Dr. John Medina je molekularni biolog, ki ga še posebej zanima optimalno delovanje možganov. V knjigi Brain Rules se loti kopice vprašanj, ki odločajo o tem, kako "pametni" smo. Od redne telesne vaje, do tega, kakio se učimo, pa vpliva stresa na naše kognitivne sposobnosti, loti se vprašanja spanja, razišče zakaj tako lahko pozabljamo stvari in zakaj je ponavljanja naučenega tako ključno in ali imajo moški in ženske res različne možgane.
Najpomembnejše pri vsej zadevi pa je, da se avtor ne ukvarja s teorijo, ampak bralcem ponudi kup praktičnih napotkov za urjenje možganskih sposobnosti in jih zakodira v 12 enostavnih pravil:
EXERCISE | Rule #1: Exercise boosts brain power. SURVIVAL | Rule #2: The human brain evolved, too. WIRING | Rule #3: Every brain is wired differently. ATTENTION | Rule #4: We don't pay attention to boring things. SHORT-TERM MEMORY | Rule #5: Repeat to remember. LONG-TERM MEMORY | Rule #6: Remember to repeat. SLEEP | Rule #7: Sleep well, think well. STRESS | Rule #8: Stressed brains don't learn the same way. SENSORY INTEGRATION | Rule #9: Stimulate more of the senses. VISION | Rule #10: Vision trumps all other senses. GENDER | Rule #11: Male and female brains are different. EXPLORATION | Rule #12: We are powerful and natural explorers.
WIRING | Rule #3: Every brain is wired differently.
ATTENTION | Rule #4: We don't pay attention to boring things.
SHORT-TERM MEMORY | Rule #5: Repeat to remember.
LONG-TERM MEMORY | Rule #6: Remember to repeat.
SLEEP | Rule #7: Sleep well, think well.
STRESS | Rule #8: Stressed brains don't learn the same way.
SENSORY INTEGRATION | Rule #9: Stimulate more of the senses.
VISION | Rule #10: Vision trumps all other senses.
GENDER | Rule #11: Male and female brains are different.
EXPLORATION | Rule #12: We are powerful and natural explorers.