Mahashatavdhan Mahashatavdhan

Dr Sudhir ShahDr Sudhir Shah (M.D., D.M.)(M.D., D.M.)

Hon. Neurologist to H.E. Governor of GujaratHon. Neurologist to H.E. Governor of Gujarat Director of Neurosciences : Sterling HospitalDirector of Neurosciences : Sterling Hospital Head of Department ,Neurology : V. S. Hospital Head of Department ,Neurology : V. S. Hospital

4th March, 2012 Mumbai, India

www.sudhirneuro.org

Towards Powerful CognitionTowards Powerful Cognition

Plan of My Talk

Memory function

Tips to improve memory

Jain view

Human Brain CapacityHuman Brain Capacity

Human brain has roughly Human brain has roughly 100 billion (10100 billion (101111)) neurons and neurons and 100 trillion (10100 trillion (101414)) synapses synapses

One can store enormous facts e.g. One can store enormous facts e.g. 90 million 90 million booksbooks each having 1000 pages each having 1000 pages

One can hold approximately seven items One can hold approximately seven items in short-term memory for about 20 to 30 secondsin short-term memory for about 20 to 30 seconds

It is known that we severely underutilize our It is known that we severely underutilize our brainbrain

Brain VS ComputerBrain VS Computer

The brain is much, much bigger than any [current] computer

Accurate biological models of the brain would Accurate biological models of the brain would have to include some have to include some 225,000,000,000,000,000 225,000,000,000,000,000 (225 million billion)(225 million billion) interactions between cell interactions between cell types, neurotransmitters, Neuro modulators, types, neurotransmitters, Neuro modulators, axonal branches and dendritic spinesaxonal branches and dendritic spines

No hardware/software distinction can be made No hardware/software distinction can be made with respect to the brain or mindwith respect to the brain or mind

Brains are Brains are analogueanalogue; computers are ; computers are digitaldigital

Brain VS Computer Brain VS Computer

The brain The brain is a massively is a massively parallelparallel machine; machine; computerscomputers are are modularmodular and serial and serial

Processing Processing speed is not fixedspeed is not fixed in the brain; in the brain; Short-term memory is not like RAMShort-term memory is not like RAM Synapses are far more complex than electrical Synapses are far more complex than electrical

logic gateslogic gates Unlike computers, processing and memory are Unlike computers, processing and memory are

performed by performed by the same componentsthe same components in the brain in the brain The brain is a self-organizing systemThe brain is a self-organizing system

What is Memory?What is Memory?

Memory is a specific cognitive function: the Memory is a specific cognitive function: the storagestorage and and retrievalretrieval of information of information

As such, it is the prerequisite for learning, the As such, it is the prerequisite for learning, the building block of all human knowledgebuilding block of all human knowledge

Limbic System & MemoryLimbic System & Memory

Certain structures of the limbic system are Certain structures of the limbic system are involved in memory functioninvolved in memory function

These large limbic system structures are These large limbic system structures are AMYGDALAAMYGDALA and and HIPPOCAMPUS HIPPOCAMPUS

Limbic SystemLimbic System

The Hippocampus Plays The Hippocampus Plays an important an important role in role in

consolidating consolidating informationinformation from from

short-term memory short-term memory into long-term into long-term

memory and memory and retrieves retrieves them when necessary them when necessary

The HippocmapusThe Hippocmapus

The Amygdala is The Amygdala is responsible for responsible for

determining determining what what memories are stored memories are stored

and and wherewhere the the memories are stored in memories are stored in

brain & responsible brain & responsible for for emotional emotional

memoriesmemories

The AmygdalaThe Amygdala

Memory

Declarative Non-declarative

Available to conscious retrievalAvailable to conscious retrieval

Can be declared (propositional)Can be declared (propositional)

ExamplesExamples ““What did I eat for What did I eat for

breakfast?”breakfast?” (episodic)(episodic) ““What is the capital of What is the capital of

Spain?”Spain?” (semantic)(semantic) ““What did I just say?”What did I just say?”

(working)(working)

Experience-induced change Experience-induced change in behaviourin behaviour

Cannot be declared Cannot be declared (procedural)(procedural)

ExamplesExamples Subliminal advertisingSubliminal advertising

(priming)(priming) How to ride a bicycle?How to ride a bicycle?

(skills)(skills) PhobiasPhobias

(conditioning)(conditioning)

Cohen and Squire, 1980

Mati Gyan + Shrut Gyan

What Is Working Memory ?What Is Working Memory ?

A combination of A combination of – AttentionAttention

– ConcentrationConcentration

– Short-term memory Short-term memory

The ability to temporarily maintain and The ability to temporarily maintain and manipulate information manipulate information

Working MemoryWorking Memory

The Prefrontal Cortex The Prefrontal Cortex With more difficult tasks involving bilateral With more difficult tasks involving bilateral

brain activationbrain activation The number of activated brain regions in the The number of activated brain regions in the

prefrontal cortex increases as the complexity of prefrontal cortex increases as the complexity of the task increases.the task increases.

In Munishri, the In Munishri, the prefrontal cortexprefrontal cortex, , hippocampushippocampus & & amygdalaamygdala must have been very well must have been very well developed…..developed…..

Hypothesized Memory Processes: Hypothesized Memory Processes: Encoding, Consolidation, and RetrievalEncoding, Consolidation, and Retrieval

Encoding, Consolidation and Encoding, Consolidation and Retrieval of Declarative MemoriesRetrieval of Declarative Memories

ShatavadhaniShatavadhani

Shrimad Rajchandra (1867-1901)Shrimad Rajchandra (1867-1901) Shatavadhani Dr.R.Ganesh ( 1981)Shatavadhani Dr.R.Ganesh ( 1981) Muni Mahendra Kumar (1957)Muni Mahendra Kumar (1957) Sathavathani Sheikh Thambi Pavalar (1874-Sathavathani Sheikh Thambi Pavalar (1874-

1950)1950) Shri Manek Muniji Maharaj (1991)Shri Manek Muniji Maharaj (1991)

    Shatavadhan And AboveShatavadhan And Above

Dr. Garikipati Narasimha Rao (2002)Dr. Garikipati Narasimha Rao (2002) Dr. Medasani Mohan (1996)Dr. Medasani Mohan (1996) Dr. Nagaphani Sarma (2000)Dr. Nagaphani Sarma (2000) Kadimalla VaraprasadKadimalla Varaprasad Yashodevsuri Ma. SahebYashodevsuri Ma. Saheb Dharmsuri Ma. SahebDharmsuri Ma. Saheb Nirmalashriji Nirmalashriji Munishri Ajitchandrasagarji Maharaj ( D/O Munishri Ajitchandrasagarji Maharaj ( D/O

Panyasshree Naychandra Sagarji Maharaj)Panyasshree Naychandra Sagarji Maharaj)

Scientific Tips For Scientific Tips For Higher Cognition Higher Cognition

Repetition Symbolization Association Visualisation Remove stress Neurobics

Be Positive Be Interested Be Attentive Be Active Be Relaxed & Happy Be yourself

Limitations of Scientific Limitations of Scientific KnowledgeKnowledge

Laws of Conservation defined only for physical Laws of Conservation defined only for physical systems which are closed and passivesystems which are closed and passive

Biological systems are open systems Biological systems are open systems Constantly interacting with the environment Constantly interacting with the environment Human beings have memory, which makes it Human beings have memory, which makes it

difficult to do any scientific experiment on themdifficult to do any scientific experiment on them

Jain viewJain view

Gyanavarniyakarma xayopashamGyanavarniyakarma xayopasham

Worship of Gyan, Gyani & tools of Gyan.Worship of Gyan, Gyani & tools of Gyan.

Linked with Past birth achievementsLinked with Past birth achievements

Ways shown to lead to kevalgyanaWays shown to lead to kevalgyana

Jain (Oriental-Spiritual) View to Jain (Oriental-Spiritual) View to Achieve Higher CognitionAchieve Higher Cognition

Maun (silence)Maun (silence) Brahamcharya (celibacy) Sadhna (austerity)Sadhna (austerity) Tapasya (penance)Tapasya (penance) Pratyahaar ( Control of Senses)Pratyahaar ( Control of Senses) Vinay (politeness)Vinay (politeness) Mantrajap (chanting)Mantrajap (chanting) Swadhyaya (spiritual reading)Swadhyaya (spiritual reading) Constant Abhyas ( Repeatition)Constant Abhyas ( Repeatition) Dhyana (Meditation)Dhyana (Meditation)

Spiritual Order and Spiritual Order and ShatavadhaniesShatavadhanies

Shatavdhanies’ spiritual practices involve all these Shatavdhanies’ spiritual practices involve all these disciplinesdisciplines

By these mind goes into low entropy state & By these mind goes into low entropy state & tremendous data can be stored and recalled tremendous data can be stored and recalled efficientlyefficiently

Involves Involves parapsychology like telepathyparapsychology like telepathy and and clairvoyance clairvoyance

It will provide It will provide new direction of evolutionnew direction of evolution which is which is very different from Darwin’s principle of evolutionvery different from Darwin’s principle of evolution

It is a big challenge for the modern scienceIt is a big challenge for the modern science Shri PokharnaShri Pokharna

Jain’s Theory of Knowledge Through Jain’s Theory of Knowledge Through ConsciousnessConsciousness

As per modern science, knowledge is nothing but As per modern science, knowledge is nothing but information organized in some way and information information organized in some way and information is nothing but data organized in some wayis nothing but data organized in some way

We can collect data and generate information and We can collect data and generate information and knowledge through consciousnessknowledge through consciousness

So all knowledge is structured in the consciousnessSo all knowledge is structured in the consciousness Hence the Jain concept that knowledge is structured Hence the Jain concept that knowledge is structured

in the consciousness is very logical, as in the consciousness is very logical, as demonstrated by shatavadhanies demonstrated by shatavadhanies

However final destination is However final destination is KevalgyanKevalgyan

Role of Subconscious MindRole of Subconscious Mind

Subconscious MindSubconscious Mind

The subconscious (preconscious) mind is part of The subconscious (preconscious) mind is part of the conscious mind and includes our memory. the conscious mind and includes our memory. These memories are not conscious, but we can These memories are not conscious, but we can retrieve them to conscious awareness at any timeretrieve them to conscious awareness at any time

Your subconscious mind remembers everything Your subconscious mind remembers everything even those things that have entirely by-passed even those things that have entirely by-passed your conscious awarenessyour conscious awareness

So boosting Subconscious mind can be powerful So boosting Subconscious mind can be powerful memory tool…..by spiritual practices like memory tool…..by spiritual practices like meditation, silence, etc.meditation, silence, etc.

Suggested HypothesisSuggested Hypothesis

There may be opening of Millions of SynapsesThere may be opening of Millions of Synapses Increased function of Neurotransmitters Increased function of Neurotransmitters More use of Association areasMore use of Association areas Role of Prefrontal cortex, as it is more developed Role of Prefrontal cortex, as it is more developed

in animals with higher intelligencein animals with higher intelligence Formation of G Module and extraordinary tracks Formation of G Module and extraordinary tracks

of neuronsof neurons Development of new storage areasDevelopment of new storage areas

Memory and GeneMemory and Gene

Neuroscientists identified a master controller of Neuroscientists identified a master controller of memorymemory

Npas4 Npas4  gene appears to regulate the brain’s gene appears to regulate the brain’s ability to form new memoriesability to form new memories

So by increasing this Gene Expression one can So by increasing this Gene Expression one can make powerful memorymake powerful memory

Genes Molecules Synapses Genes Molecules Synapses Neurons systems Networks Neurons systems Networks Behaviour Behaviour

"We remember what we "We remember what we understand; we understand only understand; we understand only what we pay attention to; we pay what we pay attention to; we pay

attention to what we want"attention to what we want" -  - Edward BollesEdward Bolles

The Value of ChunkingThe Value of Chunking

You have 5 seconds You have 5 seconds to memorize as much to memorize as much as you canas you can

Then, draw an empty Then, draw an empty chess board and chess board and reproduce the reproduce the arrangement of piecesarrangement of pieces

Thank you