Ng Ai Wei (Questions) by SG

1. Describe 3 take-aways from the article by Fred Gage who first discovered that new neurons do grow in the hippocampus region of an adult brain.
Neurons in the brain don't function alone but form connections with other neurons to perform a function. Additionally, there's no need for complex neurons to be present for adult neurogenesis to occur. Most neurons cannot be replicated due to the complexity of most neurons

2. State 3 key take-aways from the article by Yong Tze Hin on the Neuroplasticity of the Human Brain.
We have the ability to change our brain through brain sculpting. Mirror neurons in our brain have the ability to create empathy. And the brain has the ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections

3. How could we significantly use the concept of Neurogenesis in accelerating our process of learning as life-long learners.
Since I learned that brain cell can be grown with constant efforts, these can serve as a motivation for me to accelerate my process of becoming a life-long learner. What and how we are judged now do not define how capable we really are. We might have the potential just that it has not been discovered or developed yet.

4. What is the significance of the statement that neurons that 'fire together work together'?

The importance of working together in achieving higher levels of the learning process can be realised only when our neurons are connected fully and are tasked to ensure a brainier output of my learning process.

5. Suggest 5 ways that we can leverage on our understanding of our brain in enhancing our learning process towards significant achievements.
The 5 Ways are:
1) Viewing TED videos;
2) Conduct my own research on my brain;
3)Read brain-related books;
4) Summarizing my understanding of the brain through mind-mapping; and
5) Applying what I learn

6. What meaning could we infer from the discovery of the Mirror Neuron System in our brain by Dr Rizzlatti and his team in Palma, Italy very recently?

Mirror neurons (aka Gandhi neurons) are responsible for creating empathy which means putting myself in the shoes of someone else and/or seeing from the perspective of another person.

7. Explain one critical value that arises from the discovery of the Mirror Neuron System.

I learned that connections in our brain via the mirror neurons allow us to connect with the world and the people around us.

8. What meaning do you draw from the statement 'Our Age Does Not Matter So Long As our Matter Does Not Age', and suggest how you could live up to this ideal in your own life and persuade your significant others to achieve the same.

Age is just a number which represents the number of years someone has been alive or in existence. Learning continues regardless of our age. It is just the will and the determination which make learning happen. This shows that our mindsets do matter and learning with a positive mindset is doable when we view ideas and concepts from diverse perspectives.

9. Visualize and caricature your intimate and intense connections with your own brain.

There are many connections in the brain . However, the teenage brain has more connections and are more colorful compared to the adult brain. The teenage brain is also significantly more active compared to the adult brain as the neuron connections "vibrate" more vigorously than in the adult brain. This shows how much power teenage brain holds and we should leverage on this huge asset presented by our teenage brain.

10. Having read the 2 articles on neuroplasticity and previewed the videos via the links I have given you, please map out your own journey and progression in your own life-long journey and accomplishing critical milestones.

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