I just read an article reporting on the findings of a study carried out at Washington University in St. Louis, USA. The scientists there recorded brain activity of subjects as they read. What they found was that when reading about a subject the brain activity increased in the region of the brain that would also be stimulated if the action they were reading about was actually being performed.
Does that surprise you?
The only thing that surprises me is that the professor in Washington University who undertook this study actually thought it necessary to spend the US tax dollar investigating this subject. If he had asked me I could have supplied him with the answer. Isn't it logical that we learn from reading, from books? I concede that theory and practice are two different things but whenever I undertake a new activity my initial step is reading up. Reading the theory but also the practice. What about instruction manuals, gardening books and, perhaps the best example, the cookery book! Isn't that the way many of us begin to learn certain ' skills' ?
Its all about imagination. And if you are equipped with a reasonable amount of imagination, whether you read a book or watch a film the 'passive' experience is translated within the grey matter into something approaching a real life experience and before you know it that lump is back in your throat and there is a serious chance that the kids will see that Bambi has once again transformed you into that sniveling mother thing. Haven't we all experienced that? Ok, gentlemen, that was perhaps confined to the realms of femininity, but I have an even better example that you too can relate to.
So this American professor has just discovered that a passive observation can lead to a learning experience or even the acquisition of a certain level of skill. As far as I can see, the porn industry discovered this a long time ago. The success of the porn industry is a direct consequence of the experience documented by this American professor. Passive participation translated in the brain to a physical experience – don't deny it, that is what happens and that is why the porn industry survives.
So although I realize that these topics need to be scientifically tested and proven, I can't help thinking that perhaps there are other topics more in need of the funding. I am sure all will agree that this one is pretty obvious. It seems such a shame to waste good money investigating subjects that we all are already experts on.
Does that surprise you?
The only thing that surprises me is that the professor in Washington University who undertook this study actually thought it necessary to spend the US tax dollar investigating this subject. If he had asked me I could have supplied him with the answer. Isn't it logical that we learn from reading, from books? I concede that theory and practice are two different things but whenever I undertake a new activity my initial step is reading up. Reading the theory but also the practice. What about instruction manuals, gardening books and, perhaps the best example, the cookery book! Isn't that the way many of us begin to learn certain ' skills' ?
Its all about imagination. And if you are equipped with a reasonable amount of imagination, whether you read a book or watch a film the 'passive' experience is translated within the grey matter into something approaching a real life experience and before you know it that lump is back in your throat and there is a serious chance that the kids will see that Bambi has once again transformed you into that sniveling mother thing. Haven't we all experienced that? Ok, gentlemen, that was perhaps confined to the realms of femininity, but I have an even better example that you too can relate to.
So this American professor has just discovered that a passive observation can lead to a learning experience or even the acquisition of a certain level of skill. As far as I can see, the porn industry discovered this a long time ago. The success of the porn industry is a direct consequence of the experience documented by this American professor. Passive participation translated in the brain to a physical experience – don't deny it, that is what happens and that is why the porn industry survives.
So although I realize that these topics need to be scientifically tested and proven, I can't help thinking that perhaps there are other topics more in need of the funding. I am sure all will agree that this one is pretty obvious. It seems such a shame to waste good money investigating subjects that we all are already experts on.
