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Books

The Attention Economy: Understanding the New Currency of BusinessAuthors: Thomas H. Davenport and John C. BeckISBN-10: 1578518717

Bookcover: The Attention Economy: Understanding the New Currency of Business

Davenport and Beck claim that attention is the scarcest resource in today’s business world. They describe corporate life, with its constant noise from e-mail, voice mail, meetings, “info-stress,” etc., and the need to learn to manage attention for business success.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free ProductivityAuthor: David AllenISBN-10: 0142000280

Bookcover: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

Allen describes a workflow management system designed for maximum efficiency. The process is too detailed and linear for many people, but offers a great many ideas that can be utilized by all.

Time Management from the Inside Out, second edition: The Foolproof System for Taking Control of Your Schedule—and Your LifeAuthor: Julie MorgensternISBN-10: 0805075909

Bookcover: Time Management from the Inside Out, second edition: The Foolproof System for Taking Control of Your Schedule—and Your Life

Morgenstern takes the approach that time management systems work best when they fit your personal style. She offers practical, customizable solutions to managing a busy schedule.

Mindset: The New Psychology of SuccessAuthor: Carol DweckISBN-10: 0345472322

Bookcover: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

Dweck is a professor of psychology at Stanford. She shows the importance of choosing a “growth mindset” that will allow you to achieve happiness and success. Her ideas align naturally with coaching, with their emphasis on the importance of our ability to change how we think.

Strengths Finder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup’s Now, Discover Your StrengthsAuthor: Tom RathISBN-10: 159562015X

Bookcover: StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup's Now, Discover Your Strengths

This book is based on research that shows that the most successful people (in business and life in general) focus on developing natural areas of strength rather than weakness. It comes with an online assess-ment that helps you uncover your natural talents and offers strateg-ies for applying your strengths. This book serves as a useful tool in my coaching process, which is strengths based, as well.

Smarts: Are We Hardwired for Success?Authors: Chuck Martin, Peg Dawson, and Richard GuareISBN-10: 0814409067

Bookcover: Smarts: Are We Hardwired for Success?

Smarts, like Strengths Finder 2.0, is based on the premise that we have natural areas of strength and that the best way to achieve excellence is to focus on further developing those areas. The authors offer strategies for play-ing to your strengths as you pro-cesss information, make decis-ions, and interact with others.

Distracted: The Erosion of Attention and the Coming Dark AgeAuthors: Maggie Jackson and Bill McKibbenISBN-10: 1591026237

Bookcover: Distracted: The Erosion of Attention and the Coming Dark Age

Jackson describes America’s “collective attention deficit disorder,” warning that our addic-tion to multitasking and constant motion prevents us from engaging in the type of deep, sustained attention needed for wisdom and intimacy. She discusses scientific research in the area of attention and challenges us to renew our skills of focus and perception.

The Overflowing Brain: Information Overload and the Limits of Working MemoryAuthor: Torkel KlingbergISBN-10: 0195372883

Bookcover: The Overflowing Brain: Information Overload and the Limits of Working Memory

Klingberg is a professor of cognitive neuroscience at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute (a prestigious medical research institute and the awarder of the Nobel prize in medicine). In The Overflowing Brain he translates scientific research about working memory and other brain processes into practical applications in daily life. Klingberg is one of the primary researchers of working memory and Cogmed Working Memory Training in particular.

Blind Spots: Achieve Success by Seeing What You Can’t SeeAuthor: Claudia SheltonISBN-10: 0470042257

Bookcover: Blind Spots: Achieve Success by Seeing What You Can't See

We all have “blind spots,” or areas we are unaware of that inter-fere with our effective-ness. Exec-utive coach Shelton describes strategies for adjusting personal behaviors and unmasking natural talents in order to improve your performance and your life.

Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and SchoolAuthor: John J. Medina, Ph.D.ISBN-10: 0979777747

Bookcover: Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School

Molecular biologist Dr. John Medina describes what scientists know about how our brains work, and offers beneficial ideas for applying this informa-tion in our daily lives. You can dip into this book to read the infor-mation that interests you most.

In Search of MemoryAuthor: Eric R. KandelISBN-10: 0393329372

Kandel was awarded a Nobel Prize for his research showing how memory is encoded in the brain. Part memoir, part science book, In Search of Memory is a compelling personal account as well as a serious discussion of the brain, mind, and memory.

Working with Emotional IntelligenceAuthor: Daniel GolemanISBN-10: 0553378589

Bookcover: Working with Emotional Intelligence

Psychologist and science journalist, Goleman, describes how business leaders’ success depends on emotional intelligence, defined as “a set of competencies that distinguishes how people manage feelings, interact and communicate.” It is based on his earlier best seller, Emotional Intelligence, with a focus on how these competencies can be improved to significantly affect job performance.

Blink Author: Malcolm Gladwell ISBN-10: 0316010669

Gladwell tells an engaging “intellectual adventure story” about intuition, or what he calls “rapid cognition, … the kind of thinking that happens in the blink of an eye.” He makes a great case for better understanding how our brains work in order to make better decisions.

Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long Author: David RockISBN-10: 0061771295

Bookcover: Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long

Rock backs up strategies for working smarter with a wide range of fascin-ating brain studies. He teaches readers how to capitalize on and direct their own brain chemistry to be more successful in the business world.

Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves Author: Sharon Begley ISBN-10: 0345479890

Bookcover: Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves

Begley is a science writer who describes research in an absorbing story-telling fashion. Her premise is that we can positively capitalize on the brain’s neuro-plasticity by using our thinking to change brain function.

Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment Author: Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D.ISBN-10: 0743222989

Bookcover: Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment

Seligman is considered by many to be the father of positive psychology, the study of optimal human functioning. He draws upon scientific research to show how happiness can be cultivated by identifying and nurturing our most positive strengths in the key areas of our lives. This book includes self-tests and exercises that provide tools for intentionally increasing happiness in lasting, meaningful ways.

Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive Author: Barbara L. Fredrickson, Ph.D. ISBN-10: 0307393739

Bookcover: Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive

Fredrickson is a leading scholar within the positive psychology movement. Scientific research led to her dis-covery that maintaining a 3-to-1 ratio of positive to negative emotions leads people to a flourishing life. Fredrickson offers useful insights and tips for achieving and main-taining this ratio in our own lives.

Podcasts and Web Sites (back to top)

On NPR: Bored? Try Doodling To Keep The Brain On Task

http://www.npr.org/

Sharpbrains is a “market research & advisory company fully focused on providing high-quality information and guidance to navigate the brain fitness and cognitive health market.” Their monthly newsletter keeps you apprised of new offerings in the market and helps you evaluate their effectiveness.

http://www.sharpbrains.com/

TED is a Web site that offers podcasts of speakers in a huge range of disciplines. Themes include business, technology, design, culture and more. I recommend going to the site only when you have some time to spare.

http://www.ted.com/

Science Listen to an interview with Torkel Klingberg on the biochemistry behind better working memory. He describes a study of the relationship between cognitive training and changes in brain chemistry in normal healthy adults who engaged in working memory training.

http://www.sciencemag.org/

About Working Memory is an online resource for information, news and research about working memory. It is affiliated with Cogmed Working Memory Training.

http://www.aboutworkingmemory.com/

BBC: Brain Decline Begins at Age 27

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Working Memory Research (back to top)

Following are links to published articles about working memory training that forms the basis of Cogmed Working Memory Training.

F. McNab, A. Varrone, V. Farde, A. Jucaite, P. Bystritsky, H. Forssberg, T. Klingberg – Changes in Cortical Dopamine D1 Receptor Binding Associated with Cognitive Training. Science, 323, 800 (2009). Link to Abstract >>

Key points:

Working memory training led to changes in basic brain biochemistry, specifically changes in the density and binding potential of cortical D1 dopamine receptors in brain regions shown to be active when participants performed working memory tasks.
Results from this study suggest a biological basis for the improvement in working memory capacity and reductions in attention problems that have been demonstrated in several randomized controlled trials of working memory training.
It is particularly interesting as a basic science finding in that this is the first demonstration that cognitive training modifies basic aspects of brain biochemistry at the level of receptor cells.

You can also listen to an interview with Dr. Torkel Klingberg in which he lays out the findings in a clear and accessible manner. The article itself is quite technical and I found his discussion of the findings to be helpful in understanding it. The interview can be accessed at: Link to Article >>

Disclosure – Although the Science article does not specifically name the working memory training program used in the study, Dr. Klingberg is the developer of Cogmed Working Memory Training, which was the program tested.

H. Westerberg, Y. Brehmer, N. D’Hondt, D. Soderlund, L. Backman (submitted), Working memory training for young adults and elderly without WM impairments. Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (2007). Presented poster at Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting, 2008.

Key points:

The ability to improve working memory could be a general capability retained throughout life.
Normal younger and older adults can improve working memory from intense training.
An initial impairment is not necessary for improvement of working memory to occur.
Perceived cognitive functioning in everyday life can be improved from working memory training, both for older and younger adults.

H. Westerberg, H. Jacobaeus, T. Hirvikoski, P. Clevberger, M-L. Oestensson, A. Bartfai, T. Klingberg. Computerized working memory training after stroke – A pilot study. Brain Injury, 2007; 21(1): 21 – 29. Link to Abstract >>

Key points:

Working memory training could be a useful method in stroke rehabilitation.
Perceived cognitive functioning in everyday life after stroke can be improved from working memory training.
Working memory and attention control improve from working memory training in adults after stroke.
Not only children with working memory impairment can improve their working memory capacity.
Cogmed Working Memory Training specifically targets working memory, not memory in general.

T. Klingberg, E. Fernell, P. Olesen, M. Johnson, P. Gustafsson, K. Dahlstroem, C.G. Gillberg, H. Forssberg, H. Westerberg (2005) Computerized Training of Working Memory in Children with ADHD – a Randomized, Controlled, Trial. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 44 (2):177-186. Link to Abstract >>

Key points:

Confirmed that intense and adaptive, computerized working memory training increases the amount of information that children with ADHD can keep in working memory.
Training effects of working memory generalizes to non-practiced tasks as logical reasoning and response inhibition but not impulsivity.
The very symptoms that define ADHD decrease from working memory training.
Training effects last over time.

P. Olesen, H. Westerberg, T. Klingberg (2004)Increased prefrontal and parietal brain activity after training of working memory. Nature Neuroscience 7:75-79. Link to Abstract >>

Key points:

Not only children with ADHD can improve their working memory function.
The neural systems that underlie working memory are plastic and can be improved by training.
An initial impairment is not necessary for improvement of working memory to occur.
Training with visuo-spatial working memory tasks improves not only visuo-spatial working memory but verbal working memory.

T. Klingberg, H. Forssberg, H. Westerberg (2002)Training of working memory in children with ADHD. Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology 24:781-791

Key points:

Intense and adaptive, computerized working memory training increases the amount of information that children with ADHD can keep in working memory.
Training effects of working memory generalizes to non-practiced tasks as logical reasoning, response inhibition and impulsivity.

J.W. De Fockert, G. Rees, C.D. Frith, N. Lavie, 2001. The role of working memory in visual selective attention. Science, 291, 1803-1806.

Key point:

This study showed that the general ability of adults to ignore distracting information is compromised when they are asked to simultaneously complete a task that puts high demands on working memory.

Please contact the respective journals to order the articles. You can also send an e-mail to contact@cogmed.com or visit http://www.klingberglab.se/, where you can find the articles as PDFs among other articles published by the group.

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