Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster Neuroscience and Talent: How Neuroscience Can Enhance Successful Plan of Talent Strategy Ali Gorji Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Tehran, Iran Epilepsy Research Center, Munster University, Germany

Memory Emotion Cognition Personality Behavior Motoric Function morality Perception Motivation

SYNAPSES All of the areas of the brain …like sound, communication, problem-solving… are made of cells called NEURONS Neurons pass information through CONNECTIONS with other neurons at SYNAPSES

Three insights that are influence our talent 1. Neuroplasticiy (Growing Brain) 2. Neuronal network 3. Balancing Threat and Reward

Three insights that are influence our talent 1. Neuroplasticiy (Growing Brain) 2. Neuronal network 3. Balancing Threat and Reward

Babies aren’t stupid! They grow connections. The brain must develop billions of connections: every green dot is a junction between one nerve and another

Brain Activity by Age Stages of Development Through Sensory Experiences in the First Year

LTP is an experimental phenomenon, which can be used to demonstrate the repertoire of long-lasting modifications of which individual synapses are capable.

Learning helps our neuronal network GROW. The more we learn, the more connections they make.

People with large auditory areas in their brain grew lots more neuron connections in the sound area through lots and lots of practice.

Imagery and brains Borst et al., 2008

Synaptic Connectivity Relative glucose metabolic rate related to complexity of the dendritic structure of cortical neurons. Increase in capillary density in the human frontal cortex during the same period. Decrease in glucose metabolic rate in the adult reflects a "pruning" of excessive neuronal connectivity and a selective stabilization of the remaining neuronal connections.

Insights and brains An increased activity of the right hemisphere anterior superior temporal gyrus (RH-aSTG) was observed during initial solving efforts and insights. About 300 ms before insight a burst of gamma activity was observed.

Brain Mapping

Brain Mapping

Three insights that are influence our talent 1. Neuroplasticiy (Growing Brain) 2. Neuronal network 3. Balancing Threat and Reward

Brain is a network of connections Brain-based representations of concepts should be possible.

The body in the brain A homunculus is used to describe the relative amount of space our body parts occupy in the brain. In a model of motor functions, some parts are much bigger because we use them much more, or with more accuracy.

The body in the brain The more we use a part of our body, the more space our brain needs to control or interpret it. In fact, by learning the brain may have to change the space it uses to account for new abilities.

People who play music have been found to have auditory centres that are BIGGER than normal. The ‘sound’ area of their brain grew through practising their music.

Prefrontal Cortex Vs. Limbic Systaem

Brainwaves

Three insights that are influence our talent 1. Neuroplasticiy (Growing Brain) 2. Neuronal network 3. Balancing Threat and Reward

1. Motivation driving social behaviour is governed by a principle of minimising threat and maximising reward. 2. The brain networks we draw on to minimise threat and maximise reward are the same brain networks used for our primary survival needs.

CERTAINTY the knowledge that we can predict the future OPTIONS the extent to which we feel we have choice REPUTATION our relative importance to others EQUITY our sense that things are equitable

Common threat triggers To reduce threat / increase reward Element Common threat triggers To reduce threat / increase reward CERTAINTY Lack of information about the future Unpredictable manager behaviour Job insecurity Telling people when they can expect to know Setting timelines and agendas for meetings Laying out plans and breaking down big tasks OPTIONS Telling people what to do Micromanaging Giving people options to choose from Allowing flexible work times and patterns Setting clear guidelines that allow judgements to be made within boundaries REPUTATION Giving advice or instructions Giving critical feedback Leaving people out of activities Asking people to self-assess their performance Giving public positive feedback Creating learning and improvement opportunities EQUITY Perceived favouritism Unclear expectations Uneven workload distribution Being as transparent as possible about how and why decisions are made Setting out and following clear management policies

Neuroscience is providing powerful insights into talent. Conclusion Neuroscience is providing powerful insights into talent. Neuroscience can help us to spot talented individual in different aspects. Following neuroscience implications may improve the success of talented persons by affecting motivation, learning capability, avoiding threats, etc.

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