Only people with excellent judgment can answer this difficult question.
Mary and Ben are two young students in New York, USA. This couple lives in the same house with 4 university friends. One day, coming home from school, Ben saw Mary dead in his room. He immediately called the police.
The police arrive and realize that Mary was killed recently. They interviewed four housemates.
At that time, Mia was in the kitchen cooking dinner. She came home from work 2 hours ago and immediately went to the kitchen, not paying attention to the movement in the room.
And John sat reading a book on a sun lounger in the garden. He said he hadn’t left there since morning.
Jennifer said she spent at least 3 hours at the pool so she didn’t know what happened in the room.
Jane is painting in her room.
The police asked everyone to show their hands and immediately realized that one of them was lying, which meant that this person was the killer. If you were a police officer, how could you find the murderer?
Look closely at all the hands and think about each person’s answer and you will see something wrong. If you find the culprit, you really have excellent judgment and will most likely become the best police detective in the future.
Brain hacking refers to enhancing the brain’s function and overall well-being through various methods, techniques, and tech. It’s a form of self-improvement that uses the brain’s ability to change — neuroplasticity — to optimize your cognitive abilities, emotional regulation, and mental resilience.
The concept isn’t new — for centuries, humans have sought ways to boost how the brain works, drawing from ancient traditions of meditation, herbal remedies, and physical exercises designed to sharpen your mind and expand consciousness. Today, we use the term brain hacking to describe a modern approach that combines these time-honored practices with cutting-edge scientific research and technology.
Why brain hack?
The goal is to unlock our full potential, improving how we think, feel, and operate in daily life. Brain hacking addresses the desire for increased focus, creativity, memory, and mental clarity, offering strategies to overcome your brain’s limitations and achieve peak performance.
What limits brain performance?
Your brain’s performance is shaped by your potential — your talents, skills, and expertise — minus any internal interferences. Imagine you have a strong potential for singing, demonstrated by stellar performances in the shower. However, if suddenly asked to sing on stage, you might find your performance falters.
Why? Despite having the potential, the sudden spotlight can trigger internal interferences like nervousness, anxiety, or negative thoughts — hindering your ability to use your potential fully.
This example highlights how internal challenges can block our abilities, even when we have the skills to excel.
How to hack our brain effectively for more potential
Our brain’s efficiency often gets hindered by excessive activity in a specific area, the amygdala. Vital for our survival instincts, an overactive amygdala can lead to interference, curtailing our potential by triggering unnecessary stress responses.
On the flip side, unlocking our true potential involves enhancement of a different part of the brain: the prefrontal cortex. Positioned at the forefront of the brain, the prefrontal cortex works to execute high-level functions, such as planning, organizing, processing information, and problem-solving. It’s the command center for managing daily tasks and making thoughtful decisions.
But there’s a catch: the prefrontal cortex has its limits. Think of it as a battery. When fully charged, it powers us through tasks with peak mental performance. But as we drain this energy reserve with constant use, our cognitive abilities start to wane, affecting our productivity and mood. Understanding how to manage and recharge this “mental battery” is key to maintaining optimal brain function and realizing our full potential.
How the amygdala & prefrontal cortex work
The prefrontal cortex and the amygdala are vital parts of our daily interactions.
The amygdala is a key region in the human brain that helps with emotional processing, including fear, anxiety, and the emotional aspects of memories. It’s constantly scanning for threats and preparing your body to respond. When you encounter something that might be threatening, your amygdala activates, triggering emotional and physical reactions.
The prefrontal cortex helps you think before you act, weighing the consequences of your actions.It also plays a role in dampening down the immediate, sometimes overblown, reactions of the amygdala. It’s like the rational voice that calms you down, helps you think clearly, and make reasoned decisions!
