How to train your NEURAL NETWORKS?
Our Universe is around 13.5 billion odd years old and in that vast expanse of time, it took over a billion years for the human brain to evolve. Human intelligence is embedded in the genetic material and passed on through generations; each learning to survive and grow, overcoming the dangers and constraints it encounters in its lifetime. The ability to learn and grow is at the core of human beings’ success in the Universe. Let us dig deeper into the most evolved bundle of neural networks, collectively known as the human brain in order to gain mastery over how to use it. This worthy endeavour is perhaps, our final frontier to create better versions of ourselves through right knowledge and design intelligent machines that assist, collaborate and in future co-exist!
What constitutes the human learning process? How does the brain learn, store and retrieve information? When? Where?
Anatomy of a nerve cell (neuron) is illustrated in the above diagram. Axons are the nodes that connect through a ‘Synapse’ to other neurons’ nodes. When we begin to learn about a ‘new’ subject, neurons initiate communication pathways through axons-synapses-axons via chemical exchanges, thereby establishing a link. Every time we repeat learning about the same subject, this pathway gets rejuvenated and over time, repetition leads to a well-established network that can carry out chemical exchanges at greater velocity and lesser effort (energy), thus, increasing our brainpower. Humans are super learning beings that are bestowed with brains that runs on ‘unique signal processing’ and can perform most complex learning tasks. In order to optimally utilize our brainpower, we need to understand and apply the key success factors of learning. These are:
(A.) Networked Learning: the anatomical study reveals a structured, networked, complex, interconnected and chemically charged human brain. This implies that, we are best at learning a new subject, if it is introduced to us as a set of ‘networked’ ‘inter-related’ ideas through ‘familiar examples’. Mind Mapping technique is an effective way to enhance our intellectual capabilities through networked learning.
(B.) Associative Memory: human brains can process and store infinite amounts of information, combining with experience to form knowledge; creating unique perspectives and insights, that eventually lead to growing our wisdom. All of this is based on its ability to classify, store and retrieve information in milliseconds. The underlying technique our brain uses is that of ‘association’ in order to optimize storage and energy required to process each unit of information. This explains why, your mouths salivate when we smell our favourite food, because, our brain has associated this ‘smell’ to feeling hungry.
(C.) Repeat & Recall: the neural pathways that are well established as a result of continual repetition and recall are ‘the best performing’ learning areas of the brain. Therefore, it is imperative that you repeat those tasks or activities in which you want to achieve excellence or refinement (learning to play a guitar for e.g.) and similarly recall information regularly that you want to remember (ID Card no for e.g.). This is the reason why, you can recall those phone numbers that you need often, whereas, struggle to recall those, that are you use rarely.
(D.) Experimentation: is the ‘food for thought’ and for your brain to remain at its active best. Expose yourself to diversity in: travel, cultures, experiences, activities, languages, music, movies, theatre, reading, sports, spirituality, debates and communities, so that your brain can experiment with itself and make inferences from its own observations. This is how you can generate insights that power your innovations, inventions and solutions that better our lives and the world we live in. Keep an open mind to ensure you do not block opportunities to learn about life.
(E.) Learn, Unlearn and Relearn: all that the brain learns is in context to its surroundings and the dynamic stimuli it is subject to over time. As we grow older, neural pathways that are well established can take away the motivation to keep learning. It is vital that we become aware of the dynamic nature of life and stay open to giving up ‘old pieces of information’ that are ‘no longer relevant or useful’ and allow ‘new information’ to enter and enrich our wisdom. Keep feeding your curiosity to ensure that you are in the cycle of learning, unlearning and relearning.
(F.) Sound Sleep: it is vital that you provide your brain ‘sound sleep’ so that, it can perform the tasks of classifying information, associating, editing, throwing away useless items and reorganize whatever is relevant for your present. All of these ‘maintenance activities’ occur when you are in peaceful slumber. This is the key to attaining your ‘Eureka’ moment that can create a ‘breakthrough’ that leads you to success. Keep sharing the good knowledge that you learn, so that, the collective human consciousness can grow towards peace and harmony!
