The Wisdom Paradox: How Your Mind Can Grow Stronger As Your Brain Grows OlderThe Wisdom Paradox explores the aging of the mind from a unique, positive perspective. In an era of increasing fears about mental deterioration, world-renowned neuropsychologist Elkhonon Goldberg provides startling new evidence that though the brain diminishes in some tasks as it ages, it gains in many ways. Most notably, it increases in what he terms “wisdom”: the ability to draw upon knowledge and experience gained over a lifetime to make quick and effective decisions. Goldberg delves into the machinery of the mind, separating memory into two distinct types: singular (knowledge of a particular incident or fact) and generic (recognition of broader patterns). As the brain ages, the ability to use singular memory declines, but generic memory is unaffected—and its importance grows. As an individual accumulates generic memory, the brain can increasingly rely upon these stored patterns to solve problems effortlessly and instantaneously. Goldberg investigates the neurobiology of wisdom, and draws on historical examples of artists and leaders whose greatest achievements were realized late in life. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 1 |
THE LIFE OF YOUR BRAIN | 15 |
SEASONS OF THE BRAIN | 37 |
AGING AND POWERFUL MINDS IN HISTORY | 51 |
WISDOM THROUGHOUT CIVILIZATIONS | 73 |
PATTERN POWER | 85 |
ADVENTURES ON MEMORY LANE | 107 |
MEMORIES THAT DO NOT FADE | 123 |
BRAIN DUALITY IN ACTION | 201 |
MAGELLAN ON PROZAC | 219 |
THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER | 237 |
USE YOUR BRAIN AND GET MORE OF IT | 245 |
PATTERN BOOSTERS | 263 |
THE PRICE OF WISDOM | 287 |
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS | 293 |
CHAPTER NOTES | 295 |
Other editions - View all
The Wisdom Paradox: How Your Mind Can Grow Stronger As Your Brain Grows Older Elkhonon Goldberg No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
ability adult Alzheimer's disease amygdala angular gyrus anosognosia association attractors become behavior bilingual brain damage Brain Mapping brain structures cells cerebral changes chapter cognitive decline cognitive neuroscience complex contrast cortical creativity culture decades decay decision-making dementia depression descriptive knowledge despite disorder early effects emotions executive exercise experience fact frontal lobes functional neuroimaging genius Goldberg gyrus hemi hippocampi human brain impairment important increasingly individual involved language learning left hemisphere lesions long-term Luria mammalian means mechanisms mental activities mind nature neocortex networks neural neurological neurons neuropsychology neuroscientists parietal parietal lobe particularly pathways patient pattern recognition person powerful prefrontal cortex prescriptive knowledge psychology reasoning recent recognize regions relatively representation retrograde amnesia right hemisphere role scientific scientists semantic memory skills species Sternberg Steve's stroke task temporal lobe things tion tive traits University Press various visual York