Dr. Nariyuki Hayashi M.D., Ph.D.

, Neurosurgeon, Professor at the Advanced Research Institute for the Sciences and Humanities, Nihon University Professor of Nihon University Graduate School Advanced Research Institute for the Sciences since 2006, following extensive professional experience including appointment as the director of the Emergency Center of Nihon University Itabashi Hospital in 1993 and professor at Nihon Universitys School of Medicine and the University of Miamis Department of Neurosurgery. Dr. Hayashi has saved a large number of nearly brain -dead patients lives so far with his original brain hypothermia treatment, including Mr. Ivan Osim, former manager of the Japan National Football Team, who suffered a stroke. Dr. Hayashi has gained a worldwide reputation as having the hands of God. At the Beijing Olympics, he guided the Japan National Swimming Team using brain scientific strategies and contributed to Kousuke Kitajimas two gold medals. He is also the author of a variety of books such as Shoubu Nou no Kitaekata (How to Train the Brain for Victory), Business Shoubu Nou (The Brain for Business Success), and Nou ni Warui N anatsu no Shuukan (Seven Bad Habits for the Brain) published by Kodansha, KK Bestsellers and Togensha, respectively.

Whether you succeed or fail at a given crucial moment depends on your brain. Understanding the mechanisms of the brain will help you learn how to manage your job, interpersonal relationships, and leadership skills. We are pleased to feature an interview with Dr. Nariyuki Hayashi in four parts in which he offers useful business advice from a brain -science viewpoint. Rules for achieving goals In both the sports and business arenas, brain mechanisms are deeply associated with the achievement of ones goals. One basis for human abilities is rules for goal achievement. The effect that these rules can have was demonstrated by the Japan National Swimming Teams gold medal -winning performances at the Beijing Olympics. Human talent is just like a ball on a slope; it rolls down if nothing is done, and rolls up if sufficient efforts are made. However, the fact remains that some people cannot reach their goals even when they make efforts, while others always succeed in achieving their goals. The difference between them is brain function. For example, even if you declare to yourself, I am going to get a gold medal, it is still unclear how this gold medal can be achieved, and your brain cannot go into action. Moreover, there is a possibility of negative ideas entering your mind simultaneously, such as Maybe I will fail. This activates one of the basic human instincts of self-preservation, which causes you to seek an excuse for failure; and distracted, your brain will not be able to fully demonstrate its ability. In short, to achieve your targets, first you have to make it clear how to do this and set up realistic goals. Once your goals are clearly set and you start concentrating on them, your brain reveals its amazing power. Here, the point is the method of achievement. You have to focus on the process of achievement itself, rather than simply questioning whether you can achieve your goals or not. In sports, athletes should compete not simply to win or lose, but should focus on the method for winning. Those who compete from such a point of view will not be satisfied with their victory, nor even think they have won, unless they have done it in a convincing way. Learning from their experiences, the next time they win, they can achieve a larger goal. In line with this, I was always telling the Olympic athletes to focus not on merely winning or losing, but on the method of winning, which shoul d be a method that leaves an impression on everyone.

Sprint towards your goal full of energy Both in business and sport, it is useless to say I will do my best. Those who say this do not suffer even if they fail due to a lack of realistic goals. Once a goal is clearly established, you have to concentrate all your energies towards it without pursuing your own interests. Humans are so clever that we always seek self-benefit, but as long as you seek self -benefit, your instinct for self-preservation dominates, leading you to a wait -and-see attitude to find an easier and safer way of approaching things. This hinders you from making full use of your brain. Your brain demonstrates its enormous power only when you concentrate on your goal without seeking s elf-benefit. Another important point is, when you try to achieve a goal, you have to make a dash for it instead of practicing a step-by-step or little-by-little approach. If you take too much time, negative ideas, such as Its too difficult and Im afra id Ill fail can surface and affect your concentration on the goal. Once you have established a goal, you have to make a dash for it as you aim for a breakthrough. During a training camp in the USA after the Japanese athletes for the Beijing Olympics had been selected, the Japan National Swimming Team had originally planned to train temporally at a slow pace to recover as is their usual practice, shaping up gradually towards Beijing. However, even despite the good condition of the brain after a rest, it is difficult for it to recondition itself after a rest. Similarly, in the area of business, if you take a week -long holiday while at your peak condition, you may take months to return to that condition. Based on this idea, I advised the athletes to concentra te on their goal without interruption until it was reached and refrain from negative expressions during training sessions; for example, I cant, I dont want to, and Its impossible, which might disturb their concentration.

Brain for achievement, brain for failure There are two brain types, brains for achievement and brains for failure. The difference between these types is how the self -rewarding nervous system functions. A reward for the brain is a feeling of achievement, gained after accomplishing ones goal. The things you have done as instructed by your boss cannot be a reward for your brain, because they are not accompanied by such a feeling. However, if your boss only gives you advice on a task, allowing you to act and carry it out according to your own ideas, you can gain a pleasant feeling of achievement, and from then on will always ask yourself to seek out ideas in pursuit of that feeling. It might be efficient to work according to the manual, but your ability to develop ideas is reduced if you are bound to obey other peoples directions. To prevent this, you have to adopt the habit of reviewing things in your mind; for example, The manual says to do it like this, but I would do it in a different way. The self-rewarding nervous systems ability to achieve goals can be nurtured through daily habits. There are four useful habits for achievement: 1) Acting based on your own ideas 2) Concentrating on realistic goals rather than objectives 3) Giving more importance to the process than the result 4) Accomplishing goals within a set period In contrast, the following four items are bad habits for the brain: 1) The inability to act without instruction from another 2) Doing things by half -measures 3) Being unable to confess mistakes or express weakness frankly 4) Approaching a task little -by-little with a wait-and-see attitude A little-by-little approach might be better than doing nothing, but the following four points are key to achievement: 1) Establish goals and accomplish t hem on your own 2) Stay focused until achievement 3) Focus on the process of achievement 4) Sprint towards the goal based on the conditions within the set period Next time, I will explain about the relationship between brain functions and the creation of a brain for victory to succeed in breaking through your wall and achieving your goal.

The number of neurons in a childs brain is almost equal to that of an adults, and the memory and learning functions of the nervous system are fully developed by around the age of seven years old. After that, the brain continues to grow in either a good or bad way, depending on your daily habits. Today, Dr. Nariyuki Hayashi, a professor at Nihon University Graduate School, provides useful advice for the Brain for business success based on the latest brain -science findings. How to enhance brain functions To become brighter, you have to build up good habits and quit bad ones. No matter how intelligent a person is, he/she cannot learn something uninteresting easily, nor become more intelligent simply by thinking hard. In this respect, brain training and games are useless, and the only way to become brighter is to incorporate the following brain mechanisms into your habits. The human brain has a mechanism for transmitting visual information coming in through the eyes from the visual processing pathway to: 1) the cerebral cortex and A10 nerve cells, 2) the prefrontal cortex, 3) the self -rewarding nerve cells, 4) the dynamic central core, and 5) the hippocampus cooperating with the cerebral cortex. In these pathways the brain functions to create: 1) emotions, 2) understanding, 3) feelings, 4) thoughts, and 5) memories, respectively. Good habits enhance these brain functions. When you try to memorize a persons name, it is effective to also memorize the name with his/her attributes, such as facial and physical characteristics; for example, Mr. A who always has a red face, or Ms. B with a lean face and body. By adding complementary information, your memory can be reinforced. Further, there are two types of emotions: the active and the passive, each of which is represented by likes and dislikes. The central cortex pathway and A10 nervous system transmit these emotions as information to the prefrontal cortex for processing. The point to note here is that there is a difference in the way that active and passive emotions are processed; information including passive emotions is regarded as unnecessary in the prefrontal cortex and disappears after about three to four days. Therefore, understanding can be increased if something holds your interest or you make efforts to listen intently while other people are talking. Feelings of anger not persisting for more than four days and interests not lasting too long can be expl ained similarly by this logic. As the nervous system activity only lasts for three days, repetition is essential for the enhancement of brain functions.

1) Caudate nucleus (feelings) 2) Nucleus accumbens (likes) 3) Amygdala (sense of danger) 4) Hypothalamus (concentration and will) 5) Hippocampal gyrus (short-term memory) 6) Prefrontal cortex (decision-making and recognition) On the other hand, information containing active emotions is mediated by the self-rewarding nervous system after being recognized in the prefrontal cortex, and processed in the dynamic central core system including the hippocampus, which is responsible for the function of thinking. Active emotions induce the self rewarding nervous system to create feelings such as I want to do it, which leads to thought. Therefore, for the brain function of thinking, active feelings are indispensible and the passive wait -and-see attitude is nothing but harmful. The mechanism of thinking is explicitly characterized by the endless rep etitive transmission circuit, whirlpool: A10 nervous system --> prefrontal cortex --> self-rewarding nervous system --> hippocampus --> limbic system --> A10 nervous system. Through this mechanism, we come up with new ideas more easily if we think repeatedly. Good habits for each brain area: Nucleus accumbens: Being favorably disposed towards your boss/subordinate Your power is greater when you work for someone you like. Caudate nucleus: Listening intently to others Active emotions enhance brain functions. Hippocampal gyrus: Thinking repeatedly The brain mechanism helps you come up with new ideas. Hypothalamus: Cultivating frankness in your character Frankness facilitates your concentration without distraction. Amygdala: Taking interest in many things New information and experience stimulate the brain functions.

Bad habits you should quit immediately Our number of neurons peaks at the age of four and reduces to exclude inappropriate cells to the amount contained by adults by the age of seven. It is important for the brain to be able to judge which cells are unnecessary for synapse growth and which are defective until around the age of ten. However, applying this judgment to our habits from the viewpoint of developing a brain for thinking, surprisingly, some inappropriate cells seem to remain in the adult brain. In other words, bad habits allow these cells which were not excluded during childhood to persist and harm brain functions, and even the brightest people have many areas that hinder brain function. Check your bad habits now using the following checklist: Bad habits you should quit immediately: - Avoiding activities due to a lack of interest - Expressing unwillingness and tiredness frequently - Judging things to be impossible or difficult - Approaching tasks little -by-little according to instructions - Checking things in a rough manner - Always saying Ill do it later - Not paying attention to others - Not respecting others - Not checking up on things you have learnt - Not devoting all your energies without seeking self -benefit How to overcome the brain function of forgetfulness We often fail to achieve outcomes, forget what we were going to do, or cannot remember what to take out after opening the refrigerator door. These occurrences can be explained by the brain mechanism that instantly responds to new information. If you think of something in the midst of doing other things, the brain focuses on your new thought and forgets the previous one. In sports too, if athletes care what the score is or think back to their past mistakes in the middle of play, their concentration is interrupted and, as a result, they cannot fully demonstrate their actual abilities. Suppose that you are playing golf and are ready to hit a ball on the green. It is an easy distance to the cup that anyone can manage. But suddenly, something on the green distracts your attention and you turn your eyes unconsciously...you have missed the chance. As the brain responds to new inf ormation and forgets previous things, anything you learn can be forgotten one after another unless your understanding of each is secure. However, you can overcome such brain functions through some habits including: 1) fully understanding what you are learn ing, 2) confirming repeatedly, and 3) making comments on what you have learned.

The memory capacity of the human brain is so enormous that even things you cannot remember are securely stored in your brain. Your memory can be reconstructed in the brain by remembering and explaining verbally what you have learned, just like a sports commentator. On the other hand, it is harmful for you to remember past mistakes. It can lead you to repeating the same mistakes. Instead, you must remember your successful experiences and talk about them to yourself. Then, they will be printed on your memory. It is not necessary to memorize word-for-word what someone says. Just listen with concentration and this will facilitate your memory recall which is reconstructed in the brain.

In this part of the interview, Dr. Nariyuki Hayashi, professor of Nihon University Graduate School, explains the habits of leaders and how to create a brain for victory, based on his extensive research findings of the relationship between the human brain and mind. Negative phases of brain function: The principle of uniformity & consistency What do we base recognition and decision -making on? Information coming into the brain is transmitted to the neurons of the prefrontal cortex. As the process of communication between neurons begins with an electrical impulse propagating synchronously just like fire, it is called a synfire chain. Each electrical impulse has a specific code pattern, similar to a barcode, depending on the content of the information. Based on these patterns, the brain recognizes the similarities and differences of new information. This is the principle of uniformity and consistency on which the human brain bases its judgments. For example, if your boss strongly rejects your idea, your feeling of unpleasantness is transmitted to your brain and, based on the principle of uniformity and consistency, you begin to hate your boss more and more. Regardless of the personality of your boss, you hate them simply because he/she rejected your idea. In the same way, although it is often said that men like beautiful women and women like handsome men, patterns of preference can also be explained by this principle. However, children do not care whether their mothers are beautiful. They definitely like their mothers by nature, because they grow inside their mothers womb hearing her heartbeat and listening to her voice until they are born. Then, how about fathers...? Sadly, they often need to make efforts to be

liked by their children. If the principle of uniformity and consistency is applied negatively to business, similar ideas form easily, but new ideas hardly ever form. However, you can have a different perspective after just four days, thanks to the three -day-long activity of electrical impulses. When you need to present a new idea or check your task, it is better to wait three days before doing so. The brain stoically conforms to this principle and applies it even to the environment. During unusual circumstances, such as exams or competitions like the Olympics, your brain tends to turn off in the absence of uniformity and consistency, consequently affecting your performance. Working efficiency is also influenced by brain action. Your brain is powerful as long as you are working at your usual desk and PC, but performs poorly if you have to share them with your colleagues. A unique point of this principle is that it has a tendency towards the majority. When opinion is divided at a meeting, we tend to join the majority. A corporate leader, who is making an important decision, can end up misjudging whether it is really appropriate, if most of the people close to him are yes men. It is very important for corporate leaders to reconsider their own views after four days, however convincing they are, and respect the positions and opinions of others whenever they arise as they seek a path of coexistence. Requirements to become a leader: 1) A wealth of knowledge. 2) Self-sacrifice for your followers. 3) Broad-mindness to reconsider your own views after four days. 4) The ability to seek coexistence out of respect for different positions and opinions. The Brain for Victory even overcomes human instincts Human ability is comprised of knowledge, skills, physical strength, and humanity, all of which originate in the mind, the most fundamental base. The mind varies depending on feelings and thoughts, and is formed from a higher cellular organizational level, such as tissue and tissue matrices, unlike the cell -derived instincts of living, knowing, and seeking companionship. Typical instincts include coexistence, self-preservation and desire, as well as the principles of uniformity and consistency. Coexistence, for example, is a basic instinct of living together and getting along with one an other. When you have to compete with someone in sports or business and try to defeat him/her, this act conflicts with the instinct of coexistence, consequently making you tense. To overcome the pressure of competition, you have to build a strong mind that is sure of winning. For the brain, however, it is not easy to be in disaccord with instincts. A strong 9

mind is built not by having a lot of guts, but by harnessing instincts. When I was guiding the Japan National Swimming Team at the Beijing Olympics, I showed them a realistic method for creating a brain for victory and overcoming instincts, which can also be applied to corporate strategies. How to create a brain for victory and overcome instincts 1) Regard your rivals as an important tool for enhancing your capacity. 2) Take a liking to your coach/colleagues/team/competition. 3) Focus on the method of winning, rather than whether you win or lose. 4) Devote yourself without seeking benefits.

To be the leader of a group, you have to overcome your instincts by: 1) not being too self-defensive, 2) respecting different viewpoints and opinions, 3) sacrificing yourself to benefit others, and 4) seeking coexistence. Additionally, for business success, you have to aim for business that is pleasing to your brain. As previously mentioned, humans have an instinct to seek coexistence, and based on this thinking, business that satisfies both you and your clients is bound to be successful. At the same time, it is important to train the instincts on which your mind is based and which enhance your humanity.

Lastly, Dr. Hayashi presents some points for corporate and business success. Synfire activates corporate power Whether in business or personal areas, some people are able to fully express their minds, while others are not. The difference between them stems from the brain functions of: 1) liking others (superiors, subordinates, etc.), 2) taking interest in something new, 3) listening with interest to others, and 4) respecting others. It is easy for you to listen with interest to a person you like. In this case, information-transmitters in the brain are activated and create a circuit of conceptualization. If you are following the three items above, and respecting the person, the circuit continuously functions evoking your sympathy for him/her. In other words, you cannot communicate effectively with your subordinate without mutual respect, however capable you are. To make good use of this mechanism, you need to get along well with every person you deal with. When relations with someone are good, a synfire is 10

triggered, and positive effects are created.

To achieve corporate success as a team or organization, negative factors for the synfire should be excluded. Negative factors for synfire - A feeling of dislike - Scolding - Illogicality - Needlessly long speech Rules for victory Spatial recognition, an ability to recognize spatial elements, such as positions and figures, and the passage of time, plays an important role in competition. Ichiro Suzuki, a baseball player in Major League Baseball in America, holds his bat vertically, stares at the ground, and places his hand on his right shoulder whenever he is up to bat, either consciously or unconsciously. Such a batting posture provides him with accurate horizontal and vertical spatial recognition, and the habit of putting his hand on his right shoulder is in accordance with the principle of uniformity and consistency, both of which contribute to him performing at his best. When he was in a slump during the World Baseball Classic 2009, although he held his bat vertically as usual, his eyes were not aligned horizontally. As a result, I suspect that his spatial recognition was not working properly. We often hear that good posture is essential for good health, but it also facilitates both horizontal and vertical spatial recognition. By maintaining good posture when you are at a desk, you can perform better at work. In addition to spatial recognition, the self -rewarding nervous system contribute s to victory. The self-rewarding nervous system is activated by a feeling of achievement, but as soon as you begin to think about the goal, the bloodstream to the brain decreases. If you think, I have won! or Its almost finished! in the midst of your final spurt, your performance level instantly drops, spoiling your chance for victory. Consequently, it is important to keep your mind off the goal during competition. Mr. Zico, a Brazilian football coach who has coached the Japanese National Football Team, once said, You cant score a goal if you kick the ball at the goal. You have to kick it at the inner bar of the goal. According to this, in the case of running sports, assume that the goal is the far side of the goal line, and you can achieve better results by keeping your energy level until the end. Also at the workplace, if you work while worrying about something else, brain blood flow decreases and brings poor results. Full concentration is indispensible 11

for the feeling of achievement. Mr. Kosuke Kitajima, a Japanese Olympic gold medalist swimmer, addressed this issue convincing himself, Touching the touchpad isnt the goal. I really only achieve my goal when I look up at the scoreboard after touching. At the same time, he tried swimming the last 10 m in a way that would move the spectators with a display of his full power and winning strategy. Immediately after reaching his goal he displayed a powerful victory pose and expressed himself by shouting out, I feel so great! at a poolside interview. Suc h a strong feeling not only reflected his joy in winning, but also the dynamic central core function which was activated by his perfect concentration in training and mastering the rules of victory. In conclusion, training the brain is the key to both victo ry and success. Incorporate good habits for the brain into your activities and enjoy the feeling of achievement.

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