Mike Cavaliere

Mike is Brainscape’s lead user experience architect. He’s spent 10 years working with web technology and won a sliver of fame after winning a prize in the NYC BigApps contest in 2009. Mike struggled with ADHD and learning disabilities for most of his life without knowing it. After making the discovery of his neurological “differences,” just a few years ago, he dove full force into conquering them. He is now fascinated with cognitive science and learning how to help all people learn faster and better. Ask him about how ADHD/LD can be turned into an asset rather than a curse, and he’ll gladly tell you. He also has a slight addiction to M&M’s, but assures us it’s “not a problem."

Mike Cavaliere's Posts

Cut Distractions, Improve Concentration with Binaural Beats

By Mike Cavaliere, 10/20/2011 at 12:33 pm

brain connections Those of us that work in a busy office are constantly reminded of our distractibility. Someone walking in front of us will cause our heads to turn, and draw attention away from our current task. A sensation on our arm, and we pause to inspect it. Sudden sounds derail our trains of thought.

In the case of distracting sounds, I’ve found a useful tool: binaural beats. Binaural beats are sound recordings that supposedly trigger certain brain waves when you listen to them on headphones. (more…)

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The Alexander Technique, Back Pain and ADHD

By Mike Cavaliere, at 7:37 am

The Alexander Technique was something I’d tried in order to improve my back problems. It’s had a significant effect on my back, but a side effect was it’s effect on my attention.

For those of you that don’t know, the Alexander Technique is essentially a method of retraining your postural habits. An AT instructor will begin by observing and analyzing the way you move when doing everyday things, such as:

Walking
Standing / Sitting down
Picking up your coffee
Tying your shoes
…basically anything you do with your body (hey now). (more…)

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Brain Games: Lumosity

By Mike Cavaliere, 10/19/2011 at 8:39 am

lumosity In Norman Doidge MD’s book The Brain That Changes Itself, he details amazing stories of how people were able to overcome learning disabilities, brain failure from stroke, even deafness and blindness.

“Playing Koi” Game on lumosity.com

All this revolutionary change comes from a new understanding of the way the brain works. Neuroplasticity, the idea that the brain is not only changeable (contrary to the belief held by scientists for decades), but in fact VERY changeable at any age. Furthermore there are actual techniques and tools to develop your brain in the same way you would a muscle.

One of the tools I’ve discovered get your brain in shape is Lumosity. (more…)

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Vipassana Meditation and ADHD (or, How I Felt After 10 Days of Silence)

By Mike Cavaliere, 10/18/2011 at 12:30 pm

Soon after I was formally diagnosed with attention deficit disorder several years back, I became vigilant in finding natural alternatives for treating ADHD. Vipassana Meditation is what I’d say to be one of the most effective approaches that I’ve personally tried.

For those who haven’t heard of it, Vipassana is a type of meditation that is related to mindfulness meditation. The technique is in effect a step-by-step guide on how to pay attention. (more…)

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howcast.com: Learn the Things You Were Too Embarrassed to Ask About

By Mike Cavaliere, at 8:30 am

Have you ever NOT known how to do something…but were too embarrassed to ask someone?

It’s easy to miss out on social knowledge growing up. Whether you’re an average kid or someone with ADHD or LD, there’s now a website you can go to to learn all that stuff you were afraid to ask about. (more…)

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Medication Alternatives: Don’t like your attention deficit disorder? Fix it.

By Mike Cavaliere, 10/17/2011 at 12:29 pm

The more I research, the more evidence I find that you can correct any learning disability, attention deficit or other shortcoming of your brain. It’s not as easy as taking a pill. But it works, and it’s permanent.

Hold on. These are bold statements. If I have ADHD, the only treatment is drugs. Except diets, meditation, and yoga which don’t really do much. Right?

Not at all. In the past few decades, stunning advances have been made in Neuroplasticity: the brain’s ability to drastically change with the right training.

What does this mean? It means that eventually, things like ADHD and other cognitive quirks won’t be “problems” anymore. (I for one believe ADHD is an asset in many ways, but that’s another discussion.)

So what is the “right” training? Here are a some resources that have reported success improving the brain permanently. (more…)

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