In this chapter of the book, the author discusses how the wiring in each individual brain is different. He opens his discussion with the example of Michael Jordan. He was an outstanding basketball player who left to pursue a career in baseball but that effort failed. He then returned to the sport of basketball. He ended up having an exceptional career. Michael Jordan is an example of how precise athletic ability can be. Ken Griffey Jr. set records as an outfielder and was a home run king.
Medina uses the example of a fried egg when describing the nucleus of the brain cells and DNA. In the small neurons there is much genetic material that differentiates individuals. Research has identified specific brain cells that fire as photos of people who are famous …show more content…
Newborns have about the same amount of neural connections as adults. However, in certain areas the amount doubles and even triples. Later, some of these connections are pruned and the process reoccurs during puberty.
Medina explains that brain mapping has shown that those who know two different languages store each language in separate areas of the human brain. However, other authors suggest that if a child learns multiple languages early on in life, and that the different languages will get stored in the same area by overlapping.
Dr. Medina expresses his concerns in regards to the current school system:
1) The learning environment in the school structure expect that children who are the same age are going to learn at a similar pace and in a similar way.
2) The difference in the students’ learning styles and abilities profoundly impact performance in the classroom.
The author gives the suggestion of customized instruction and smaller class sizes. These suggestions are hardly new notions but, in numerous cases, will most likely never exist in the current school systems due to a lack of staff and budget