| "> | | | | itself provides stimulus through our senses that |
| This article introduces the philosophy and | | | | motivates us to sustain life. The stimulus of |
| techniques of Neural Ergonomics. In a nutshell - | | | | hunger motivates us to eat. The stimulus of |
| Neural Ergonomics works directly with the brain's | | | | fatigue motivates us to rest and sleep. The |
| Neuroplasticity in the quest of leveraging the | | | | stimulus of heat or cold motivates us into action |
| natural organic functionality of the brain to | | | | to create a more favorable living environment. |
| enhance all facets of thinking. Neural Ergonomics | | | | Stimulus comes in many forms, both negative and |
| amplifies self awareness of our own | | | | positive, and is derived from many sources. |
| consciousness and our perception of the world | | | | Stimulus can occur spontaneously, triggered by |
| outside the mind. The ultimate aim of Neural | | | | the random whims of circumstance, or it can be |
| Ergonomics is to harmonize the mind with its | | | | deliberately designed and deployed to produce a |
| environment which empowers the individual to | | | | desired effect. And, in either case, the stimulus |
| deflect forces harmful to the mind and utilize our | | | | can manifest from the world outside the mind, or |
| faculties and resources to greatest advantage. | | | | it can be generated from within the mind itself. |
| Let's begin with a quick review of Ergonomics. | | | | Designed Stimulus |
| ERGONOMICS: | | | | Designed stimulus, in the form of proper physical |
| 1: An applied science concerned with designing and | | | | training, will cause the body to respond in a |
| arranging things people use so that the people and | | | | predictable manner. Body building employs stimulus |
| things interact most efficiently and safely - also | | | | which isolates the different muscle groups to |
| known as biotechnology, human engineering, | | | | enhance their definition. Calisthenics training |
| human factors. | | | | employs stimulus that works all parts of the body |
| 2: The study of the problems of people in | | | | together as a whole to enhance overall |
| adjusting to their environment; esp., the science | | | | conditioning. A more complex stimulus is employed |
| that seeks to adapt work or working conditions | | | | in gymnastics to condition the body to perform |
| to suit the worker. | | | | extraordinary dynamic movement. Stimulus |
| 3: The design characteristics of an object resulting | | | | derived from playing sports endows the body |
| especially from the application of the science of | | | | with the increased speed, endurance, and agility |
| Ergonomics. | | | | needed to quickly respond to unpredictable |
| Specialists in Ergonomics study the mechanics of | | | | circumstances. |
| the human body to derive universal principles of | | | | Stimulus is by no means restricted to athletic |
| design that support natural movement and | | | | pursuits, the same principles apply to activities |
| thereby reduce forces that are harmful to the | | | | that require highly refined physical performance |
| body. These principles are utilized in the design of | | | | such as playing a musical instrument or |
| working and living spaces and the myriad of tools, | | | | manipulating paint on canvas to produce a great |
| utensils, and appliances that the body interacts | | | | masterpiece of art. |
| with every day. However, the design of | | | | The Philosophy of Stimulus Training |
| environmental elements is only half of the | | | | When any type of regular training is performed, |
| equation. Everyone could significantly reduce their | | | | the body automatically responds by acquiring |
| risk of injury and improve their overall health and | | | | whatever attributes are needed to perform the |
| well-being by learning to harmonize their body | | | | training. As these attributes are gradually acquired |
| movement with Ergonomic principles. | | | | and improved, the body becomes sensitized to |
| Ergonomic training cultivates a highly refined | | | | the physical requirements of performing the |
| sensory awareness of how the body interacts | | | | activity. This amplified sensitivity expands our |
| with the elements of its environment. Skilled | | | | awareness of the changes taking place in the |
| observation of our own joint and muscle | | | | body and the higher level of performance these |
| functioning is needed to anticipate and detect | | | | changes engender. These changes are the |
| unnatural forces as they are encountered and | | | | hallmark of sustained evolution in the mind and |
| automatically adjust our posture to gain the | | | | body. Along with our new found abilities comes |
| optimal mechanical advantage. Given time and | | | | the realization of new potential possibilities of |
| regular practice, those that follow these principals | | | | movement. |
| experience profound physical changes. Consistent | | | | Development proceeds in a cyclic manner. The |
| application of Ergonomic principles endows the | | | | heightened awareness we gain helps us to |
| practitioner with advanced motor skills and a new | | | | discover our strengths and weaknesses which |
| found feeling of comfort and confidence in | | | | enables us to refine the training to leverage the |
| physical performance. | | | | advantages of our strengths and bolster our |
| Neural Ergonomics | | | | weaknesses. Elevated training continues to hone |
| Neural Ergonomics applies Ergonomic reasoning to | | | | our evolving skills and further enhances the |
| support natural function of the internal | | | | awareness of how these new skills could be |
| mechanisms of the brain. Many harmful forces are | | | | utilized. Heightened awareness also endows a |
| generated, both internally and externally, that | | | | progressively higher level of control over the |
| disrupt this natural function. There is in fact an | | | | process which brings a wider range of options in |
| optimal approach to thinking that can nullify these | | | | deploying our newly developed skills. |
| harmful forces while simultaneously removing the | | | | Development will continuously evolve in this |
| impediments to mental clarity. Everyone could | | | | manner for as long as we care to participate, and |
| significantly raise their overall level of awareness | | | | always in proportion to how vigorously we |
| by learning to harmonize their thinking with Neural | | | | participate. |
| Ergonomic principles. | | | | The Force of Willpower |
| It may seem difficult to reconcile the concept of | | | | Success in this cyclical process depends entirely |
| a universal "best" way to think (as if we should all | | | | on our resolve and willpower to exert the effort. |
| think exactly the same) while allowing for the | | | | The level of performance we ultimately attain is |
| unique individuality of every person, but actually | | | | directly proportional to the amount of effort we |
| there is no conflict. | | | | exert in attaining it. Effort is a function of our |
| Ergonomics does not address WHAT activities the | | | | force of free-will which is invariably a matter of |
| body engages in, it's all about HOW to best utilize | | | | choice. |
| the body's inherent mechanical design to maximize | | | | We can choose to ignore or avoid stimulus from |
| performance of any physical activity. Likewise, | | | | outside sources. We can also choose not to |
| Neural Ergonomics is not about WHAT to think, | | | | engage in designing our own stimulus. Living |
| it's all about HOW to leverage the brain's inherent | | | | without stimulus, and the response it will surely |
| functional design to maximize the performance of | | | | incite, diminishes our sensitivity and awareness of |
| thinking itself - regardless of subject matter. | | | | the inner workings of our own body and any |
| Practicing Neural Ergonomics develops a highly | | | | potential to benefit from the experience is lost. |
| sensitized self-awareness of our own thinking, and | | | | Without stimulus the body weakens and will |
| awareness of the forces in the world outside the | | | | eventually atrophy to a point barely capable of |
| mind that influence our thinking. Acquiring a keen | | | | movement. |
| sense of awareness reveals the truth behind | | | | It is also worthy of note that we humans are |
| these forces that in turn empowers us with the | | | | creatures of habit, and so the amount of effort |
| means to discern the authenticity of our thoughts | | | | we exert has a tendency towards becoming |
| and deflect the forces that hinder the | | | | habitual. |
| performance of thinking. | | | | An in-depth exploration of the body's intricate |
| Universal Attributes of Mind & Body | | | | internal mechanisms responsible for physical |
| Of course since the brain and body function | | | | development is far beyond the scope of this |
| together as one, it's no surprise they share many | | | | writing and not especially relevant to the topic at |
| attributes of design. After all, there is no denying | | | | hand. However, there is a single basic concept |
| they were both created by the same designer. | | | | that is very important to keep in mind. |
| Because most of us are more familiar with the | | | | The Wonder of Adaptation |
| workings of the body the simplest approach to | | | | The development of physical potential is possible |
| understanding how brain function develops is to | | | | because of the body's innate propensity of |
| draw a parallel with how the body's functioning | | | | adapting to stimulus by literally reconstructing its |
| develops. | | | | internal mechanisms to a more favorably balanced |
| The human body is composed of an intricate | | | | configuration. Stimulus is the force that induces |
| array of inter-dependent subsystems - each with | | | | this adaptation and the body will always respond in |
| their own balance of strengths and weaknesses. | | | | a manner that exactly opposes whatever effects |
| And, like the proverbial snowflake, no two human | | | | these forces inflict upon us. You may recognize a |
| bodies are exactly alike. Yet even within this | | | | basic universal principle at play here - "For every |
| boundless diversity there is one important | | | | action there is an equal and opposite reaction". |
| universal attribute all bodies have in common, | | | | To summarize what we have covered so far - |
| which is found in their characteristic response to | | | | Stimulus, along with the amount of effort we |
| STIMULUS. | | | | exert in responding to it, can produce the Olympic |
| The Response to Stimulus | | | | athlete, the concert violinist - or the consummate |
| Stimulus is the key factor that motivates | | | | couch potato. |
| development by acting as a catalyst to prompt a | | | | So how does all this relate to the mind? |
| reaction. At the most rudimentary level, the body | | | | |