FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SCIENCE

Researches

There are numerous studies on the effects of usage of the abacus. They clearly proved that this ancient calculator is a modern mental tool. Let’s see how the abacus affects children’s intelligence.

The researches were conducted at eminent universities in Europe and Africa (University of Manchester, University of Khartoum, University of Ulster), covering 3185 children aged 7-11 years, and it has been proved that the IQ in children who were part of the abacus mental arithmetic was higher by 7.11 points as opposed to children who did not participate in the program.

How the brain works?
Left and right hemisphere

How the brain works?

In order to properly present all the benefits of our program, it is necessary to understand how the brain works. The basic task of the brain is to collect and process information, and then give answers by sending specific instructions to our body. The brain consists of two halves – left and right hemisphere. Each hemisphere controls the “opposite” side of our body, so the right hemisphere is in charge of our left side and processes what we see in the left eye, while the left hemisphere controls the right side and processes the right eye view. Both hemispheres are apparently identical, but the differences are present in their functions.

The brain function theory was discovered by neuropsychologist Roger Sperry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Wolcott_Sperry) who received the Nobel Prize for this discovery. Sperry was observing the brain activity of a patient in whom the bridges between the right and left hemispheres were removed surgically. By observing, he noticed that if the images and words come from the left, the patient cannot explain them because of the lack of the connections between the two functionally different parts of the brain. This proves that the left and right hemisphere have certain functions, but also that they complement one another.

So we can say with certainty that our speech is controlled by the left half of the brain, while for the visual and spatial recognition is responsible the right half. However, both hemispheres work together in collaborating with the most significant brain operations such as judging.

Left and right hemisphere

The left hemisphere is called the digital brain. It controls reading, writing, arithmetic and logical thinking … Therefore, the left hemisphere is our inner mathematician who calculates and analyzes.

The Right cerebral hemisphere is called analog brain and controls three-dimensional feeling, creativity and artistic senses. This hemisphere represents our inner artist, who is ready to play with the miraculous land of fantasy, full of colors and images, shapes, dreams, imagination and intuition.

Here’s an example that illustrates how the left and right hemisphere work. Imagine a man who gives us instructions on how to get to a certain location. If it was a person with a more developed left hemisphere, the guidance would be: “From here, go three blocks straight and turn north in the Wine Street, then go along it three or four kilometers and then turn east on Third Boulevard.” A person with a dominant right hemisphere would sound something like this: “Turn right (pointing with the right hand), go to one church (shows again) and continue straight, when you pass the McDonalds at the next traffic light, turn right towards a gas station NIS.”

So the right hemisphere is non-verbal and intuitive, it rather uses images instead of words. Although the thinking of the right hemisphere is considered “more creative”, there is no right or wrong thinking, but only two different ways of thinking. One is no better than the other, and the right – handed is not “superior” to the left – handed. Both brain hemisphere work together to allow the normal functioning of the organism. However, research has shown that in most people one hemisphere is dominant. The majority of people most commonly use the left hemisphere, while the functions of the right brain hemisphere are often underdeveloped. An adult cannot properly understand the children’s world, because it is known that the right hemisphere in children is much more active. That’s why this magical “star world of imagination”, often looks strange and inaccessible…

Lateralization and learning problem

Obviously, the problem that arises with learning is caused by the functioning of our hemisphere. As we have seen, each of them is in charge of certain mental functions. The professional term describing this division is called lateralization. Because of this division, a learning problem occurs, because classical education favors the work of the left hemisphere, while the creative right hemisphere remains neglected.

Therefore, since she is also active, seeks some kind of work for herself. She does the only thing left for her – she starts to imagine! By imagining child loses the attention needed in learning, and loss of concentration occurs, resulting in poor memory. Since children in learning dominantly use their left hemisphere, this could be graphically described as “walking on one foot” instead of using both. It is therefore important to develop evenly and simultaneously use both brain hemispheres.

How to activate both hemisphere?

It is known that many discoveries and inventions saw the light of day, thanks to the use of the right hemisphere. Nikola Tesla, Einstein or Mendeleev, were not only great scientists, but also great inventors and visionaries. For their great discoveries, in addition to experiments, contributed power of imagination that they possessed and which through creative thinking and imagination led them to possible solutions. The mentioned giants undoubtedly had the power to use both brain hemispheres!

One of the most important moments in brain development is the period from the fourth to the twelfth year. It is a lifetime in which the child’s brain resembles a dramatic stage where a huge number of stimuli are constantly being created. At the level of the nerve impulses, these stimuli represent the true “electrical storm” in which the functions of the brain’s hemispheres are continually confronted. In this period of our hemisphere struggling for domination, after which unfortunately one will come out as the final winner and the dominant side of our brain. Thus, once again, the division of mental functions between the left and right hemisphere of the brain will occur. It is of most importance that in this age, children do not miss the unique chance to learn the simultaneous use of both brain hemispheres.

Is there training for the brain, except playing chess or solving crosswords? Of course! Thanks to the above principles, a special method has been developed to activate the right hemisphere and exploit its endless potentials. The mental arithmetic program is the most effective method of brain training, which brings the best results. School of mental arithmetic Kid Genius develops children’s mental abilities by activating both brain cerebral hemispheres. Using both sides of the brain, the child becomes a real “little genius” who will possess the skills he has acquired for the rest of his life. In this way, our “little geniuses” eventually become successful and accomplished people.