Speak people’s names when in their presence, and research confirms you also spark their brain’s sense of worth, and add value to their day. How does it happen?
Your name’s linked to intrapersonal intelligence, an embedded icon within your brain’s symbols that grow meaning with every action you take. Your handle’s a brand of sorts – one that defines you, and the brain associates certain unique traits with your name. Does your name sparkle with colors you’d like others to see associated with you?
Names represent more than most realize. Personal reflections you make at a blog site, and questions about life as it impacts you, pack a punch when linked to your name. We all come at life with a particular view about things and when we express or develop that view we unleash new intrapersonal intelligence associated with our name.
You may be surprised to know that your brain is more equipped to forget a name than to remember one. Why so? New names enter your working memory which holds very few facts at a time. New information in a conversation, for instance, will spill out people’s names to prepare the working memory to accept new information spoken. Thus when you meet new people the names they tell you first, get displaced with conversation that follows. It’s the brain’s way of freeing your working memory to hold facts you are focusing on at any moment.
Names are important, and worth remembering because, to hear your name spoken creates a sudden spike in the area of the brain that operates personal self-awareness. Researchers applied PET scans to look at activity in the brain whenever people hear their first name spoken. They observed a strong cerebral flow change in the brain’s right superior temporal sulcus. An even stronger change of flow was observed in the medial prefrontal cortex. This change to show a stronger flow suggests that this region plays a big role in a person’s processing of “self.”
The brain may easily forget new names heard, but luckily it can be developed to remember far more than most people realize.
I found that research particularly interesting since I’ve just been given a new name by Chinese leaders I taught for six weeks on the Yangtze. Know what my Chinese name means?
Dr. Robyn McMaster, senior VP here at the MITA Center was also given a cool Chinese name. Know what Robyn’s new name means? Mine, the top name pictured here – means unusual or unique intelligence – Robyn’s name, pictured below, means first song, birds and flowers of spring.
What does your name mean? You’d also enjoy research on name values assigned to the brain at Neuropsychologia, in Volume43 (1), on pages 12 to 19.
Anybody you might name at work, as you listen to hear your own name spoken back in a few favorable ways? What do you think?
Related Posts:
Smart skill 21 = Expect Outrageous Agility with Age
Smart skill 22 = Expect Neuron Pathways to Dynamic Solutions
Smart skill 23 = Expect Peace in Brain Based Bits
Smart skill 24 = Expect to Bypass Bullies Where you Work
Smart skill 25 = Expect Vision to Fuse Racial Differences
Smart skill 26 = Expect Calm Under Pressure
Smart skill 27 = Expect Brain Benefits from Humor
Smart skill 28 = Expect Active Participation by Facilitating
Smart skill 29 = Expect Added Value with Name Calling
Smart skill 30 = Expect More Memory by Outsourcing Key Facts
Very cool Ellen! Using peoples names often when talking to them is a good habit to get into. I never really considered the value it brings others. And when repeating someones name with someone you’ve just met, it reinforces your memory of that persons name as well.
GaryDs last blog post..Top 10 Things That Can Shrink Your Brain
Gary, like you I was so unaware of that value! With modern technology we are learning daily how many amazing ways the brain helps us to build stronger communities in rather ordinary ways!
Reason for repeating name to remember is because the name first sits in the working memory, which is equipped to hold a very few bits of information at a time. With new facts and our shift of focus – the facts (in working memory) flee from consciousness. We keep it there by repeating it, and eventually it moves to basil ganglia – where it sticks in more permanent ways to be retrieved:-) You’re right – it’s kind of cool:-)
Ellen, this is so cool to get the science behind the theory! I knew that using a person’s name created a connection but that is so neat to hear what is happening in the brain. I believe that for you and Robyn the Chinese names are extremely fitting!
Karen Swims last blog post..Blue Days
Karen, thanks for your encouraging words! Robyn and I were deeply moved by the honor of working with and learning from wonderful Chinese leaders and the fact they offered us names etched this memory in our brains too:-) Their generosity made us all learn more by working together!
I so felt the love of the Chinese people as I worked with them and I felt the same about them. I was very honored to receive the name they gave me. As it is, I’ve always thought my name connected to the beauty of birds.
Robyn McMasters last blog post..Obama’s an Avid Reader – You?
Robyn, that was quite a memorable experience, I agree, especially because the fun and facts seems to be flying around the room the entire time. No wonder we grew to know and care about one another as leaders – who also chose to be learners together! A cool experience!
In selling or interviewing to call someone name throughout the conversation shows you have concern for that person and it also helps to build rapport, now I understand why
JDs last blog post..Enhance Strenghts Instead of Just focusing On Weakness
I agree Jim, and that’s what so cool about transferring the research into tools to improve a situation. makes sense from so many levels and adds adventure to what we sensed was so:-)
[...] Benefits from Humor Smart skill 28 = Expect Active Participation by Facilitating Smart skill 29 = Expect Added Value with Name Calling Smart skill 30 = Expect More Memory by Outsourcing Key [...]
[...] No Brain Left Behind: addresses people by their names for that added spike in the brain area responsible for personal [...]
[...] Benefits from Humor Smart skill 28 = Expect Active Participation by Facilitating Smart skill 29 = Expect Added Value with Name Calling Smart skill 30 = Expect More Memory by Outsourcing Key [...]
[...] Benefits from Humor Smart skill 28 = Expect Active Participation by Facilitating Smart skill 29 = Expect Added Value with Name Calling Smart skill 30 = Expect More Memory by Outsourcing Key Facts 4. Move intelligences into action and [...]
[...] Benefits from Humor Smart skill 28 = Expect Active Participation by Facilitating Smart skill 29 = Expect Added Value with Name Calling Smart skill 30 = Expect More Memory by Outsourcing Key [...]