Can you control how you think?

[The`Republic]

Substance, thanks for that. You can call it meditation, taking quiet time etc...but 20 mins, stillness, not thinking of anything as much as possible...will yield new neural pathways (or as your scientific article called it, neuroplasticity).

Neuroplasticity (from neural - pertaining to the nerves and/or brain and plastic - moldable or changeable in structure) refers to changes in neural pathways and synapses which are due to changes in behavior, environment and neural processes.

This Times article has a little bit more on what I talked about:

FOR DECADES, THE PREVAILING DOGMA IN neuroscience was that the adult human brain is essentially immutable, hardwired, fixed in form and function, so that by the time we reach adulthood we are pretty much stuck with what we have.

...

But research in the past few years has overthrown the dogma. In its place has come the realization that the adult brain retains impressive powers of "neuroplasticity"--the ability to change its structure and function in response to experience.

....

For the monks as well as the patients with depression or OCD, the conscious act of thinking about their thoughts in a particular way rearranged the brain. The discovery of neuroplasticity, in particular the power of the mind to change the brain, is still too new for scientists, let alone the rest of us, to grasp its full meaning. But even as it offers new therapies for illnesses of the mind, it promises something more fundamental: a new understanding of what it means to be human.


Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... z28HuhRiCn

20 mins everyday in the morning, close eyes, be still, doesn't have to be totally quiet, and think about nothing. If it becomes difficult to think about nothing, pay attention to your breathing.

You will form new neural pathways which will allow you to control thought pattern and how you "think."

[Alphanumeric]

You probably didn't understand what I meant; not really surprised the whole subject confuses generally.

Irony. Develop some new neural pathways and learn it.

That point did not mean what he said disagreed with anything I have said, but that he thought it did.

/thanks.

I was pointing out your misuse of terms here. Again, your posts seem to be about learning, not thinking. This could have been a great thread.

Meh.

[Substance]

Np

[zulaika]

I am talking about whether you can really dictate thought pattern. Can you? As difficult as it sounds, I am not sure it is that difficult at all.

i don't have a problem controlling my thoughts......and controlling how someone else thinks..most of the time.

[Anarchist]

Neuroplasticity is fascinating stuff, great topic.

Remember reading an incredible article about neuropsychiatry last year and how mood disorders like depression affect neuroplasticity.

http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/heal- ... depression

Human brain never ceases to amaze.

[The`Republic]

I was pointing out your misuse of terms here. Again, your posts seem to be about learning, not thinking. This could have been a great thread.

Meh.

Developing new neural pathways allows you to control your thinking either as a counter-balance to existing problems (bad habits, depression, etc) or allowing you the opportunity to have the ability to develop the kind of "mentality" you always wanted. It is really not controversial to say that.

Obviously you have to learn after you develop the neural pathways but that is the means to the end: new thought pattern.

[The`Republic]

Neuroplasticity is fascinating stuff, great topic.

Remember reading an incredible article about neuropsychiatry last year and how mood disorders like depression affect neuroplasticity.

http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/heal- ... depression

Human brain never ceases to amaze.

It is absolutely amazing; the brain can reorient and recharge it self. It can develop new methods of thinking and you can continue to keep your mindset "young". Amazing that a simple think like meditation/taking quiet time, etc literally and figuratively forms new neural pathways brand new and for your first time use. I honestly get my best ideas after taking quiet time but I have started to employ the 20 minute quietness/meditation in the morning and you cannot imagine what it does for me. I feel like the speed of my thinking changed 3X and I feel clearer when thinking and able to see problems faster than most people.

[InvisibleHand]

Your thoughts and opinions are based on your life experiences. So, no. You can't.

[The`Republic]

An old Somali geeljire said nin buko boqol u tali. If we are talking about medicine, every Somali is a doctor. If we are talking about physics, every Somali is a quantum physicist.

[Alshabaibe]

Formation of new pathways is learning. I was under the impression that how one uses his mind to form collective thoughts is influenced mostly by external factors. Internal would just be synaptic modifications?? I'm speculating here. Anyway, Republic did you mean control at the physiological level? If so, do you have a paper to this effect?

[Daff]

Neuroplasticity is fascinating stuff, great topic.

Remember reading an incredible article about neuropsychiatry last year and how mood disorders like depression affect neuroplasticity.

http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/heal- ... depression

Human brain never ceases to amaze.

It is absolutely amazing; the brain can reorient and recharge it self. It can develop new methods of thinking and you can continue to keep your mindset "young". Amazing that a simple think like meditation/taking quiet time, etc literally and figuratively forms new neural pathways brand new and for your first time use. I honestly get my best ideas after taking quiet time but I have started to employ the 20 minute quietness/meditation in the morning and you cannot imagine what it does for me. I feel like the speed of my thinking changed 3X and I feel clearer when thinking and able to see problems faster than most people.

Now I understand how you managed to predict 3 different PMs in one day. Each time your brain formed a new neural pathway a different name bopped up Doodishe, nope. Nur bidaar nope, farmajo nope I will give it a try

[jalaaludin5]

How come no one mentioned Sufis?

yes you can control how you think through Dikir and the 99 names of Allah.

[almoha]

Your qeustions can be best answered by a budhist. They know more about meditating and making your mind blank as you mention in some of your posts.

[jalaaludin5]

Your qeustions can be best answered by a budhist. They know more about meditating and making your mind blank as you mention in some of your posts.

Buddhist have nothing on Sufis!

[Twist]

Neuroplasticity is fascinating stuff, great topic.

Remember reading an incredible article about neuropsychiatry last year and how mood disorders like depression affect neuroplasticity.

http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/heal- ... depression

Human brain never ceases to amaze.

It is absolutely amazing; the brain can reorient and recharge it self. It can develop new methods of thinking and you can continue to keep your mindset "young". Amazing that a simple think like meditation/taking quiet time, etc literally and figuratively forms new neural pathways brand new and for your first time use. I honestly get my best ideas after taking quiet time but I have started to employ the 20 minute quietness/meditation in the morning and you cannot imagine what it does for me. I feel like the speed of my thinking changed 3X and I feel clearer when thinking and able to see problems faster than most people.

Now I understand how you managed to predict 3 different PMs in one day. Each time your brain formed a new neural pathway a different name bopped up Doodishe, nope. Nur bidaar nope, farmajo nope I will give it a try

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!

And about the topic, is it really possible to sit somewhere for 20 minutes thinking about nothing? I could never complete one rak'ah without thinking about anything.