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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Super Brain summary
Deepak Chopra and Rudolph E. Tanzi
Unleash the Explosive Power of Your Mind
19 mins
Table of Contents
Super Brain
summarized in 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
Once you understand how the brain works, you can use this knowledge to heal your body.
The mind and the body are not separate. In fact, the human brain is deeply connected to each and every cell in the human body.
When the brain communicates with the body, feedback loops can occur. Feedback loops happen when outside stimuli set off a chain reaction of simultaneous and sometimes conflicting messages.
Let’s say you’re walking down a street when a dog jumps out from behind a door and startles you. This event causes your brain to send a fight-or-flight message to your body; your heart in response will start to beat faster.
A scare like this possibly could lead to a heart attack, but this is usually prevented by another message from the brain that sets off a feedback loop. While kicking your heart into gear, the brain simultaneously tells the adrenal glands to produce hormones to keep your heart from beating too fast; these hormones eventually will ease the heart back to a normal rhythm.
What’s exciting about this process is that we have the power to control feedback loops as well as determine how this communication affects the body.
For example, Tibetan monks practice a harmonious balance between mind and body. Through intense focus, monks can control which messages the brain sends to the body. When the temperature dips below freezing, a monk can meditate and encourage his brain to send his body messages that will raise his body temperature to a comfortable level.
This kind of mind control has also been tapped to fight diseases once considered chronic and incurable.
When a person has a stroke, the trauma can sever neural pathways used to send messages from the brain to parts of the body, which can result in partial paralysis.
While medical professionals once thought such paralysis was incurable, now therapists can help stroke victims train the brain by sending repetitive messages to affected areas of the body. As part of the therapy, a patient focuses on simple tasks, such as lifting a cup or writing down a word, and over time, the neural pathways will repair themselves and regular movement can be restored.
This example shows us how resilient and powerful the brain can be when we give it focused attention.
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What is Super Brain about?
Super Brain (2012) offers a fascinating look at the amazing powers your brain has to change your life and even alter your perception of the world. “Mind over matter” is a rule; with the right set of tools, you can rise above the daily grind to live a healthier, longer life free from fear and disappointment.
"Loved this book-in-blinks! I'm very interested in learning about the brain, endocrinology and the biochemical processes of the body. As a personal trainer, massage therapist and yoga teacher, I'm somewhat of a body nerd.” – Lisa, Blinkist user, USA
Best quote from Super Brain
Everything hinges on how you relate to your brain. By setting higher expectations, you enter a phase of higher functioning.
—Deepak Chopra and Rudolph E. Tanzi
Who should read Super Brain?
- Neurologists interested in the brain’s holistic powers
- Spiritualists curious about how the brain perceives reality
- Readers looking for the secret to happiness
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