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Hello Dear Readers, Welcome to my weekly Sunday Synapse. Here together we explore ideas that make us think. That’s all we do here. The point is we get to think about whatever we want in our journey to figure out what we need. You need to work out how to not suffer psychological hell. To do this, you need to learn how to think usefully. Most of our thinking problems stem from spending far too much time thinking about issues that do not matter. My letters aim to teach you cognitive skills that reduce your problematic thinking habits. The best way to do this is to learn about new ideas and the human mind. By doing this you become less focused on yourself or the petty thoughts of others and simply think about what is important. Thought 1: Philosophical Quote For this week’s quote, I’ve chosen Gerald Edelman, a Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist known for his work on brain function and consciousness: "A theory of consciousness must encompass a consideration of evolution, development, and learning. But above all, it must be a theory of how the brain enables the mind to operate, to think, and to reflect on its own thinking."
— Gerald Edelman (Bright Air, Brilliant Fire: On the Matter of the Mind)
Thought 2
Consciousness, Social Learning, and Evolution This week for Thought 2, I’ve decided to explore Edelman’s ideas and how they relate to critical thinking and our social experiences. Unpacking Edelman’s work allows us to learn by reflecting on the thoughts of brilliant minds. These individuals became brilliant by thinking with deep analysis and curiosity. Let’s practice similarly using our minds, engaging with complex ideas, and trying to link them together to connect the dots. In this quote Edelman suggests that understanding consciousness involves recognising how our brain evolves and develops through learning, which allows us to think, reflect, and ultimately use our conscious mind to make decisions that benefit us. The problem in the modern world: We are using our conscious mind to do lots of thinking which does NOT benefit us. GERALD EDELMAN Gerald Edelman (1929–2014) was an American biologist and neuroscientist who made groundbreaking contributions to both immunology and neuroscience. He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1972 for his work on the structure of antibodies, helping to explain how the immune system recognises and neutralises foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. This achievement was significant in biology, but Edelman’s contributions didn’t stop there. After his Nobel win, Edelman turned to neuroscience, where he developed his Theory of Neuronal Group Selection, also known as Neural Darwinism. This theory suggests that the brain evolves and develops much like natural selection, with neural connections strengthening based on use and interaction with the environment. He also provided a biological basis for consciousness, framing it within the brain’s physical processes rather than purely philosophical or psychological ones. So his ideas are not based on social theories of thought and social ideology, but rather based on biological needs. INTERCONNECTING IDEAS FOR PERSONAL BENEFIT I always make a point of connecting ideas between the sciences because, as I see it, biology and social experiences are inseparable. I also do not work in the social sciences department full-time anymore, so I get to use my mind with greater independence beyond my contract of employment. If we behave and think the way we do and make social choices, it’s because there are biological and social forces at play. I reject any view that separates these domains. If you want to learn critical thinking, I recommend approaching it this way as well. Also, I reject the idea that people can not talk or verbally explore ideas located in a field outside of their expertise. This is a ludicrous expectation of the human being who uses all kinds of information to ponder for usefulness. There is of course intellectual responsibility that comes into play, like please be humble when you are talking to someone likely to know more than you. This is the mark of intelligence, where a person can recognise when to talk and when to listen. We live in a world where being ‘right’ dominates discussions. I believe this is linked to our insecurities. So many people are fighting to validate their subjective views, I think we must learn how to do this in a way that benefits us rather than harms us. REPETITION & SYNAPSES When I was reading about Edelman’s Neural Darwinism, I could see clear links to the concept of synaptic plasticity, the idea that synapses—the connections between neurons—strengthen or weaken based on use. That’s exactly why I named this newsletter The Sunday Synapse. If we don’t actively engage our brain’s connections, we risk losing them. This ‘use it or lose it’ concept applies to all forms of mental development. For example, ‘practice makes you perfect’ or ‘repeat and reap reward’. Think about how someone becomes an expert over time. Whether it’s a pianist
mastering complex pieces after years of practice, or a footballer rising to
excellence through dedication, the same process applies to mental skills. At this exact moment, as I write I am immediately reminded to share the story of Dr. Eleanor Maguire’s study at University College London. She examined the brains of London taxi drivers who had memorised the city’s streets. Maguire found that their hippocampus—a region responsible for spatial memory—was significantly larger compared to non-drivers. This shows how repeated use of cognitive skills can lead to structural changes in the brain. I will never forget this story as the same principle applies to critical thinking. Repeated use of our analytical brain improves our ability to reflect and make more intelligent decisions. Studies like Maguire’s help us understand how our social interactions and decision-making processes are shaped by repeated thinking. For instance, if you grew up in a family where independent thinking wasn’t encouraged, your brain might not be wired for it. This is why early cognitive development is so crucial (For more on this topic See Jean Piaget’s work). BRAIN TRAINING & CRITICAL THINKING IN LATER LIFE However, there’s no need to worry if you feel behind in critical thinking
skills. The good news is that the brain can adapt, and critical thinking
techniques can help you improve how your brain processes and organises
information. Take me as an example: I once struggled to recall author names and summarise ideas from complicated books. Now, because I spend time reading, writing, reflecting, and discussing ideas, I can recall specific points, names, and studies when I need them. I’ve trained myself to do this. Ten years ago, I wasn’t this person. I grew up in a very conservative environment that demanded cognitive obedience and free thinkers were considered dangerous misfits. It took time to restructure my thinking. Do not get me wrong, social order and belonging to a group where there are social norms is important, but for me being in between two social groups, the Indian and the Western, I had some social complications I had to work out. Edelman’s idea that the brain evolves through natural selection-like processes applies perfectly here. Neural connections are constantly shaped by experience and interaction with our environment. Edelman wrote several important books on consciousness, including Bright
Air, Brilliant Fire (1992) and Wider Than the Sky (2004). His work emphasised how the brain creates the mind, exploring the intricate interaction between biology, evolution, and learning in shaping human consciousness. I haven’t read these books yet, but I list them here so you can explore them if you wish. THE POLGAR SISTERS As I write this week’s letter, I’m reminded of the fascinating story of the Polgár sisters—Susan, Sofia, and Judit—who were raised and trained by their father, László Polgár, to become chess prodigies. It’s important to reflect on the role that both mind and environment play in developing cognitive potential. László Polgár, a Hungarian educational psychologist, believed that genius
could be nurtured through early, intensive training, regardless of natural
inclination. To prove this, he used his own children as an experiment to show
that any child could become highly skilled in a discipline if given the right
environment and education. Even before László and his wife, Klara, had children, they agreed on this
experiment. They chose chess because it was a universal, measurable skill. From
a very young age, László immersed his daughters in chess for hours each day,
filling their household with chess books and materials. Their education was
built around the game. The results were extraordinary: Susan Polgár, the eldest, became a chess grandmaster and was the first woman to qualify for the Men’s World Championship. Sofia Polgár, the middle sister, achieved the title of International Master and was known for her creative, aggressive play. She dominated a tournament in Rome in 1989, a performance dubbed the “Sack of Rome.” Judit Polgár, the youngest, is widely regarded as the greatest female chess player in history. Judit became a grandmaster at age 15 and consistently competed against, and defeated, top male players like Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen.
László Polgár’s approach became internationally recognised because his
daughters’ success showed that, with the right environment and dedicated
practice, remarkable skills could be developed early on. The Polgár sisters’ rise to chess stardom also challenged gender barriers, proving that women could compete at the highest levels of a traditionally male-dominated field. Their story has inspired educators, psychologists, and anyone interested in the nature vs. nurture discussion. It demonstrates that talent can be cultivated through practice, passion, and an environment that encourages deep engagement with a chosen discipline. We see this across various aspects of life. While we don’t need to aim for the level of the Polgár sisters, their story shows that with practice and time, we can train our brains to become healthy critical thinkers. It becomes second nature. I reject that environment doesn’t play a strong part in impacting the way the mind operates and I reject that the mind doesn’t play a large role in our social choices. I simply just reject dichotomous thinking and so should you if you want to be a healthy intellectual thinker who is using thinking to succeed socially. Thought 3 Critical Thinking Exercises for This Week This week I suggest focusing on improving brain function to increase synaptic connections for critical thinking and social intelligence. I want to stay aligned with Gerald Edelman’s focus on neural adaptation and the Polgár sisters’ method of repetition for mastery. These exercises are designed to enhance memory recall, critical thinking, and analytical reflection by engaging the brain in repeated, challenging tasks that strengthen neural connections over time. 1. Daily Pattern Recognition Practice: Synapse Strengthening
Objective: Commit to daily pattern recognition practice. This strengthens synapses by reinforcing neural pathways through recognising and understanding patterns in everyday life.
How: Each day, take 15 minutes to focus on pattern recognition in your environment. This can be as simple as recognising patterns in nature (like the shape of leaves or clouds), in people’s behaviour (how they react repeatedly or differently to certain stimuli), or in abstract ideas, such as how news channels structure their stories. Reflect on how these patterns affect decision-making or your surroundings. For instance, after hearing the news, what happens in your mind? How does it affect the way your family reacts or thinks? Or, when you look at clouds each day, how do you feel? Why do they bring a sense of calmness or contentment? Can you predict anything from observing these patterns in your environment? Like the way the mind uses external stimuli? And what is this for?
Benefit: Repeated exposure to pattern recognition strengthens the brain’s ability to make connections between pieces of information, which is crucial for improving both memory and critical thinking. 2. Memory Recall by Mental Mapping: Hippocampal Development
Objective: Improve spatial memory and recall by creating mental maps of familiar ideas.
How: Choose a non-fiction book you’re reading. This can work with fiction too, but that’s not my expertise since I rarely read fiction. This time, use the information to make broader connections to patterns in your world rather than just consuming the information passively. As you read and move from chapter to chapter, visualise real-world examples of the ideas. Think about when you’ve seen this happen in your circles, or in other spaces in the world that you feel you understand. As you move forward through the ideas, how they are positioned in the book, and how you comprehend them, mentally ‘map out’ how the ideas you’ve been reading about relate to the world around you. Keep repeating this mapping process in your mind. Taking notes as you go can help deepen this reflection. Depending on your personality, write in the margins or in a journal! Later, try recalling the ideas you’ve been thinking about without looking at your notes. This should come naturally, given that you’ve already mapped them out mentally and taken notes. Add details like which factors matter or what anomalies might relate. How do certain factors shift or change the idea? This is a critical thinking skill we use to map out conceptual information, much like mapping out arguments in an article or organising complex ideas.
Benefit: This exercise helps develop the hippocampus, strengthening your brain's ability to store and recall information spatially. It also improves overall memory and analytical thinking. I started learning the beginnings of this ten years ago, but I believe it took me 12 months of consistent daily practice to see a phenomenal change in the way I used my mind to recall and organise complex ideas. Once you start doing this small unnecessary human matters are far too trivial to waste time worrying about. If you start doing this, you will find it easier to organise both small and large issues in your life and plan solutions with more ease and less cognitive stress. That is it for today! Please send me an email if you have any comments or feedback, or just to say hello! Until next week… Esha. References Edelman, G. M. (1992). Bright air, brilliant fire: On the matter of the mind.
Basic Books. Edelman, G. M. (2004). Wider than the sky: The phenomenal gift of consciousness.Yale University Press. Maguire, E. A., Gadian, D. G., Johnsrude, I. S., Good, C.D., Ashburner, J., Frackowiak, R. S., & Frith, C. D. (2000). Navigation-related structural change in the hippocampi of taxi drivers. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 97(8), 4398-4403. Piaget, J. (1964). Cognitive development in children: Piaget development and learning. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 2(3), 176-186. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.3660020306 Polgár, S. (2005). Breaking through: How the Polgar sisters changed the game of chess. Everyman Chess.
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