THE IMPORTANCEAND MECHANICS OF TAKING A NAP

You have been up for hours.  Maybe you have been working, or reading, or doing chores.  And maybe you have just had lunch.  You are not feeling all that energetic at the moment.  You could use a nap.  You want to break out of the funk, revive yourself.  

Most cultures around the world take time off in the day in order to nap. Think "siesta".  Americans seem to be among the conspicuous few who don't.

Can our intelligence benefit from sleep breaks?  Simply put, naps can restore us, keeping our mind sharp.  And not getting enough sleep can be downright unhealthy.  The research literature is filled with studies claiming that poor sleep quality may be connected to high blood pressure, diabetes, and other serious illnesses.

So how does one nap properly?  There are really only two pieces to the puzzle.

First, according to an article in the NY Times, the nap should last no longer than 20 minutes. Otherwise, nappers risk upsetting the brain activities important to developing and maintaining good memory function. 

Second, taking care of the basics is important - that is, locate a dark, quiet, comfortable place, free from potential distractions and disruptions.  

And that's pretty much it.  As they say, it's not rocket science.

Please excuse me for the next 20 minutes or so.

Click here for a look at the article in the NY Times. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF STORIES TO HUMAN INTELLIGENCE

Our lives revolve around stories - at home, at work, in school, at leisure.

We read them; we tell them; we listen to them.

Stories are entertaining, informative, and, sometimes, persuasive.

They chronicle our lives and put the world in context.

So, are stories the foundation of human intelligence?

For a brief, insightful exploration of that question, including the connection of stories to studies of artificial intelligence, read what Tania Lombrozo, psychology professor at UC Berkeley, has to say in an NPR piece.

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BRIGHTEN UP

BRIGHTEN UP

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STUDY: ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IMPROVED WITH EXERCISE DURING LESSONS

A Dutch study suggests that children can learn better if they exercise during their lessons.

Researchers found that children who followed an activity-enhanced curriculum designed for the study scored better on tests in Math and Spelling than children who followed a routine curriculum.

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, indicated that the second- and third-grade students with the exercise-attached lessons scored at a level four months more advanced than the other students.

For more information on the study, see the abstract

INTERVIEW INTELLIGENCE (Humor): WHAT NOT TO SAY AT JOB INTERVIEWS

Interview Intelligence: What Not To Say

What does this company do?

I need a hug.

Just how much are the employees here expected to follow the rules?

I have this anger building inside me.  But I control it most of the time.

Wow, you’ve got the life, don’t you?  I’d love to interview candidates.  If you hire me I’ll work hard…probably harder than you...might even take over your job – watch out.  Just kidding.  Really.

Does this company discriminate against bail-jumpers?

I must be missing something - I don’t know how you can stand coming back to this place day after day.

I’m kinda flexible about hours - They let me out on my own in the daylight, Monday through Friday.

Just got back from the world's least explored jungle. By the way, does the health insurance cover infectious diseases?

Oh oh…that breakfast taco isn’t settling in very well…

GOOGLE'S NEW ROBOT

Google has a new robot and it's tough.

In a demonstration, researchers put the Atlas robot through some normal drills - walking (through snow), opening doors, lifting packages, etc. - and then showed that it is certainly not a softy.  Poked and prodded and pushed to the ground with a hockey stick, the robot shrugged off the abuse and kept operating as if unfazed, springing up from the floor like a heavyweight boxer finding renewed vigor.

Score one for artificial intelligence.

Take a look for yourself at c/net - click here.

INTELLIGENT CHILDREN

Intelligent Children
by Dr. Droge

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