Brain Rules
By John Medina
Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details every business leader, parent, and teacher should know—like the need for physical activity to get your brain working its best.
How do we learn? What exactly do sleep and stress do to our brains? Why is multi-tasking a myth? Why is it so easy to forget—and so important to repeat new knowledge? Is it true that men and women have different brains?
In Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina, a molecular biologist, shares his lifelong interest in how the brain sciences might influence the way we teach our children and the way we work. In each chapter, he describes a brain rule—what scientists know for sure about how our brains work—and then offers transformative ideas for our daily lives.
Brain Rules
You will discover how:
- Every brain is wired differently
- Exercise improves cognition
- We are designed to never stop learning and exploring
- Memories are volatile
- Sleep is powerfully linked with the ability to learn
- Vision trumps all of the other senses
- Stress changexs the way we learn
Medina’s fascinating stories and infectious sense of humor breathe life into brain science. You’ll learn why Michael Jordan was so good at baseball. You’ll peer over a surgeon’s shoulder as he proves that most of us have a Jennifer Aniston neuron. You’ll meet a boy who has an amazing memory for music but can’t tie his own shoes.
In the end, you’ll understand how your brain really works—and how to get the most out of it.
Chapter Summaries
Use these video rundowns to reinforce the main points in each chapter:
Exercise
Exercise boosts brain power.
Survival
The human brain evolved, too.
Sleep
Sleep well, think well.
Stress
Stressed brains don’t learn the same way.
Wiring
Every brain is wired differently.
Attention
We don’t pay attention to boring things.
Memory
Repeat to remember.
Sensory Integration
Stimulate more of the senses.
Vision
Vision trumps all other senses.
Music
Study or listen to boost cognition.
Gender
Male and female brains are different.
Exploration
We are powerful and natural explorers.
PDF Resources
Cheatsheets, posters, source material, and more.
Watch
Videos about Brain Rules.
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Brain Rule #1 – Exercise
The human brain evolved under conditions of almost constant motion. From this, one might predict that the optimal environment for…
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