On page 67, Shenk describes a study
by a scientist named Ericsson who writes that “frequent intense engagement in
certain types of practice activities is shown to induce physiological strain
which causes biochemical changes that stimulate growth and transformation of cells,
which in turn leads to associated improved adaptations of physiological systems
and the brain”. Keeping in mind the biological themes of regulation using
feedback systems, structure and function, and homeostasis, describe some
“biochemical changes” that can “stimulate growth and transformation of cells,”
as well as the “improved adaptations” that would make body function more
efficient. These changes can relate to
an activity such as running or fighting disease. Mention concepts that were
learned in the Circulation/Respiration unit or the Immunology unit.
There is no doubt the more you work out that there are changes in your body. We see this in our cardiovascular system and in how our stroke volume gets bigger as we work out our cardiovascular system more. That is because the heart is a muscle and the more your work out your cardiovascular system the stronger your heart muscle gets making it easier for it to pump more blood at a time around your body. These are changes that stay. We can even see this in our immune system with memory B-Cells. When a pathogen first enters your body, it takes the immune system a longer time to respond to the foreign cell. However, the second time the same pathogen is introduced the memory B-Cells recognize it much quicker and make the antibodies necessary to neutralize it. Our brain is no different. When things are re-introduced to us over and over again we are able to retain it better and get faster and more skilled at it as well. Talent is not based off of some natural gift, but rather this ability to practice and work hard at a certain skill. For example, Pavarotti, a great tenor, was supposedly supernaturally gifted with a great voice. Even though he started later than most to train his voice at age 19, he still trained for over six years with one the best teachers in the opera world before he even debuted. It was not until four years later was he considered a master in his field. All of the great chess players, musicians, writers, baseball players, and etc. put hours of work into a certain skill to achieve talent.
ReplyDeleteOur bodies our trainable as we see through our cardiovascular system and our immune system. We can manipulate our cells to remember certain activities by doing them repeatedly. No one is more “gifted” in a field than another person. It is all through practice and repeating that action so your body can do it naturally and remember that action as well. Environment affects how well you perform rather than the gene that has been given to you. So I agree that practice does make perfection.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/education/edlife/03adult-t.html?_r=1
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/
Ellen Zhou (ellenzhou2006@gmail.com)