Analogies Are Mind Expanders: Braintenance - Douglas E. Castle

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Analogies Are Mind Expanders

If you'd like to truly sharpen your ability to think associatively and to open up some exciting neural pathways in the bargain, doing exercises involving analogies may be just the think to add to your Braintenance regimen. These exercises even improve you pattern recognition, total cognition and creative thinking. If you'd like to think outside of the box (and keep your mind fresh in the process), analogies are wonderful tools.

An analogy (dog is to puppy as cat is to kitten, or, as it commonly appears on standardized tests, especially in higher grades: dog : puppy :: cat : kitten) is a comparison between two things that are usually thought to be different from each other, but have some similarities. They help us understand things by making connections and seeing relationships between them based on knowledge we already possess.

Analogies are a ubiquitous staple of standardized tests. This type of comparison plays a significant role not only in improving problem solving and decision making skills, but also in perception and memory, as well as communication and reasoning skills. Learning analogies can help with reading and building vocabulary.

Types of Analogies include:

• Synonym (happy : joyful :: sad : depressed)
  
• Antonym (inflation : deflation :: frail : strong)
  
• Characteristic (tropical : hot :: polar : cold)
  
• Part/Whole (finger : hand :: petal : flower)
  
• Degree (mist : fog :: drizzle : tropical storm)
  
• Type (golden retriever : dog :: salmon : fish)
  
• Tool/Worker (pen : writer :: voice : singer)
  
• Action/Object (fly : airplane :: drive : car)
  
• Item/Purpose (knife : cut :: ruler : measure)
  
• Product/Worker (poet : poem :: baker : pie)
  Different types of analogies are introduced at different levels. Elementary school analogies may be simple, possibly funny analogies; whereas middle school analogies may focus more on analogical reasoning. Analogies practiced in high school delve even more deeply into analogical problem solving.
  
  Analogy vs. Metaphor
  Students often confuse analogies with metaphors. Both are comparisons, often involving unrelated objects, so what IS the difference? An analogy is a parallel comparison between two different things, whereas a metaphor is more of a direct comparison between two things, often with one word being used to symbolically represent another. "All the world's a stage. And all the men and women merely players." is an example of a famous metaphor. William Shakespeare is directly comparing the world to a stage, with the people playing " roles" as they go about their daily lives. A comparable analogy would be "Players are to stage as figure skaters are to ice rink."
  

Practice

Here are some examples (without answers supplied, so if you are overly-challenged, you'll need to employ dictionary.com or some other vocabulary resource) of analogies to sharpen your mind and refresh your vocabulary as well... 

JUROR : JUDGE

Your answer:
criminal : sentence
umpire : oust
broom : sweep [this answer is correct]
decision : vacillate
doctor : cure

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1. AUTHENTICITY : COUNTERFEIT

Your answer:
reserve : reticent
mobility : energetic
anticipation : solemn
reliability : erratic
argument : contradictory

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2. TURTLE : REPTILE

Your answer:
snake : rattle
leaf : branch
oyster : clam
oak : tree
snail : shellfish

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3. AGENDA : CONFERENCE

Your answer:
man : woman
executive : employee
agency : assignment
teacher : class
map : trip

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4. EMBARRASS : HUMILIATE

Your answer:
labor : suceed
bicker : fight
reduce : enlarge
spank : whip
pilfer : steal

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5. COT : BED

Your answer:
hand : finger
hotel : motel
tissue : hankerchief
lesson : composition
tea : lemon

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6. CONCOMITANT: ACCOMPANYING

Your answer:
loyal : staunch
rough : texture
separate : attached
hard : granite
tanned : leather

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7. DISORGANIZED : SYSTEM

Your answer:
retired : hope
greedy : money
athletic : intelligence
traitorous : loyalty
conserve : party

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8. FIX : STABLE

Your answer:
mend : torn
fortify : strong
deter : active
captivate : attractive
furrow : productive

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9. INVARIABLE : CHANGE

Your answer:
unfathomable : depth
extraneous : proposition
incurable : disease
ineffable : expression
varied : appearance

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I wish you the best of luck, fellow Braintenancers, and I thank you as always for reading me. 

Douglas E. Castle for The Braintenance Blog

Labels, Tags, Key Words, Categories And Search Terms For This Article:
Douglas E. Castle, neural, brain exercises, Braintenance, analogies, metaphor, associative thinking, pattern recognition, self-development, self-help, IQ

BRAINTENANCE: Train, Strain And Improve Your Brain. Expand Your Mind.

http://braintenance.blogspot.com

Braintenance contains articles, resources, exercises, games and specially-designed protocols to improve the power of your brain and your mind in every significant aspect, including memory, cognition, IQ, plasticity, creativity and problem-solving ability.

Key Terms: brain, mind, cognitive enhancement, memory, brain gym exercises, IQ, plasticity, mind expansion, creativity, meditation, altered states, perception, self-hypnosis, self-growth, neuron, artificial intelligence, learning, somatic intellect, mathematics, language, dissonance, individualism, herd mentality, puns and word games, linguistics, genius, emotion, subconscious, unconscious, intuition, instinct, psychedelic, reality, learning curve, probability, collective consciousness

Learning Backwards: Braintenance Mind Jolt - Douglas E. Castle

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Learning Backwards: Braintenance Mind-Jolt

How often have you heard of someone knowing something "backwards and forward(s)"?  There is a reason for this in the etymology of the expression itself: it is generally perceived as being difficult for people who have learned and memorized something in a particular order to be able to learn and memorize it in a different order. Learning something "backwards" requires a (with apologies to Liam Neeson) special skill set. The skills involved are used both consciously and subconsciously every day by most people. In learning backwards, you'll have to use these skills consciously -- at least at first.

These skills include visualization (visualizing the list of items with eyes closed), creating acronyms (using the first letter of each image to create a word) and sensory association (i.e., linking a group of things to a simple song, or making them part of a simple story).

The benefits to backwards learning are tremendous. The process stimulates memory and recall, improves cognition and improves creativity.

Following are some lists of items for you to learn "forwards" and backwards. Since I'm not proctoring this exercise, I'll trust that you will be able to recite each of the following lists without cheating. One hint: The most bizarre or humorous associations are generally the most memorable.

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1) A B C D E F G H I

2)  5 1 6 7 8 5 1 0 4

3) Apple, Snake, Pickle, Bicycle, Ruler

4) Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet

5) Sulfur, Phosphorous, Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen

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The video below provides an incredibly simple [oxymoron intentional] means of learning the entire alphabet backwards. This is a great way to be entertaining at social gatherings with friends who are either mathematicians or MENSA members...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wCxRn35jwA


Douglas E. Castle for the Braintenance Blog











BRAINTENANCE: Train, Strain And Improve Your Brain. Expand Your Mind.

http://braintenance.blogspot.com

Braintenance contains articles, resources, exercises, games and specially-designed protocols to improve the power of your brain and your mind in every significant aspect, including memory, cognition, IQ, plasticity, creativity and problem-solving ability.

Key Terms: brain, mind, cognitive enhancement, memory, brain gym exercises, IQ, plasticity, mind expansion, creativity, meditation, altered states, perception, self-hypnosis, self-growth, neuron, artificial intelligence, learning, somatic intellect, mathematics, language, dissonance, individualism, herd mentality, puns and word games, linguistics, genius, emotion, subconscious, unconscious, intuition, instinct, psychedelic, reality, learning curve, probability, collective consciousness

Arranging, Ordering And Categorizing Games: NeuroPlasticity and NeuroGrowth

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Any mental exercises which require that you arrange things (in the same positions as they were in before, i.e., memorizing and conforming to a map, floor plan or layout), order things (based upon a rule, i.e., smallest to largest) or categorize things (i.e., based upon rules, parameters or attributes) have the wonderful ability [whether you are a file clerk, a S.W.A.T. team member, or a Braintenance philosopher (i.e., unemployed, lazy or on an academic fellowship) can and will:

1) improve your memory;

2) improve your spacial perception and navigation ability;

3) improve your associative intelligence;

4) improve your neuroplasticity (the flexibility of brain cells to 'substitute in' for each other or to make adaptations to their functionality); and may...

5) possibly contribute to new neuronal growth (i.e., brand new brain cells) and an newly-establish neural channels.

Following is a wonderful game, courtesy of Brain Metrix, which provides an opportunity to do some arranging, enjoy yourself, and foster some mind growth. That is what The Braintenance Blog is all about. When you've finished, please hit the "BACK" button on your browser, come back to this page, and read so interesting facts, observations and conclusions. We'll wait for you.
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Arrange Game

This game can be a very nice brain exercise, which focuses on prompting your ability to arrange numbers in the right order in a very short time, this game depends on the level you choose. Start with 4 squares x 4, and see how it goes, then you can make it wider as you improve in this brain exercise. Have fun and good luck!

About the Arrange Game:

The human brain is able to continually adapt and rewire itself, even at an old age, it can grow new neurons. Severe mental decline is usually caused by diseasess, whereas most age-related losses in memory or motor skills simply result from inactivity and a lack of mental exercise and stimulation. In other words, use it or lose it. And this is your chance to use it, in this arrange game. 

Click on the hyperlink below to get started:

http://www.brainmetrics.com/arrange-game/

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Welcome back. We have some fresh-baked chocolate cookies left -- saved 'em for you.

On the subject of neuroplasticity and stimulating new neuron growth, I stumbled upon a very interesting bit of news that might constitute a neurological and psychiatric breakthrough:

"(PhysOrg.com) -- A new paper scheduled for publication in the January issue of Nature Photonics describes the use of spinning microparticles to direct the growth of nerve fiber, a discovery that could allow for directed growth of neuronal networks on a chip and improve methods for treating spinal or brain injuries."

You can access the published article, which is a bit technical, by clicking on http://www.nature.com/nphoton/journal/v6/n1/full/nphoton.2011.287.html 

Thank you for sharing a few mind-minutes with me.

Douglas E. Castle On Your Mind




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Subliminal Tapes To Re-Program Yourself.

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Subliminal Tapes To Re-Program Yourself

As promised, and for a wonderful change of pace, I wanted to offer you these FREE subliminal personal re-programming tapes in order to strengthen your self-esteem, resolve, and emotional fortitude. In these three tapes (which you can listen to either with headphones or through your computer's (or other device's) speakers, subliminal suggestions are embedded against a backdrop of gentle sound and binaural beats to maximize entrainment and retention. These tapes were not made by me, and I do not make any guarantees as to their quality or effectiveness -- but I believe that, at very least, you'll find that they make you feel better, generally speaking. And we Braintenance Neuron Knitters are always in need of that!

Simply click on each of the programs below, enjoy it, hit the "BACK" button in your browser, and return to this page. You'll likely achieve the best result by listening to each recording once in the early morning, and once before bedtime. Yep -- this could be a four- or five-day project. Maybe more.

By the way, if you'd like to download a .pdf file (for your repeated use or sharing) of this entire post with live hyperlinks to the programs, simply click on http://bit.ly/2012SubliminalPack.


Here are your Programs:


ONE
http://www.mediafire.com/?p7bsc93myg3mrom


TWO
http://www.mediafire.com/?ue0b2pn4n5nhnec


THREE
http://www.mediafire.com/?6w1xdjcfcdaa9e8


FOUR
http://www.mediafire.com/?p7woyeblmoesm91



Enjoy them, and welcome to the Year Of The Dragon!


Douglas E Castle [http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com] for
BRAINTENANCE [http://Braintenance.blogspot.com]


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