattern), anticipate, or construct a three-dimensional object in your "mind's eye," you are exercising the power of your spatial intelligence or spatial reasoning.

Spatial intelligence is the ability to comprehend and conceive (imagine) three-dimensional images and shapes. This is a primarily a function of the right side of the brain and is used when solving puzzles, figuring out maps and taking part in any type of construction or engineering project.

While spatial intelligence may, in some instances, involve so element of literal vision, it also incorporates abstract and analytical abilities that go far beyond merely seeing images. In The Global Futurist Blog, I have to stretch my spatial intelligence to the limit in order to project alternative future scenarios which incorporate a wide variety of variables. Projection, in this case is the basis of prediction -- literally, it means seeing something as it will be before it has actually happened.

Recognizing a particular image, knowing its relationship to other surrounding objects and displaying the organizational structure of a thought are all involved in spatial intelligence. Beyond that, being able to mentally foresee the various permutations and combinations of a shape have its elements shifted (i.e., like that of the famous Rubik's cube) without using trial and error methods is a perfect example of spatial reasoning and visualization.

Spatial intelligence is also referred to as “visual thinking”. A good example of visual thinking is when someone is hiking and has a compass and map. Although there is no physical path laid out before him, the hiker will use the tools to visualize and construct (mentally) an imaginary path using the maps and compass to formulate the shortest, most efficient route through the forest.

Spatial intelligence skills are essential for mastering a game such as chess or for commanding troops on a battlefield. 

When you play chess you have to use strategy and skill in not only planning your moves but anticipating what moves your opponent will make. This is where spatial intelligence comes in because this type of brain exercise lets you visualize the board several moves in advance even though the pieces haven’t been moved, or to visualize military moves (battle strategies) and possible countermeasures which the enemy may take -- and going further, thinking of the measures you would have to take with your troops if the enemy were to take those countermeasures.

Perhaps the most amazing skill of all is the ability to challenge yourself (as if you were two separate individuals, each being the other's adversary) to visualize endless moves and counter-moves based upon varying assumptions. If you were to picture this process in your mind, it might well resemble a giant decision tree, with a vast number of decision nodes [see illustration below]

With a greater number of decision nodes each leading to a greater number of possible paths, a more elaborate decision tree could be a true mind-bender.
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If spatial intelligence is such a wonderful thing to have (and it is), what exercises can we do to strengthen it within ourselves? Here are some links to possibilities. I would suggest that you click on one, return to this page (for some of our viewers that means hitting the "BACK" arrow on your browsers) and click on the next. As my old math teacher (and she was rather old, at that!) used to say with a heavy German accent, "Later. Rinse. Repeat."

How To Develop Spatial Intelligence - eHow

A Conversational Thread About Improving Spatial Intelligence

Increase Visual-Spatial Intelligence

Visual -Spatial Intelligence Test

Different Types Of Spatial Intelligence And Ability



I hope that you've enjoyed being "spaced out." Please join me again for more of The Braintenance Blog. Always remember that Brain + Maintenance = Braintenance.

Douglas E. Castle

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Stretch Your Mind: Because Bigger IS Better...

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The objective of this article is to cause you to use several different parts of your brain's faculties from both hemispheres. The exercise is truly (and legally!) mind-expanding. I was always Leery of Timothy -- But was Timothy Leary of me?

A

Solutions To Our Last Post, Where I'll Give You Answers Without Explanations - PERCEPTION EXERCISES:


1) Which of the two figures is more stable, standing on its widest surface (on either end -- you choose)?  The Cone. It might have something to do with the width of the base versus the "width" (merely a point) at the top.

2) How many cones could you fit (with the dimensions in Figure B) or could you insert into a cylinder (using the same dimensions as in Figure B)? Only one. Despite the fact that a cone contains only one-third of the volume of a cylinder, the size of the base is the limiting factor. Bet you thought the answer was two... well then, don't ever bag my groceries at the supermarket.

3) If you roll a cylinder across a table top, what type of shape would it create? A large circle, the radius of which would be equal to the height of the cone. Close your eyes and you'll see it more clearly (this is not an oxymoron)
4) If you push a cylinder (by its wide side) on a table top, what kind of a shape would it create? It would create a long rectangle, until it finally rolled off the table top. We call this the "Toilet Paper Effect" (No. We actually don't. But It's hard to know if that statement is true because I am a pathological liar)

5) If you could glue a limitless number of same-sized cones together at their respective tips, what type of geometric solid would this fusion resemble from the outside? A sphere, with the complexion of a golf ball.

6) If you knocked both a cone and a cylinder over, which of the two shapes is more likely to stay closer to you (instead of rolling under the couch where the dog might accidentally eat it?)? The cone. Just try to imagine a puppy rolling a cone across the room; not picture the same puppy with a soup can or a toilet paper tube.

7) Assume that the widest end (or at least one end) of  each of the shapes were open, which could you stack that would require less space? The cone. Just take a walk over to the office water cooler and look at it. Go on. Cone-shaped cups are stackable. Even truncated cone-shaped cups are stackable. Cylinders have to be stored side by side -- although that can be done in a number of ways, one of which would create a shape which, if looked at head-on, would be shaped like a pyramid... or like....a cone!

8) If both shapes were filled with Styrofoam (or even vermiculite... choose any filling that you wish, as if you were at Aunt B's Yogurt And Cupcake shop) which one would float on its side, and which one would bob? The cone would bob, and the cylinder would merrily spin on its side.

9) Why do you think that cones are used for automobile steering system precision testing, while cylinders are selected to be filled with sand to buttress certain highways (near toll booths and such) in the event of a car crashing into them? Because although the base size is still the same and the cone might actually be more stable, you can fill the cylinder with three times as much buffering material to absorb the impact of the car driven by the imbecile who was texting. Just an example. The Braintenance Blog does not preach. It couldn't anyway -- it does not have the power to speak -- it is inanimate.

10) Bonus! You get to reduce three dimensions to two! Position both shapes to be standing upright, and side-by-side. Cut each in half with a laser beam (or a sword, if you'd like). Without touching the bottoms, throw the tops away. Looking at each of the halved shapes at eye-level, which one will look like a rectangle, and which will look like a trapezoid? Saw a cylinder, get a rectangle if seen from the front; saw a cone, get a trapezoid if seen from the front.

NOTE: In actuality, if you looked at each in the full three dimensions, the cylinder would still be a cylinder (just shorter and stumpier), but the cone would have become a frustum.

B

Now, relax your body and your mind, and focus on the sound of this wonderful babbling brook, embedded and sweetened with very gentle binaural pulses and positive subliminal suggestions. CLICK ME

C

Find the next entry in each of the following sequences:

• 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, ? 
•  
• 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, ?
•  
• A, C, E, B, D, F, C, E, G, D, F ?

D

Without looking up, how many "bullets" were lined up vertically in the preceding section?

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Thank you for visiting, I'll be seeing you very soon. Not literally, of course.

Douglas E. Castle for The Braintenance Blog and sponsored by

CFI CrowdFunding Incubator LLC

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Perception Exercises: Arouse Creativity - Expand Imagination

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FIGURE A

FIGURE B

Perception exercises (those tasks where you must visualize a complex or elaborate scenario "in your head" absolutely arouse and stimulate your creativity and extend and expand expand your imagination. They involve using multiple parts of your brain located in both hemispheres, and often require that you actually close you eyes and either assemble objects, rotate or reposition objects, or visualize a scenario comprise of certain elements. You are literally exercising your imagination; and when you exercise your imagination, you give your brain the equivalent of progressive resistance exercise (the training a bodybuilder or power weightlifter uses for his or body), which strengthens it in every way.

Some pundits (or where they gurus?) have speculated that these exercises help increase coordination and communication between all of the different functional parts of your brain.

Brothers and sisters of The Braintenance Blog, let's try a few of these now. Before we do, take a look at the image at the top of this page, and study the characteristics of each geometric solid, as well as the relationship, in terms of differences and similarities between the two.

Here are a few questions to answer using the power of your ability to retain images and to assemble or reorient them in your mind's eye:

1) Which of the two figures is more stable, standing on its widest surface (on either end -- you choose)?

2) How many cones could you fit (with the dimensions in Figure B) could you insert into a cylinder (using the same dimensions as in Figure B)?

3) If you roll a cylinder across a table top, what type of shape would it create?

4) If you push a cylinder (by its wide side) on a table top, what kind of a shape would it create?

5) If you could glue a limitless number of same-sized cones together at their respective tips, what type of geometric solid would this fusion resemble from the outside?

6) If you knocked both a cone and a cylinder over, which of the two shapes is more likely to stay closer to you (instead of rolling under the couch where the dog might accidentally eat it?)?

7) Assume that the widest end (or at least one end) of  each of the shapes were open, which could you stack that would require less space?

8) If both shapes were filled with Styrofoam (or even vermiculite... choose any filling that you wish, as if you were at Aunt B's Yogurt And Cupcake shop) which one would float on its side, and which one would bob?

9) Why do you think that cones are used for automobile steering system precision testing, while cones are selected to be filled with sand to buttress certain highways (near toll booths and such) in the event of a car crashing into them?

10) Bonus! You get to reduce three dimensions to two! Position both shapes to be standing upright, and side-by-side. Cut each in half with a laser beam (or a sword, if you'd like). Without touching the bottoms, throw the tops away. Looking at each of the halved shapes at eye-level, which one will look like a rectangle, and which will look like a trapezoid?

And now, relax and enjoy a 20-minute audio track of nature sounds which is packed with life-affirming, positive suggestions. The brainwave entrainment pattern which is synchronized with the sounds is Beta, Alpha, Theta, Delta and back to Beta. Just click on the link below to enjoy it!

Sounds Of Nature + Positive Subliminal Suggestions, or if that seems to friendly, you can alternatively click on:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?d6w6w2qang3gxrn

As always, thank you for reading me and for sharing my articles with your social media.

Douglas E. Castle

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