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The Birth of Pinoki Brain Training Method
Pinoki Brain Training Method is a brain training method developed in Japan by Dr.
Tan Kok Liang (PhD, Artificial Intelligence, Incremental Learning and Biomedical
Imaging, Keio University, Japan) upon inspiration by artificial intelligence researcher
at Keio University, Master Yuji Kitazawa (M.Sc. Eng.). The goal of Pinoki Brain
Training Method is to induce self-taught and self-learning behaviour [自学自習 (“jigaku
jishu”) in Japanese] in young children.
Dr. Tan was a straight-A student. Throughout the years of
his study, he has developed a method so called Mental Note and he used it to score
in examinations. Mental Note is a kind of image-based noting system that uses Photographic
Memory. On the other hand, Master Yuji Kitazawa is someone who possesses Perfect
Hearing and extremely keen auditory sense. He is able to learn a new language in
a short period of time by mimicking sound, accent and speech since young. He could
visualise musical notes when he listens to music. The two met in Keio University,
Japan, and an exchange of knowledge, methods, experiences, ideas and learning behaviors
took place.
From the perspective of neuroscience to artificial intelligence, the subjects of
how to make a robot learn and auditory memory had always been the topics of discussion
between the two. All of these inspired them to think of the whole mechanism of how
a baby, a toddler, a preschooler and eventually a person learn. Meanwhile, the witness
of the similar qualities of memory among Dr. Tan himself and other top scholars
from around the world at Keio University encouraged him to further analyse the underlying
learning behaviour that produces those similar traits of memory, spontaneity and
multi-dimensional visualisation particularly when it comes to understanding more
abstract knowledge.
With more than 10 years of research, Dr. Tan developed a brain training system,
named Pinoki Brain Training Method, that aims at facilitating more frequent and
more specific use of the left and right brain. Brain grows by use. Therefore when
kids get more opportunities to exercise certain parts of their brain, more synapses
will be established especially in, but not limited to, those areas of the brain, and
a skill will gradually be developed. However, a skill is different from a ‘neural
habit’ or thinking habit. Kids who get to use their brains more regularly through
brain ‘workouts’ that are designed to target the different functions of the brain
are more likely develop high-mental-function ‘neural habit’. When a high-mental-function
‘neural habit’ is developed, the process of thinking and remembering will become
so spontaneous that the ultimate self-taught behaviour will take place automatically.
A few words from Pinoki
"I hope my daughter can score straight As in SPM and get JPA scholarship." "My daughter
scored straight A's in UPSR and PMR but she scored only 5A's in SPM, why?"
Why are there so many students who scored straight As in UPSR and/or PMR but failed
to do so in SPM and STPM? In fact, SPM and STPM are the two most important examinations
that determine whether the students can gain admission into university, choose the
course they prefer and get sponsored by the Malaysian government for studying abroad
in UK, Japan, Germany, USA and so on.
"Maybe my son is too stressed out ... too many subjects to cope with ..."
The first two subjects that most preschoolers start learning are language
and Mathematics. Many of them do well in those early years. However, as they grow
up and go further along the education pathway, they are required to study more subjects.
Their academic results start to deteriorate. Parents would rationalize this scenario
by telling themselves that their children are too stressed out by too many subjects
and finally the children give up. Most of these children want to achieve good academic
results as much as their parents do but their brain is just overloaded by too many
vocabularies, formulas, equations, images, figures, facts that they have been trying
to memorize. Unknowingly, they find themselves spending hours and hours studying
like they did back in the time of UPSR or PMR but just can't score A's. This frustration
finally destroys the students' interest in study.
A multi-sensory brain training algorithm
The Pinoki Brain Training Method is an advanced program that is supported by Pinoki
Research and Development who develops brain training exercises and technology. The
method empowers students' brains using fast multi-sensory and imagery exercises.
A well-trained brain is very friendly to figures, images, formulas, facts, sequences
and particularly abstract knowledge which is one of the most important criteria
for scoring A's in examinations.
How can my children maintain their grades when they grow up?
How can my children maintain their grades when go further along the education pathway?
How can my children develop eidetic memory skills for examination? How to train
the brain so that both sides of the brain can be activated when studying for a subject?
Eidetic memory is an ability that most if not all of the straight-A students possess.It
is a set of memory skills that can become very powerful when it is used together
with the left-brain abilities. Eidetic memory skills can be trained and
improved for achieving higher scores in examination. The earlier kids are exposed
to eidetic memory training, the better and stronger eidetic memory they will have
in future, and the more likely they can become high achievers.
Why can't kids learn eidetic memory skills in school?
Unfortunately, schools tend to favor left-brain mode of thinking. It is very hard
to promote the use of both sides of the brain in schools owing to the rigid educational
system.
How do I know my children are using the wrong set of memory skills?
Instead of learning the right memory skills, it is very likely that students would
end up learning and practicing the wrong ones in schools. Why? Because they are
unguided and uninformed of the right memory skills
How do I know I am using the wrong set of memory skills?
The simplest ways to know that are by checking
1) how long your memory of a particular knowledge can last and,
2) the time taken for revising or revisiting the knowledge after you forget it.
If students use the wrong memory skills, they will find it harder and harder to memorize the knowledge in all the subjects they are taking (UPSR, 6 subjects, PMR, 8 subjects, SPM 10 subjects). They will find it very difficult to organize the knowledge they have memorized.
1) how long your memory of a particular knowledge can last and,
2) the time taken for revising or revisiting the knowledge after you forget it.
If students use the wrong memory skills, they will find it harder and harder to memorize the knowledge in all the subjects they are taking (UPSR, 6 subjects, PMR, 8 subjects, SPM 10 subjects). They will find it very difficult to organize the knowledge they have memorized.
Audio-based eidetic memory ability
Audio-based eidetic memory ability helps children to develop alternative vision
using the mind's eyes. Master Yuji Kitazawa has many years of experience on how
to improve audio-based eidetic memory skills. With audio-based eidetic memory skills,
not only can he play a piece of music, even a long composition, after hearing it
for a brief time, he is also able to learn a new knowledge, be it learning a foreign
language or visualizing a mathematical argument, faster than normal people.
Eidetic memory ability, not just straight A's
Dr. Tan Kok Liang has experience scoring straight A's himself in the country's national
examinations using visual and audio-based eidetic memory skills . He gained
admission into the University of Malaya (one of the most competitive universities
in Malaysia) with 99 points out of 100. He graduated from the University of Malaya
with a CGPA among the top 2% in 2004. Because of his eidetic memory ability, not
only did he excel in academia, he also thrived in extra-curricular activities like
piano playing, song composition, music arrangement and table tennis playing. He
was offered three prestigious international scholarships for his achievements:
American Fulbright Scholarship, Japanese Government Monbukagakusho Scholarship and
German DAAD-Siemens postgraduate scholarships. He graduated with a doctoral degree
in Artificial Intelligence and Biomedical Engineering from Keio University, Japan in 2010.
Left Brain Vs Right Brain
The theory of the structure and functions of the mind suggests that the two different sides of the brains control two different "modes" of thinking. It also suggests that each of us prefers one mode over the other.
Discussion
Experimentation has shown that the two different sides, or hemispheres, of the brain are responsible for different manners of thinking. The following table illustrates the differences between left-brain and right-brain thinking:
Experimentation has shown that the two different sides, or hemispheres, of the brain are responsible for different manners of thinking. The following table illustrates the differences between left-brain and right-brain thinking:
Left Brain Right Brain
| Left Brain | Right Brain |
|---|---|
| Logical sequential | Random |
| Rational | Intuitive |
| Analytical | Holistic synthesizing |
| Objective | Subjective |
| Looks at parts(details) | Looksat Wholes(big picture) |
Most individuals have a distinct preference for one of these styles of thinking. In other words, most students either use mainly the left brain or right brain for study. Some, however, are more whole-brained and equally adept at both modes. This small group of individuals always stand out in the crowd because of their abilities. Research shows that most high-achiever students are whole-brained thinkers. The below two functional MRIs were taken from an average student (left) and a top student (right). Both of the students were instructed to answer 10 examination questions within a duration of 60 minutes. Research shows that the top student's brain is generally more active especially in the right brain areas compared to the average student. (Images source: A. Pratt, PhD, USA)
Schools tend to favor left-brain mode of thinking
In general, schools tend to favor left-brain modes of thinking, while downplaying the right-brain ones. Left-brain scholastic subjects focus on logical thinking, analysis, and accuracy. Right-brained subjects, on the other hand, focus on aesthetics, feeling, and creativity. .
In general, schools tend to favor left-brain modes of thinking, while downplaying the right-brain ones. Left-brain scholastic subjects focus on logical thinking, analysis, and accuracy. Right-brained subjects, on the other hand, focus on aesthetics, feeling, and creativity. .
How right-brain vs. left-brain thinking impacts learning
Curriculum - In order to be more "whole-brained" in their orientation, kids need to be given equal weight to the arts, creativity, the skills of imagination, synthesis and mental imagery exercises. The optimal potential of the brain can only be induced with the balanced use of both sides of the brain.
Instruction - To foster a more whole-brained scholastic experience, educators should use instruction techniques that connect with both sides of the brain. They can increase their classroom's right-brain learning activities by incorporating more patterning, metaphors, analogies, role playing, visuals, and movement into their reading, calculation, and analytical activities.
Curriculum - In order to be more "whole-brained" in their orientation, kids need to be given equal weight to the arts, creativity, the skills of imagination, synthesis and mental imagery exercises. The optimal potential of the brain can only be induced with the balanced use of both sides of the brain.
Instruction - To foster a more whole-brained scholastic experience, educators should use instruction techniques that connect with both sides of the brain. They can increase their classroom's right-brain learning activities by incorporating more patterning, metaphors, analogies, role playing, visuals, and movement into their reading, calculation, and analytical activities.
On top of all, right-brain exercises should be implemented frequently so that students
can slowly adapt to using both sides of thebrain. The right-brain exercises should
focus on improving the students' image recognition ability, concentration, intuition
ability, eidetic memory ability, creativity and ability to do parallel processing
of information.
Assessment - For a more accurate whole-brained evaluation of student learning, educators must develop new forms of assessment that honor right-brained talents and skills.
Assessment - For a more accurate whole-brained evaluation of student learning, educators must develop new forms of assessment that honor right-brained talents and skills.
Neuroscience Research
What researchers say about the brain?
"The use of neural network in machine learning and image recognition proves that with proper training, the human brain is capable of doing parallel processing just like the computer"
~Prof. T. Toshiyuki, Japan.
"The capacity to generate and analyze mental visual images is essential for many cognitive abilities including problem solving and test taking." ~A. T. Sack, PhD, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Netherlands.
"Various studies have demonstrated the interaction of mental imagery with other cognitive processes, including language, visual perception, and memory ..." ~Abimbola Pratt, PhD, Brown University, USA.
"Visual mental imagery, or 'seeing with the mind's eyes', has been the subject of considerable controversy in cognitive science. ... with the generation of mental images from memory depending primarily upon structures in the posterior left hemisphere, and the rotation of mental images depending primarily upon.
"The use of neural network in machine learning and image recognition proves that with proper training, the human brain is capable of doing parallel processing just like the computer"
~Prof. T. Toshiyuki, Japan.
"The capacity to generate and analyze mental visual images is essential for many cognitive abilities including problem solving and test taking." ~A. T. Sack, PhD, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Netherlands.
"Various studies have demonstrated the interaction of mental imagery with other cognitive processes, including language, visual perception, and memory ..." ~Abimbola Pratt, PhD, Brown University, USA.
"Visual mental imagery, or 'seeing with the mind's eyes', has been the subject of considerable controversy in cognitive science. ... with the generation of mental images from memory depending primarily upon structures in the posterior left hemisphere, and the rotation of mental images depending primarily upon.
structures in the posterior right hemisphere." ~Martha J. Farah, PhD, Carnegie-Mellon
University Pittsburgh, PA, USA. All these research have proven the inevitable importance
of using not only the left brain but also the right brain for cognitive processes
such as problem solving and studying
Why brain training classes keep growing in Japan?
Humans inhabit the earth for thousands of years but we only know the 90% of our brain in the past 10 years owing to the advancement in neuroscience research. In recent years, Japanese educators have been debating on how the increasing amount of curriculum in school would destroy children's interest in learning. The controversy has led to a scenario where many Japanese primary schools start implementing brain training classes. The purpose of the classes to help the children to realize their hidden potential so that they are able to study under less stress and yet maintain good grades in examinations. Nowadays, special memory and brain training classes are gaining tremendous momentum throughout Japan. Reports show that students who have taken brain training lessons achieved, in average, better results compared to students who have not or do not in all national examinations.
Ichiro's right brain
Suzuki Ichiro, a world renowned Japanese baseball player who is famous for his batting
world records, is a genius who has captured the hearts of many Japanese for his
determination and extraordinary abilities. His name always appears in books that
are related to right brain training because he has been undergoing right brain and
concentration training since he was about 3 years old. Nowadays, not only has he
become a role model for young children to follow, he has also inspired many adults
to realize the importance of the use of right brain for higher achievement in life.
Ichiro's right brain IQ was once tested through a test called the momentary lapse
of concentration test. Results showed that his right brain IQ surpassed normal people
by approximately 33% (see right figures).
Why Ichiro's father trained his son from the age of 3? Why start early? Neuroscience research concludes that the best brain period for learning is from the age of 0 to 10 because neuron density in human brain decreases as we age. Besides, human synapses density in the brain reaches the peak between the age of 3 and 7 (see right figures).
Why Ichiro's father trained his son from the age of 3? Why start early? Neuroscience research concludes that the best brain period for learning is from the age of 0 to 10 because neuron density in human brain decreases as we age. Besides, human synapses density in the brain reaches the peak between the age of 3 and 7 (see right figures).
Pinoki Brain Training Program is a product of the collaborative effort between Master
Yuji Kitazawa and Dr. Tan Kok Liang. Both of them graduated from one of the most
famous universities in Japan - Keio University. Owing to Master Yuji Kitazawa's
eidetic memory for music, he is able to not only hear but also 'see musical notes'
of a piece of music with his mind's eyes. He can play a piece, sometimes even a
long composition, after hearing it for a brief time. His eidetic memory ability
was soon extended to the realm of study when he was a junior-high-school student.
He has published a number of academic papers in the field of artificial intelligence.
On the other hand, Dr. Tan Kok Liang was a straight-A achiever and the Japanese
Government Monbukagakusho Scholar. He knows better than most people on how to use
eidetic memory to score better results in examinations.
The Pinoki Brain Training Method is designed to induce eidetic memory ability in kids in their early years through left and right brain training. On top of that, bundled with Pinoki Research and Development, the materials used in the program are created, developed and updated PhD graduated from Japan.
Besides paper worksheets, Pinoki's Brain Training Program emphasizes on multi-sensory memory games and critical thinking exercises. Pinoki's memory games induce learning interest in children and help them to develop eidetic memory ability, better concentration and activate their hidden potential.
The Pinoki Brain Training Method is designed to induce eidetic memory ability in kids in their early years through left and right brain training. On top of that, bundled with Pinoki Research and Development, the materials used in the program are created, developed and updated PhD graduated from Japan.
Besides paper worksheets, Pinoki's Brain Training Program emphasizes on multi-sensory memory games and critical thinking exercises. Pinoki's memory games induce learning interest in children and help them to develop eidetic memory ability, better concentration and activate their hidden potential.
Brainasium
Competitiveness and teamwork
Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, nations, animals, etc.
for territory, a niche, or a location of resources. It arises whenever two or more
parties strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competitiveness is one of the
most vital traits to succeed in life. The most effective way to induce kids' competitiveness
is through games. Pinoki Memory Gym consists of a series of diversified brain training
games that not only help to instill competitiveness but also enable kids to make
quantum leap in using both sides of the brain.
Teamwork is work performed by a team. In real life, the spirit of teamwork is one of the many good qualities that an organization looks for in an individual. Through Pinoki Brain Games, kids learn on how to carry out a task or achieve a goal in a team.
Teamwork is work performed by a team. In real life, the spirit of teamwork is one of the many good qualities that an organization looks for in an individual. Through Pinoki Brain Games, kids learn on how to carry out a task or achieve a goal in a team.