Activate Your Brain Book Summary - Activate Your Brain Book explained in key points

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Activate Your Brain summary

Name: Activate Your Brain
Rating: 4.5 (389 reviews)
Author: Scott G. Halford

Scott G. Halford

How Understanding Your Brain Can Improve Your Work and Your Life

4.5 (389 ratings)

18 mins

Table of Contents

Activate Your Brain
summarized in 8 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 8

What’s in it for me? Unlock more of your potential.

Do you sometimes feel that there’s so much more you could do with your smarts, only something is always holding you back, be it brain fog, the lure of the World Wide Web or something else entirely? Chances are, you’re not alone: The market is teeming with attractive guidebooks for brain-owners. So why should you read these blinks?

First, they’re honest: They don’t promise you’ll become the next Einstein in the course of a few weeks.

Second, unlike other programs, these blinks don’t require you to quit your day job and center your whole life around your new brain exercises. Instead, you’ll find simple, practical advice that helps you to make the best of the fine brain you have – with just a few small lifestyle changes, like eating more berries.

Third, all the advice you’ll find is based on solid science.

And lastly, it’s a quick and pleasant read.

Reading these blinks, you’ll find out

why we’re not all that different from chimpanzees;
why back slaps can improve the performance of a basketball team; and
how jogging can help your brain repair itself.

There are only tiny differences between the brains of humans and apes – but these differences are critical.

Ninety percent of our knowledge of the human brain has been acquired in the last 20 years – and we’re still far from fully understanding it. One thing we do know, though, is that our brains aren’t that different from the brains of our closest mammalian relatives – chimpanzees.

Our brain is divided into three main parts, each with distinctive functions, and two of these parts are similar to the brains of apes.

The first part is known as the reptilian brain. This section regulates the bodily functions we don’t consciously control, like breathing and sweating.

Second is the mammalian brain, which constantly scans our environment for danger or reward. It’s also the emotional hub of our brain, dealing with feelings and memories.

Although we share these parts with apes, the third section is what sets us apart. This is the prefrontal cortex, namely the human brain. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for reason, analysis, and the handling of emotions that stem from other parts of the brain.

Imagine the mammalian brain as a kindergarten: everybody is running amok and doing as they please. When the preschool teacher – the human brain – walks in, the chaos is brought under control and order returns.

We need our mammalian and human brains to get on well with one another, otherwise we would continuously fall victim to our impulses. Say your boss is rude to you and you feel a sudden urge to slap him in the face – this is the knee-jerk emotional reaction of the mammalian brain.

But if you pause for a breath, you’ll realize that slapping your boss wouldn’t just be a step back in your career, but could also result in a lawsuit. So you decide to calm down. This is your prefrontal cortex doing its duty and preventing you from impulsive behavior.

Chemicals influence our emotions, but we also influence our chemicals.

Sometimes even the most basic activities like showering or walking the dog seem like insurmountable chores. Blame it on your brain chemicals.

Our brain chemicals regulate our mood, and in order to function well, our brain needs just the right amount of them. What’s more, the cocktail of chemicals needed can change on a daily basis, for example, when we hear some bad news or get a lousy night’s sleep.

Being in control adds to our happiness.

Many things in life come without a guarantee that everything will work out, be it a marriage or the decision to move to another country. But perfectionism is not the answer. In fact, expecting or waiting for everything to be perfect can kill your confidence and make you feel really insecure.

All these things relate to control, or rather, a lack of it. Fortunately, there are ways to reinforce your sense of control and feel more confident. Begin by changing your attitude.

To achieve your goals, you need willpower, focus and reasonable goals.

Remember the last time you really wanted something and actually got it? Chances are, a bit of willpower was involved. Willpower is paramount to success and it has been proven that people who have strong willpower are more successful.

One study by psychologist Walter Mischel in the 1970s showed exactly this. Mischel left some children alone in a room and told them not to eat a marshmallow that was placed in front of them.

Our brain regulates whom we trust and bond with, but we still have a say in the process.

Do you enjoy people-watching at airports and cafes? Do you get a kick out of gossiping at work?

You’re in good company – we’re hardwired to take an interest in others. But what about forming relationships and gaining trust?

Working together is the secret to success and it’s easier than you think.

Several studies have shown that we’re smarter when we’re with others. Teams achieve better results than any solo expert on a given topic. Clearly, we should try to collaborate more with others.

Working with others shouldn’t be a chore, though, since it increases not only our productivity, but gives us joy, too.

You can improve your brain health in many ways and most of them improve your general health, too.

Do you love doing cryptic crosswords or getting your head around some sudoku? Great – these activities help your brain to reshape and grow, reducing the chances of you developing dementia.

This kind of mental exercise is fantastic, but what about physical exercise? We all know physical exercise is great for general health, but do you know just how much it improves the health of your brain, too?

Rest and sleep improve your brain function and protect it from the negative impacts of stress.

Do you sometimes feel like you can’t catch a break from daily stressors? Well, it’s time to get a handle on them. Ongoing stress is the main risk factor for many brain diseases, depression and dementia.

Fortunately, there are ways to dial down the stress and keep your brain fit. One of the easiest ways is sleep. While we slumber, we process the information from that day and store the relevant parts in our memory. Getting sufficient sleep also improves our cognition and mood, making it easier for us to learn and be creative.

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What is Activate Your Brain about?

Despite all the scientific breakthroughs made in recent decades, we still don’t fully understand the human brain. However, we have discovered some important neuroscientific facts. Backed by research, helpful examples and exercises, Activate Your Brain (2015) shows you how you can use this knowledge to make the best use of your brain and live a more fulfilled and mindful life.

Best quote from Activate Your Brain

When you multitask, you are training your brain to be good at paying attention to distractions.

—Scott G. Halford

Who should read Activate Your Brain?

Anyone who is interested in how their brain works
Anyone who wants to regain some control over their life
Students and professionals who want to increase their mental stamina

About the Author

Scott G. Halford is an Emmy award-winning producer, author and speaker on topics such as achievement psychology, emotional intelligence and critical thinking. He was inducted into the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame in 2014 and his previous books include Be a Shortcut: The Secret Fast Track to Business Success and Senseless Acts of Beauty.

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Psychology Personal Development

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