News Article on Doodling for concentration...

[Ladon]

[url]http://health.yahoo.com/news/healthday/takenotedoodlingcanhelpmemory.html[/url]

The article says, in effect, that if you are performing a listening task, doodling may increase retention of certain material. That's what I got out of it anyway. I wonder if this isn't applicable here. I think what is happening is a form of hypnosis, you're distracting your kinesthetic and visual processes by doodling, allowing your auditory system to pick up things more readily. Any thoughts?

[EMG]

personally, I believe that it would probably work VERY well for some people, others would find the activity of doodling too distracting and would never achieve trance with it. Still, could be a very fun induction.

http://health.yahoo.com/news/healthday/takenotedoodlingcanhelpmemory.html

The article says, in effect, that if you are performing a listening task, doodling may increase retention of certain material. That's what I got out of it anyway. I wonder if this isn't applicable here. I think what is happening is a form of hypnosis, you're distracting your kinesthetic and visual processes by doodling, allowing your auditory system to pick up things more readily. Any thoughts?

[cardigan]

I have an induction that i save for personal clients - called the blackboard induction. I didn't invent it myself - but it's very effective for analytical minds. It has the subject visualizing a blackboard and having them occupy their conscious mind with writing all the letters of the alphabet one by one. First they write the letter A - and erase it. Then the letter B - and erase it. And so on. And while they occupy their conscious mind totally with this, I talk to their unconscious mind - and bring them into trance.

It works exceptionally well! :-)

Cardigan

[Ladon]

I was intrigued by the article for that reason. I listen to a few files on a regular basis, but I haven't seen what I feel to be definitive evidence that its working. I tend to be very observant, I retain a good portion of what I actively listen to or read, and very analytical. I'll usually get very relaxed during a listening session, but I don't have trouble relaxing anyway. I've noticed that many of the recordings say something like 'trance is just a state of relaxation' which its really not. Its a state of focus, sure, but you don't have to be relaxed, and every time I hear that, it bugs me. I'll notice when the voice misspeaks, or turns a page, or breathes.

I've tried listening while counting backward from 3000 by threes, I've listened while working on something else, I've listened while relaxing, and while sleeping. Its distracting when I'm listening to a file while working, letting my mind work on the problem at hand and letting the recording sink in, when suddenly it suggests to relax or close my eyes. I can't, I'm working. :p I know, I can edit the files, but I haven't yet.

I might have to try doodling.