What I Learnt About Fatigue, Encouragement and Success.....

I love Neuroscience, I love all my neuroscience classes.
Recently, we have been doing a lot of electrical stimulation exercises in the Neurobiology lab class. Everyone gets really excited, especially when we are required to shock each other (note: these are very minor simulations of about 1-20mV). My group makes the loudest ruckus at this time. Though this was purely educational and class material, I did take a couple of personal lessons.

Last week, we had an exercise where we had to test our strengths and perseverance. We pressed hard on an iron bar, while the computer recorded the pressure and our highest point. Using this as a reference, we were then asked to press on the bar at about 20%, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of our maximum. This was a pretty interesting experiment/ exercise. After my hands were burned out from pressing hard against the immovable bar, I noticed and couple of things.

First of all, it was easy to simulate the amount of pressure to put on the bar in attaining those percentages while looking at the computer. It is only obvious that we could only achieve something when we are clear on where we are headed and know what it takes to get there. Then we can put in all we have got or just the right amount. We could also know what is within our capabilities and what is beyond our reach. Then again, we will never know how far we can go till we try...... till we push our selves to the very limit.

But who said limits can not be overcome?
The other part of the experiment was done with the volunteer not looking at the screen. After being asked to simulate what the volunteer thought was the amount of force asked (say 40%), the volunteer was then asked to put in a hundred percent of his very best. During this time, the group members were charged with the task of cheerleading and chanting encouragements to the volunteer. At the end of the day, most people found that they did a lot better, even more than their maximun point.

Two things to say about this:
First and obvious is that encouragement goes a long way in achieving our goals. It is always helpful to confide in family, friends and well wishers to get this component. It is a human trait to want company and not be alone and it is always helpful to know someone believes in you or is supportive. Your brain loves it too ;)
Next is that a step at a time goes a very long way. Because the volunteers were asked to go a little at a time, with a little increment each time, it was easier when it came to applying a hundred percent.

coming soon,... what are we really afraid of?