Top Brain, Bottom Brain: Surprising Insights Into How You Think

Brain as a Business Model

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:29:00 +0000

As we move toward publication of the second edition, with all-new passages and practical advice, we are honored to be featured on the cover of the current edition of The European Financial Review, "the leading financial intelligence magazine read widely by financial experts and the wider business community," as the publication bills itself.

Co-authored by Top, Bottom authors Stephen M. Kosslyn and G. Wayne Miller with Leo M. Tilman, Executive Chairman of Capitol Peak Asset Management (with offices in New York and Denver), adjunct faculty at Columbia University, and author of Financial Darwinism, "Brain as a Business Model" applies the Theory of Cognitive Modes to the business world.

"Brain as Business Model": The European Financial Review

Here is an excerpt:

The human brain and “brains” of business enterprises have a lot in common. Both set goals, create situational awareness, and use experience to refine and execute plans. Both have distinct yet highly intertwined parts with complementary roles. The classification of people’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses has useful parallels to those of companies.

Akin to successful individuals, thriving organizations exhibit a rich and balanced collaboration between different parts of their corporate brains. This enables them to understand “the future that has already happened,” evolve strategies, and remain competitive and relevant...

Executives and board members who constitute the “top brain” of a company put forth strategic vision and goals, set up processes and plans, direct execution, and revise plans when expected events do not occur. They react to changes in the operating environment through changes in strategy, new products, and business model transformations.

In complementing these “top brain” activities, employees and divisions who form the “bottom brain” of a company classify and interpret what they perceive – in terms of changing customer needs and feedback as well as emerging dangers and opportunities. These “bottom brain” activities allow companies to execute the evolving strategy, innovate, and improve methods and processes – all while helping executives and boards evaluate and refine strategies.

Read the full article here.

Pre-order the second edition of Top Brain, Bottom Brain: Harnessing the Power of the Cognitive Modes.

Coming in March: Revised second edition!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 17:27:00 +0000

The revised second edition, with expanded practical applications, highlights how readers can harness the theory to succeed in their own personal and professional lives. A new focus, a new subtitle, built on the ground-breaking new science. Details here. And to preorder, click here.

33voices features the Theory of Cognitive Modes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 20:51:00 +0000

Thanks to 33voices founder and president Moe Abdou, our discussion of the Theory of Cognitive Modes went live today. Click here to listen to the interview and see the extraordinary slide deck.

For those unfamiliar with 33voices, it is becoming a leading forum for thought leaders in business, innovation, leadership, life and startups.

Here is Moe's introduction to the interview:

"In 2006, when Daniel Pink’s epic manifesto, A Whole New Mind, became the inspiration for the creative class, the world was convinced that the twenty-first century belongs to the ‘creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers, and meaning makers’ in essence, the right-brain thinkers. Pink shared a compelling perspective that described a future where linear and analytical thinking will no longer be sufficient to surviving, rather its the ‘right-brain qualities of inventiveness, empathy, joyfulness, and meaning - increasingly will determine who flourishes and who flounders.’ The science is persuasive, but listen to Stephen Kosslyn and G. Wayne Miller and their evidence might suggest otherwise.

"In their book, Top Brain, Bottom Brain, Kosslyn and Miller suggest that how you think is actually shaped by your different brain regions, here’s why:"

Our new Psychology Today blog debuts!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 15:40:00 +0000

Today, we published the first post on our new Psychology Today blog: The Theory of Cognitive Modes. We will be posting regularly -- original content, answers to reader questions, excerpts from Top Brain Bottom Brain: Surprising Insights Into How You Think, and more.

Here is how we began:

In the posts ahead, we will explore in depth the Theory of Cognitive Modes, a new way of understanding thought and behavior that, until now, has largely remained inside scientific circles. We will discuss everyday implications of the theory that might help you, the reader, in matters ranging from relationships to family dynamics to work to your own voyage of personal discovery. We promise a lively and sometimes provocative experience. We welcome input from you and we will address your observations and questions as best we can. Please write.

Read more from our maiden post and check back often for new guidance, observations, explication and more...

Stephen and Wayne: The Psychology Today blog.

'Startling revelations' in book, says Italian medical publication

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 13:44:00 +0000

Dossier Medicina: The Online News Magazine of Medicine goes on to explore the book, "which aims to reflect on the implications, all testable, this new way of analyzing brain and thought," according to a Google translation.

"The four modes of operation and interaction identified by Kosslyn and Miller high for the brain and the lower brain," Dossier Medicina says, "are called Dynamic ('Mover'), Thoughtful ('Perceiver'), Creative ('Stimulator') and elastic (Adaptor)." Read the full article here.

Italy is one of several foreign markets where the book is being sold (China, Japan, Russia and Korea are others). And the foreign press has paid attention since before publication, with articles in Brazil, Mexico, Korea and elsewhere.

Dossier Medicina illustration

Your brain explained

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 19:36:00 +0000

Click here for a good primer on how the brain works, and is affected by digital technology -- i.e., neuroplasticity at work. Told with clarity and humor by The Providence Journal, where Top Brain, Bottom Brain co-author G. Wayne Miller is a staff writer, this is a good companion to the Theory of Cognitive Modes.

And for a three-minute introduction to the theory, watch this video.

Use your brain to set your New Year's goals

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 19:53:00 +0000

Every New Year we traditionally reflect on where we are and where we’d like to be. As 2013 gives way to 2014, it may be useful to contemplate the words of the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu:“He who knows others is learned; He who knows himself is wise.”

Do you really know yourself? Are you open to a new way of understanding why you—and the people around you—think and behave as you do? Do you hope to succeed at work, start a new relationship or improve an existing one, or get in better overall shape?

Whatever your ambition for 2014, your journey will begin with your mind, those cognitive faculties that arise from your brain -- and the new Theory of Cognitive Modes, a scientifically-based new theory of personality, may be useful. Read New Year's resolution tips, take the test, and find practical year-long advice at the Simon & Schuster Tips on Life & Love blog.

-- For specific relationship insights from the Theory of Cognitive Modes, click here.

-- For specific work and business guidance, click here.

-- To delve deeper into the psychology and neuroscience behind the theory, read this.

-- The theory even has application for sports.

`Two Science Headlines of 2013 that Everyone Should Know'

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 15:28:00 +0000

One was the discovery of astrophysical neutrinos, according to Chris Kukk, professor of political science at Western Connecticut State University, founding Director of the Center for Compassion, Creativity and Innovation, and TED Talk speaker.

The other was the science of Top Brain, Bottom Brain.

(For more 'Top' lists that Top Brain, Bottom Brain made, click here.)

On his blog, Dr. Kukk on Dec. 23, 2013, wrote:

"Two scientific discoveries this year literally and figuratively 'upend' the way we study our universe and our understanding of the brain..." First, neutrinos.

"The other 'upending' idea of 2013," Dr. Kukk writes, "has come from the field of neuropsychology and has turned our understanding of how the brain works from left/right to top-down. The popular notion that the brain is divided into left and right hemispheres has been debunked by Stephen M. Kosslyn and G. Wayne Miller in their new book Top Brain, Bottom Brain: Surprising Insights Into How You Think.

"Kosslyn and Miller clearly demonstrate that the near universal story about the left (analytical and logical) and right (artistic and intuitive) hemispheres of the brain is not based in science. Rather, Kosslyn and Miller use decades of peer reviewed neuroscience research to show that the top and bottom parts of the brain work as a 'single interactive system.'

"They call their approach 'the theory of cognitive modes' and it demonstrates that there is no 'cerebral tug of war' between one-side of the brain and the other. While the “top brain” consists of the entire parietal lobe and the top portion of the frontal lobe, the 'bottom brain' is made up of the remainder of the frontal lobe and all of the occipital and temporal lobes. In sum, the traditional paradigm of the way we understood how the brain learns has been replaced by an interdependent model of cognition that is more scientifically robust. Our educational system should be a place where such scientific research has an immediate societal effect. If we have a better understanding of how the brain learns, we can construct more efficient and effective curricula for our children.

"The 28 neutrinos discovery and the development of the top-bottom brain map help us to better understand our world from the outside in and from the inside out. Both discoveries provide us with 'more whys' and help us on our quest to be 'more wise.' ”

Chris Kukk

"A beguiling sweep of brain science... a fun excursion through the mind"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 14:24:00 +0000

So writes critic Mandy Twaddell in the Dec. 22, 2013, Providence Sunday Journal.

"This book brings us up to date on the science of the human brain," Twaddell begins.

She ends her review by writing: "This book offers a beguiling sweep of brain science for those, like this reviewer, who approach the field with a tabula rasa. It’s a fun excursion through the mind, shedding light on one’s own way of thinking. Perhaps our species needs these separate ways of seeing things to collectively grasp the complex world that we share."

Read the full review here.

Scientific American/FSG authors calls book one of two best of 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 16:56:00 +0000

We were honored to learn that eminent psychologist John D. Mayer, a pioneer in personal and emotional intelligence, has named the book on of his two favorite science books of 2013.

NEW! (This is the third "Top" recognition we have received: the U.K.'s The Guardian named the book first pick of its Top Ten science/technology books for December 2013. On Dec. 23, Chris Kukk, Western Connecticut State University political science professor, founding Director of the Center for Compassion, Creativity and Innovation, and TED Talk speaker, called the Theory of Cognitive Modes one of 2013's top scientific discoveries.)

Writing on the Scientific American/Farrar, Straus & Giroux site, Dr. Mayer declares:

"Kosslyn is a world-class researcher in cognitive psychology and neuropsychology; Miller, a science journalist and author. Kosslyn and Miller describe a new insight emerging from contemporary brain research: that the upper reaches of the brain’s cerebral hemispheres think differently from their lower portions. Kosslyn and Miller argue that people express different thinking styles depending on which part of their brains they favor.

"Top-of-the-brain thinkers are more abstract pattern-perceivers and planners; bottom-brain thinkers deeply process individual instances; and some people use both (or neither). The style that works best for a person will depend on the individual’s context; Kosslyn & Miller’s bottom line is that it helps to know one’s own personal style (they provide a diagnostic test), and it often makes sense to work in teams with people who vary in the parts of the brain they use.

"Throughout the book, they bolster their argument with evidence from key studies, meta-analyses of brain functioning, and a new scale of cognitive style. The writing is lively and accessible, and I was excited about the idea of using insights from brain science to identify new dimensions of our character."

Thanks, John, for the recognition!

John D. Mayer

John is author of the forthcoming Personal Intelligence: The Power of Personality and How It Shapes Our Lives.

The psychology & neuroscience of Top Brain, Bottom Brain

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 11:38:00 +0000

Behind the many practical applications for business, work, relationships and self-betterment stands the new Theory of Cognitive Modes. As a fresh and original contribution to science, it has been featured in a growing list of psychology and cognitive neuroscience publications, and on academic reading lists, along with many mainstream venues.

Top Brain, Bottom Brain has also been named to three "Top" lists, including Scientific American/FSG and The Guardian.

NEW! -- "Great book, great book," says Gary King, Albert J. Weatherhead III University Professor at Harvard University, and Director of the Institute for Quantitative Social Science.

A recent publication is a three-part series that began on Dec. 17, 2013, on the esteemed Brain Blogger site. Under the direction of physician-scientist Dr. Shaheen E. Lakhan, Brain Blogger is an official undertaking of the Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation, an international charity for the advancement of neurological and mental health patient welfare, education, and research.
-- Read Part One of the Brain Blogger series: Since Time Immemorial
-- Part Two: Left/Right? Wrong
-- Part Three: The Theory of Cognitive Modes

The series was picked up by other publications, including ScienceSeeker, allvoices.com, newsfiber, regator and 9rules.

-- The theory also received attention on the Dallas, Texas, NPR show Think on Dec. 16, 2013, when Stephen Kosslyn discussed it and some practical applications for an hour.

Tania Lombrozo

-- Tania Lombrozo, associate professor of psychology at Berkeley, brought it into her discussion of hemispheric differences on 13.7 Cosmos & Culture, the NPR blog, on Dec. 2.

-- During November, a dialogue between the authors and the distinguished psychiatrist, doctor and former Oxford literary scholar Iain McGilchrist played out on Transition Consciousness, edited by Simon Robinson, co-author of Holonomics: Business Where People and Planet Matter.

-- BrainSpeak Magazine published a story: Move Over Right and left Brain: It's About Top and Bottom Now!

-- The Center for Transformative Teaching & Learning at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Potomac, Md., includes Top Brain, Bottom Brain as a resource book on "the Neurodevelopmental Demands of Teaching and Learning."

-- Josh Chen's Brain Talk video -- the theory in 0:27.

-- While not specifically a psychology publication, The Atlantic published a piece, How the Brain Creates Personality: A New Theory.

-- The theory as applied to the psychology of sports was the subject of an op-ed piece in the Nov. 16 edition of The Providence Sunday Journal.

-- Click here to read more articles about the theory and book in The Wall Street Journal, Time, The Guardian, Oprah magazine, and many other places.

-- And for a look at how the theory applies to business and work, read Business Brains.

NPR Dallas: KERA radio's Think program talks with Stephen Kosslyn

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 14:04:00 +0000

We were delighted to have Stephen appear on Krys Boyd's popular Think program, which reaches the Dallas market during mid-day. Krys held Stephen over in order to spend a whole hour on Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, discussing the Theory of Cognitive Modes. Before the show, "Thoughts on Thought," Krys invited her audience to take the online test. It all made for great radio! Thanks, Krys.

Listen to the podcast here.

The theory in three minutes, 2 seconds

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 14:19:00 +0000

Watch a video of authors Stephen Kosslyn and Wayne Miller explaining the new Theory of Cognitive Modes and how it can be useful to you in relationships, work, and your everyday life. This will be 3:02 well-spent!

Holiday Survival Help: Use Your Brain

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 21:03:00 +0000

So how might the Theory of Cognitive Modes, explained in Top Brain, Bottom Brain, help you during the holidays?

First, identify your own habitual cognitive mode, and think about which mode best characterizes others who will be joining you this holiday season. A scientifically validated 20-question self-assessment test, which can be completed and automatically scored in just a few moments, is available at the official book site. It might be enlightening (and mutually enjoyable) for a group all to take the test. The test is useful as a spark for self-examination, and examination of others—and, as such, can lead to interesting insights.

Second, recognize that although it is difficult to change one’s dominant mode—that habitual way of thinking and behaving that generally characterizes an individual— it is possible to shift into another mode, based on circumstances. Having relevant knowledge is key. And merely being aware of the modes can also help: Not typically utilizing deeply part of the brain doesn’t mean that you cannot do so—it only means that you don’t habitually do so.

OK, now some practical suggestions for your best holiday gathering ever. Let’s say that Stimulator mode-inclined uncle won’t let up with those jokes. Funny at first, but when you’re into the third course and he’s still going… maybe not so funny.

Suggested solution: You steer the topic toward someone else at the table—perhaps a relative who seems to be acting in Adaptor mode, assisting with the meal but offering less to the conversation. Drawn out, that relative could not only contribute to the talk, but shift the dynamic of the gathering.

Read the entire "Finding Holiday Harmony and Avoiding Conflict" post on Simon & Schuster's Tips on Life & Love blog.

And for more relationship guidance from Top Brain, Bottom Brain, click here.

Foreign Interest

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 01:40:00 +0000

Starting before publication, the book has received notice from a variety of international publications and sites. Some of the art accompanying the stories has been great -- brain art rules! Here's a sampling of some the recent overseas appearances with the very creative illustrations:

-- Live University, a learning center in Catantia, Sicily, Italy, Dec. 2, 2013.

-- Folha de S.Paulo, a newspaper in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Nov. 29, 2013.

-- A Critica de Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, Nov. 25, 2013.

-- Pijamasurf, a version of Reality Sandwich published in Mexico, Dec. 2, 2013.

-- Quotidiano Giovani, Rome, Italy.

-- "Brain Theory Turned on its Head," Korean Entertainment News.

Courtesy The Providence Journal

-- For a look at U.S. publications including Time, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal and Oprah that have featured or cited the book (and some earlier foreign interest) click here.

Relationships and the Theory of Cognitive Modes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 15:19:00 +0000

As we explain in the book, our new theory defines four basic ways that people can think and behave: in Mover, Stimulator, Perceiver or Adaptor Mode. You can quickly identify your own dominant mode by taking a simple 20-question, automatically scored test.

Identifying your mode can help you better understand how you and the people around you own behave and approach the world, whether on the job, at home, in social situations -- or in your romantic and intimate relationships. Whether you have been in a relationship for a long time, or are just starting -- or wondering if she or he is right for you before taking the next step -- we believe Top Brain, Bottom Brain can be useful to you.

Here is an excerpt from the book -- a good starting point for using the Theory of Cognitive Modes in your important relationships.

Thinking Twice

Stephen M. Kosslyn and G. Wayne Miller.

Ideally, you would have time to reflect on the perspectives presented in this book before beginning a new job or entering a new social or personal relationship. According to the theory (and we again remind you that it is a theory), someone who was prone to being in Stimulator Mode might want to pause to think carefully about marrying someone who also was prone to being in Stimulator Mode—such a union could easily produce a marriage rife with conflict. Two people who typically operate in Adaptor Mode might want to reflect on what a marriage would be like if much of the time “nothing is happening” or the situation is constantly careening or being buffeted by events. Imagine how things might be different for Nick and Erica, the characters we created for chapter 12, if Erica, like her husband, habitually thought and behaved in Adaptor Mode and not in her dominant Mover Mode; with the demands of running the household and managing the couple’s three young children, it might be chaotic.

Although two people who habitually operate in Perceiver Mode might have a low-stress relationship, achieving goals that require detailed or complex planning could prove challenging. Picture Hannah and Rick, the characters from chapter 10. If Rick habitually thought and behaved in Perceiver Mode, as Hannah does, the two of them would enjoy a comfortable life—but as they neared their sixties, would either of them have made the financial decisions necessary to ensure a comfortable retirement? The point is not that Hannah (or any librarian) is incapable of long-term financial decision making, only that this is not likely to be her natural inclination—but it is where Rick’s dominant cognitive mode advances the couple’s shared interests.

Similarly, the theory leads us to expect that if a person habitually operates in Perceiver Mode in the professional world, it might be most comfortable for him or her to work with people who often are in Perceiver or Adaptor modes. But, comfort aside, this often would probably be less than ideal. Arguably, most teams would benefit by having some members who are comfortable and adept in Mover Mode, others who are comfortable and adept in Adaptor Mode, and so on. For example, people who prefer to operate in Perceiver Mode would get a lot out of working with those who prefer Mover or Stimulator modes, and vice versa.

In order to change your dominant mode, you need to be highly motivated, have a lot of time, and stick to the effort—and even then, this change will probably affect your functioning only in a particular domain. Not everybody is so patient. In most cases, we suspect that you probably would be better off identifying your dominant cognitive mode and finding people who have dominant modes that complement your own. And remember that a person’s mode may be different in different circumstances (which draw on different sets of knowledge)—a person comfortable with Mover Mode at work may be most comfortable in Adaptor Mode at home, and a person who usually operates in Stimulator Mode with friends may slide into Perceiver Mode with a mate. Thus, if our theory is on the right track, be sure to spend time with a person in the appropriate circumstances if you are seeking compatibility.

Some readers of this book will find themselves already in problematic situations. What then? The Theory of Cognitive Modes cannot provide definitive guidance, but knowing about the four modes can make you sensitive to certain potential problems before you become involved with someone. Moreover, the theory implies that you can become an expert on someone close to you. And learning to predict his or her likely reactions can help you operate in Perceiver and Mover modes, which can make a difficult situation manageable. If you don’t have the motivation or time to learn how to cope, seek a friend (or counselor) who can complement your strengths, filling in for what you cannot do easily. Here, again, would be the value of relying on an appropriate social prosthetic system.

Working well with others is arguably the most important thing most of us do. There are two clear keys to success: The first is to grow, by learning new strategies (ways to plan and behave, using the top-brain system) and learning new ways to “frame” a situation (ways to classify and interpret, using the bottom-brain system). The second is to change your circumstances, whether work, home, or social setting. In any given situation, you can use one of these two keys to open a new door.

Time, The Guardian, Oprah, The Atlantic, Wall St. Journal & many more feature Top/Bottom

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 22:51:00 +0000

The new Theory of Cognitive Modes, presented in Top Brain, Bottom Brain, continues to receive attention from many publications and media outlets representing many disciplines: psychology, of course, but also business, sports, science and relationships. And indeed, the book explores the theory as it can apply in all of these areas -- at work, home and in everyday life.

Many readers tell us they have benefited from identifying their own dominant cognitive mode -- Perceiver, Stimulator, Adaptor or Mover -- by taking the 20-question test, published in the book and available (with automatic scoring) online.

Courtesy: Oprah magazine

Here are some of the places where the book has been featured or cited:

-- NPR's 13.7 Cosmos & Culture blog, Dec. 2, 2013.

-- The U.K.'s The Guardian named Top Brain, Bottom Brain first pick of its Top Ten science/technology books for December 2013.

-- On Friday, Nov. 29, Time posted an essay by Stephen and Wayne on its home page. Read the essay here.

-- Posting by Simon Robinson, a British writer and thinker living in Sao Paulo, Brazil; reaction by Iain McGilchrist, of London and the Isle of Skye; and our response regarding left brain/right brain to Simon and Iain, all on Transition Consciousness, Nov. 16 to Nov. 19, 2013.

-- Interview with Wayne on the Sean Moncrieff show, NewsTalk 106-108 FM, Dublin, Nov. 19, 2013.

-- The Page 99 Test, U.S., Nov. 18, 2013.

-- Feature about Top Brain, Bottom Brain on Marshal Zeringue's Campaign for the American Story blog, U.S., Nov. 18, 2013.

-- An intriguing online lesson built around the book by Feride Hekimgil, a teacher at Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey, Nov. 16, 2013.

-- "How Brain Function Might Put Some Athletes Ahead of Others," Sports Section, Providence Sunday Journal, Nov. 16, 2013.

-- Medical Daily published a substantial piece on Nov. 14, 2013.

-- The Atlantic, Nov. 12, 2013.

-- Boston Research Group's BSG Team Ventures Leadership for Innovation Executive Selection, Nov. 12, 2013.

-- An essay on ReadWave, site based in London, Nov. 11, 2013.

-- Oprah magazine, November issue.

-- Op-ed piece, "Brain Myths, Brain Realities," in the Oct. 27 Providence Sunday Journal.

-- The Wall Street Journal, Oct. 19, 2013.

Time, MSN.com feature Top Brain, Bottom Brain

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 12:51:00 +0000

Latest coverage from the book comes from Time, which featured the story on its home page, and MSN.com, which pinged from the Time piece. These follow attention from The Wall Street Journal, Oprah, The Atlantic and other mainstream publications and broadcast outlets.

Here's what MSN.com had to say on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013:

"Your brain isn't lefty or righty, but probably top or bottom

MSN.com art

"If you're a sucker for those tests that tell you whether you're left-brained or right-brained, you've been using old brain. Scientists have long known that the popular theory of a logical side of the brain doing battle with the creative side is mostly bunk, myth-making hysteria from some 1970s lab research that even the author, Nobel laureate Roger Sperry, cautioned against. Halves of the brain, scientists agree, work together not in isolation. Now neuroscientist Stephen Kosslyn and author G. Wayne Miller suggest that top and bottom sections of the brain are a more pertinent split, an upper half that 'sets up plans and revises those plans when expected events do not occur; the bottom (that) classifies and interprets what we perceive.' But it's still more of a collaborative process, no matter what your left brain tells you." Read the piece.

On Friday, Nov. 29, Time posted an essay by Stephen and Wayne. Read the essay here.

Time illustration

Business Brains

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 11:54:00 +0000

Business Brains

by Stephen M. Kosslyn and G. Wayne Miller

The new Theory of Cognitive Modes, introduced in Top Brain, Bottom Brain: Surprising Insights Into How You Think, from Simon & Schuster, can inspire innovative new ways to manage a business more effectively.

The book and theory have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Time, NPR's 13.7 Cosmos & Culture blog, and elsewhere.

The theory is based on decades of scientific studies showing that the top part of the brain formulates and implements plans, and revises plans in response to events; and the bottom part of the brain categorizes and interprets experiences. Four Cognitive Modes are identified, based on how deeply (or not) one tends to utilize the top or bottom parts of the brain:

MOVER mode occurs when people deeply utilize top and bottom parts of the brain. When people operate in this mode, they are comfortable being leaders of companies, divisions and teams. To illustrate Mover Mode thinking and behavior, the authors use the example of Michael Bloomberg, outgoing mayor of New York. Decisions Bloomberg faced and actions he took are described in Chapter 9 of TopBrain, Bottom Brain.

PERCEIVER mode occurs when people deeply utilize the bottom but not the top part of the brain. Such people do not typically prefer to make detailed and plans, but are often the voice of wisdom in an enterprise, skilled at analysis, if not implementation. To illustrate Perceiver mode thinking and behavior during a typical workday, the authors created a character named Hannah, a reference librarian, for Chapter 10.

STIMULATOR mode occurs when people deeply utilize the top but not the bottom part of the brain. When people operate in this mode, they are often creative but may not respond appropriately when their plans do not go as expected. Stimulator thinking and behavior during a typical workday is illustrated with the actions of a character named Andy, a program director at a classic-rock radio station, in Chapter 11.

ADAPTOR mode occurs when people deeply utilize neither the top nor the bottom part of the brain. Although they prefer not to make detailed and complex plans, when people operate in this mode they tend to be natural team members, essential to a business. Adaptor thinking and behavior during a typical workday is illustrated with a character named Nick, an electrician with a large construction company, in Chapter 12.

To determine your own dominant cognitive mode, take the test.

Courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.

Key Points in incorporating the lessons of Top Brain, Bottom Brain in business:

· Identify cognitive modes. A simple self-assessment is available in the book, and online.

· Compose teams based on dominant modes so that the appropriate approaches are present when the team is faced with a particular kind of problem.

· Understand your abilities and learn to recognize others who can provide skills you may lack, a concept the authors explain in the context of a new idea: Social Prosthetic Systems.

· Trigger conversations about dominant modes, which can facilitate future interactions.

An online Business Lesson:
-- After learning of the book, teacher Feride Hekimgil of Bogazici University, in Istanbul, Turkey, built an online lesson: “Imagine you are head of human resources for a big multinational which is setting up a subsidiary in a very competitive business hub; let us say Singapore, and you know what mode the applicants operate under. Who would you hire for the sales team, the research department and human resources and why? Justify your answer.”

NEW! A leadership and executive coaching firm pays attention:
Annapolis, Maryland-based firm Sophia Associates says: "This new way of looking at how people think and behave may help us understand actions of different people within a more diverse context."

What business leaders are saying:

“Businesses can be viewed by analogy to the brain, with different divisions mimicking the operation of different brain systems.”

-- Leo Tilman, president of Tilman & Company, a global strategic advisory firm, and an adjunct professor at Columbia University.

“I was very impressed by your explanation and it helped me to better understand myself and some of my team members. This will be required reading for my team of 20 in 2014.”

-- Mike Kreiling, owner of Express Employment Professionals in Winona, Minn.

"This kind of analysis – that is, determining someone’s cognitive mode and predicting how he or she will react in certain situations – should be essential to leadership assessment and executive search. This is not a discussion of someone’s qualifications, which can be gleaned from a resume; it is primarily the dissection of someone’s aptitude in terms of (a) an inclination towards goal-setting and decision-making and (b) a history of accurate interpretation of and responsiveness to new information."
-- Boston Research Group's BSG Team Ventures Leadership for Innovation Executive Selection.

Courtesy Oprah magazine

What other experts are saying:

“A bold new theory, with intriguing practical implications, formulated by one of America’s most original psychologists.”

-- Howard Gardner, co-author of The App Generation

"An exciting new way to think about our brains, and ourselves. Original, insightful, and a sweet read to boot."

-- Daniel Gilbert, Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, author of the international best seller Stumbling on Happiness

"Kosslyn and Miller have written a lively, informative, and easily assimilated summary of several important principles of brain function for the general reader who does not have the time or background to follow the complexities of neuroscience research but would like a scaffolding on which to place the new facts that dominate each day's headlines."

-- Jerome Kagan, emeritus professor of psychology, Harvard University

"Stephen Kosslyn has long been one of the world’s leading cognitive psychologists. In his new book, along with Wayne Miller, he proposes a novel synthesis for thinking about the modes of cognition and the neurobiology that underlies it. This is an extremely stimulating book and a wonderfully readable one as well, even containing useful information for how each of us can make sense of our own ways of thinking.”

-- Robert M. Sapolsky, Stanford University Professor of Neurology and MacArthur Fellow

"Kosslyn is one of the world’s great cognitive neuroscientists of the late 20th and early 21st century."

-- Steven Pinker, bestselling author of The Language Instinct

Top Brain, Bottom Brain: Surprising Insights Into How You Think, has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Time, NPR's 13.7 Cosmos & Culture blog and elsewhere. More at TopBrainBottomBrain.com

Watch The Wall Street Journal interview of Kosslyn.

Stephen M. Kosslyn is a cognitive neuroscientist and was professor of psychology at Harvard University for over 30 years; he now serves as the founding dean of the Minerva Schools at the Keck Graduate Institute. G. Wayne Miller is an author, filmmaker and Providence Journal staff writer. Visit him at www.gwaynemiller.com

Audible calls Top, Bottom "mind blowing... no pun intended"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 23:12:00 +0000

Top Brain, Bottom Brain was featured today on the home page of Audible as the title selected for What We're Listening To. Nice! Here's what they wrote:

"Laura, one of our Editors, found Top Brain, Bottom Brain mind blowing... no pun intended. 'Like most people, I latched onto the Left-brain vs. Right-brain theory of personality types – those with a dominant left hemisphere are more analytical and those with a dominant right hemisphere are more creative. Within the first chapter, Dr. Kosslyn had me challenging this notion, and thinking of the brain, and myself, in a completely new way.' "

THIS JUST IN: New notice from sources in the U.S. and abroad

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 16:19:00 +0000

Two weeks into the roll-out of the book, we are receiving attention from a variety of sources here in the U.S. and in countries abroad, including Turkey, England, Brazil and Ireland. Among the latest stories, postings and appearances:

-- Posting by Simon Robinson, a British writer and thinker living in Sao Paulo, Brazil; reaction by Iain McGilchrist, of London and the Isle of Skye; and our response regarding left brain/right brain to Simon and Iain, all on Transition Consciousness, Nov. 16 to Nov. 19, 2013.

Iain McGilchrist

-- Interview with Wayne on the Sean Moncrieff show, NewsTalk 106-108 FM, Dublin, Nov. 19, 2013.

Sean Moncrieff

-- The Page 99 Test, U.S., Nov. 18, 2013.

-- Feature about Top Brain, Bottom Brain on Marshal Zeringue's Campaign for the American Story blog, U.S., Nov. 18, 2013.

-- An intriguing online lesson built around the book by Feride Hekimgil, a teacher at Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey, Nov. 16, 2013.

Feride Hekimgil

-- "How Brain Function Might Put Some Athletes Ahead of Others," Sports Section, Providence Sunday Journal, Nov. 16, 2013.

N.E. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Courtesy Mary Murphy, The Providence Journal.

-- The Atlantic, Nov. 12, 2013.

-- An essay on ReadWave, site based in London, Nov. 11, 2013.

Robert Tucker, editor of ReadWave

Earlier attention:

-- Oprah magazine, November issue.

-- Op-ed piece, "Brain Myths, Brain Realities," in the Oct. 27 Providence Sunday Journal.

-- The Wall Street Journal, Oct. 19, 2013.

Join us on Pinterest and Tumblr

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 15:01:00 +0000

We are now sharing photos, videos and more on Tumblr and Pinterest. Please visit!

VIDEO: The trouble with left brain/right brain

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 13:03:00 +0000

Teacher at leading Turkish university builds lesson around book

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 20:09:00 +0000

We learn today that an English teacher at Bogazici University, in Istanbul, Turkey, has built an online lesson around the key points of the Theory of Cognitive Modes.

On her blog, The Prop Room, teacher Feride Hekimgil has crafted an intriguing lesson derived from the story Stephen and Wayne wrote for the October 19, 2013, Wall Street Journal Sunday Review.

"This mind-blowing text just happens to have lent itself to some tough comprehension questions and an interesting and original writing task, all of which makes me very happy," Feride writes on her blog. "Those of you out there who are interested in science will find this riveting. If you have the background, you could compare this theory to the left brain right brain writing task as well."

"Access the online copy of the article," Feride writes, "scroll down and find the link to the quiz: 'What kind of thinker are you?'. Do the quiz and discuss the answers if you are doing this with friends or in class." Click here for a link to the quiz (and also to watch a video).

Thirteen thoughtful questions intended to spark discussion follow, and then there are two writing tasks. Here is the second:

"Imagine you are head of human resources for a big multinational which is setting up a subsidiary in a very competitive business hub; let us say Singapore, and you know what mode the applicants operate under. Who would you hire for the sales team, the research department and human resources and why? Justify your answer."

We don't know Feride, but she seems to have smartly digested some key points of the book and the Theory of Cognitive Modes. Thanks, Feride! You can read her entire lesson at here Prop Room site.

Feride Hekimgil

The Atlantic features book, Readwave publishes essay

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 10:51:00 +0000

The Atlantic magazine on Nov. 11 published "How the Brain Creates Personality: A New Theory," essentially the first chapter of the book in which we broadly outline the Theory of Cognitive Modes. A very nice introduction to the book -- and very nicely displayed online. We appreciate the coverage! You can read The Atlantic excerpt here.

We also were invited to write an 800-word essay for Readwave, a very cool "new place for sharing 3 minute stories" published out of London. Wayne wrote about the importance of collaboration and partnering, using co-writing of the book as an example. Thanks, Readwave! Read the essay here.