Page 63 - Mind Games The Aging Brain and How to Keep it Healthy

The Intelligent Mind • 47

a single associate memory, ready to access and process in a
fraction of a second. These memory associations, thought to
be stored in the cerebellum, are like computer routines. The
instructions are carried out in a specific order at an ex-
tremely rapid pace.
Sometimes skills become so automatic that it is difficult
to explain the details to someone else. And slowing down
the actions to explain the details often causes an error in the
process. This explains why most people have difficulty writ-
ing with their opposite hand. The instructions in your brain
are for the directions and movements of the dominant hand,
and at times, you would have to move in a different manner
for the other hand. 27

M Personal Intelligence

Personal intelligence is one of the less distinct and compara-
ble intelligences. Personal intelligence consists of intraper-
sonal and interpersonal knowledge. Intrapersonal knowledge
is knowledge of self—an ability to draw upon, evaluate, and
symbolize your own feelings. Examples of intrapersonal
experts might be a novelist or a wise elder. Interpersonal
knowledge incorporates knowledge of relationships among
people; the ability to notice details of others’ feelings, facial
expressions, and tone; and the ability to influence others. Ex-
amples of interpersonal experts are politicians, teachers, and
counselors.
The frontal lobes are the meeting place between the in-
formation from the posterior regions (involved in process-
ing sensory information, including perceptions of others)
and the limbic system (involved in motivational and emo-
tional functions). Frontal lobes are where the self meets the
outside world and the knowledge of self appears to reside.
Noticing body language is a major component of interper-
sonal knowledge. The ability to notice fine details of the face
and expressions is activated in the posterior region of the
right hemisphere. This is the same area used to process spa-
tial abilities. (Spatial abilities seem to be important for most
of the intelligences.)