‘Midbrain activation’ is a training programme to equip children to sense visual properties without actually seeing them, though science educators and rationalists dub them as a pseudo-science meant to take gullible parents for a ride.
Organisations offering the programme are enticing parents by claiming that it will improve memory, concentration, and intuition of children by stimulating some parts of the brain. They offer the training for a fee that ranges between Rs.10,000 and Rs.25,000.
The brain will be so awakened, they claim, that the children will be equipped to read and see even while they are blindfolded.
Science promoters and rationalists counter it saying that it is nothing but a bid to hoodwink parents who want their children to be geniuses.
Source: Hindu news paper
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/debunking-midbrain-activation-of-children/article7124550.ece
http://nirmukta.com/2015/04/26/midbrain-activation-challenge-an-update/
The promoters have not cited evidence of their activation method such as before-and-after fMRI studies or controlled-trials of the activation method. They link to popular press articles about an observation of existing (not trained) ability of a single exceptional adult.
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/081222/full/news.2008.1328.html
Pseudoscience, no doubt. Parents are so desperate to help their kids that they'll try anything. Laudable but foolish.
Which regions of the brain are sought for stimulation? Is activation effort individualized for the children? Are gender issues relating to brain development considered? It would be interesting to consider data if available.
The Bronnikov Method.
http://www.spiritofmaat.com/archive/oct1/bronnkov.htm
it can be explained as a temporary phenomenon based on the brain being neuroplastic and competitive neuroplasticity but i doubt its long term effects and as claimed these institutes.Also there are no imaging evidence is there to prove it but sure would be there is fMRI are attempted .
These are unverifiable claims. When challenged for an open demonstration by Rationalists, they move away. I have seen this happening time and again in Kerala. They will announce to attend but will either not attend or if they come, will not allow their trainees to demonstrate with eyes blind folded in a way science educators, or rationalists demand.
I am a psychologist from India and had the same opinion about the practice of mid brain activation. So I took the package i.e franchise to see the reality of scam. I tested this mid brain activation on two sister aged 16 and 13. But the results are amazing as the mother is sending me the video on weekly basis. The kids are able to see blindfolded. Not only blind folded there is a good improvement in academics according to the mother. Now I want to study it, as to what is happening inside the brain that after 6 hrs of practice for 2 consecutive days( combination of coordination exercises, picture arrangement, focus exercises and finally music for 30 for 60 minutes) children can read the book blindfolded. I informed the mother prior hand that I am not sure whether the claim of seeing blind folded is true or false, so you make make them read at home. It has been 2 months now and the kids have reached a stage where they can open any book and read as if they can see.
Being a psychologist it is difficult to believe but it is a good area to research.
@ Deepika Chamoli
Thank you very much for your scientific answer to the puzzle. I am surprised how biased so called scientists and rationalists can be towards observation of a new phenomenon that is not explainable within the ambit of current knowledge. The so called rationalists and people of scientific temper are sometimes the worst blind believers in existing science! But as you did, it is always a great scientific initiative to really test such claims which seem absurd. That is true scientific attitude. May all learn from experiments, rather than sitting on existing understanding and passing judgments or branding things as superstitions or pesudoscience.
@ Deepika Other methods other than Signal measurements though long-term can be tried. Education is not a short-term affair. We may discuss if you would like to. You could take my contacts from Rajat or even contact me directly. Sharing a small write-up in this context which is very theoretical and written from a social science perspective.
Rajat Kumar Pradhan Dr. Rajat Did you receive the IKS FDP participation certificate and performance scores?, though it does not matter we are in arena of WISDOM BEYOND CERTIFICATES!
Link here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351249806_Debunking_the_concept_of_Giftedness_or_Gifted_Children