Mozart's Brain and the Fighter Pilot
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Book Reviews Mozart’s Brain and the Fighter can be increased by improving that I found interesting is to get the Pilot: Unleashing Your Brain’s memory, most of the exercises he audio version of a favorite book and Potential presents involve visual memory. then read along in the book while Richard Restak. Chapter 17 is “Strengthen your listening to it. In Chapter 21, the New York,Three Rivers Press, 2001. powers of attention and author suggests that the most benefit Pages: 220 concentration.” One of the exercises from wide and varied reading can be ISBN 0-609-81005-7 is a “character search,” in which obtained by keeping a reading particular letters and numbers are journal. The physical exercises that Reviewed by David A. Goss, OD, picked out of rows of randomly meet the author’s criteria for brain PhD, Indiana University arranged letters and numbers. enhancement are exercises that Another procedure in chapter is a involve balance, strength in the legs, In this book the author seeks to “symbol-digit test,” in which and dexterity. He describes two tai improve the reader’s cognitive particular symbols are learned to be chi exercises which he feels meet ability by increasing memory, associated with numbers from 1 to 9. those criteria. Restak posits that attention, concentration, powers of Also described in that chapter is the development of fine motor hand logic, mental relaxation, and other Stroop Test, part of which involves skills is important because it “will skills. The author, Richard Restak, is naming the colors with which the result in the establishment of new a neurologist and neuropsychiatrist, words red, blue, and green have been circuits in widely dispersed brain and a Clinical Professor of written rather than the words areas,” and because “the hand is the Neurology at George Washington themselves. Incidentally, in Chapter primary instrument that carries out University Medical Center. He has 17, Restak postulates that the the motor commands of the brain.” written fifteen books, the best known increased prevalence of ADD is real, This book does not have an index of which is The Brain, a companion rather than due to increased nor reference citations to primary book to the PBS series of the same reporting, and that it stems in part literature. The resource section at name. from the fact that television and the end of the book lists 14 books, Between a six-page introduction some aspects of computer use do not including three by Restak, five and a two-page list of resources, the enhance coherent thought and games, a computer program, and book consists of 28 chapters, each of language-based communication. In three workbooks, and it suggests which is a recommendation for Chapter 22, “Heighten your sensory ways of finding websites with improving brain function. Each capabilities,” the author talks about puzzles and brainteasers. The book chapter generally consists of the developing visualization and has an easy flow and is entertaining neuroanatomical, sharpening visual perceptual skills. to read. It is written on a popular neurophysiological, or logical Some of the other chapters which science level, but it provides a great background for the particular I found to be interesting were: 15, deal of information concerning the recommendation and then some “Take active measures to reduce improvement of brain performance exercises designed to develop or stress;” 21, “Increase mental acuity and the author provides reasonable enhance the corresponding through wide and varied reading;” rationales for the suggestions attributes. In some cases the author 24, “Organize a physical exercise presented. draws upon literature and history to program that aims at brain illustrate points being made. enhancement;” and 25, “Cultivate I was struck on more than one fine-motor-control skills involving occasion by the similarity of some of your hands.” Restak suggests that his recommended exercises to much of today’s stress stems from a various aspects of optometric vision hurried life style and from therapy. In Chapter 6, for example, information overload. One of his in which he states that intelligence suggestions for reducing such stress Volume 36/Number 3/2006 97 Binocular Vision procedures for evaluating each. The topic areas in this textbook Bruce Evans Chapter 7 is a brief overview of are indeed adequate for the primary Published in the Eye Essentials nystagmus, and Chapter 8 care practitioner, and I did come series, Elsevier Butterworth summarizes accommodative away with a few reminders on how to Heinemann, 2005 anomalies and their common better serve patients with binocular Series Editors: Sandip Doshi and presentation in tandem with vision disorders. The main William Harvey binocular vision disorders. drawback to American practitioners, 121 pages Each chapter includes tables, however, is that the text is written by ISBN 0 7506 8850 5 some of which outline either how to and for British optometrists, and perform a particular test or how to some of the diagnostic tests and Reviewed by Janice McMahon, OD, interpret test results. Additional equipment are not found in most FAAO, Illinois College of tables list normative values and offer offices in the United States. It was at Optometry, Chicago, IL guidelines in recommending times difficult to follow Dr. Evans’ therapy. The tables are a good explanations and interpretations The premise of the Eye Essentials addition to the corresponding text as because the terminology and series is to make specific topics they both add information by referenced tests are not common on within primary eye care more example and summarize important this side of the Atlantic. This is accessible to the practicing chapter points. Very few unfortunate, since a quick-reference optometrist. Each short textbook is photographs are included in this guide to binocular vision disorders written by a well-known author in book, and at times I did wish for a would be a nice addition to the the given field. Bruce Evans visual example to enhance the library of many primary care mentions, in his preface, that he written text. optometrists. writes with the general practitioner in mind, one who wants to be competent in binocular vision but who does not wish to specialize in it. I undertook a review of this book because that accurately described my initial intent. This text is divided into eight chapters, beginning with an introductory overview of binocular vision anomalies. Chapter 1 is indeed quite basic, defining the difference between heterophoria and strabismus, and explaining how to perform a cover test. Chapter 2 then delineates the types of heterophoria, symptoms and signs noticed by the patient and examiner, and methods of treatment including some straightforward exercises in vision therapy. Chapter 3 covers strabismus, its detection and measurement, and when to consider intervention. The topic of microtropia is summarized in the five pages of Chapter 4. Amblyopia, both strabismic and anisometropic, is the subject in Chapter 5, and perhaps the easiest to understand in its explanations of diagnosis and treatment. Chapter 6 assesses noncomitant deviations and includes muscle and nerve palsies, Duane’s and Brown’s syndromes, and 98 Optometry and Vision Development.