MindCraft Challenges

Listening is a multi-modal activity involving multiple senses and experiences with your own motor systems, allowing you to accurately simulate speech production. Imitating an unfamiliar accent improves those unconscious, real-time simulations and thus improves comprehension when listening to the practiced accent.

Challenge::
Practice imitating an unfamiliar accent. You might choose a teacher you are having trouble understanding, a friend, or even a podcast or video channel speaker. Practice the accent (not in front of them—be polite). Does your ability to understand improve?

Read More::
Imitation and comprehension::
https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797610389192:
Skilled mimics have better comprehension:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-018-9562-y

Our perception of patterns isn’t the result of just one neuron firing—it’s made up of many neurons participating in pattern recognition. This is likely a reason that drawing is a powerful tool to shift our minds away from negative thoughts—drawing requires pattern-matching networks to create and check patterns as the artist is drawing.

Challenge:
Can taking time to draw help improve your mood? Carry some drawing paper or a sketchbook with you for a week. When you feel stressed or stuck with negative thoughts, spend 10 minutes drawing whatever you want. Rate your mood before and after on a scale like this:

😨 😦 ☹️ 😐 🙂 😀 😁

Read More:
Mood repair through art:
https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2011.557032
On using creativity to find meaning in life:
https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691618771981
(see Table 1 for many ideas!)