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Mark Ashton Smith, Ph.D

About Mark Ashton Smith, Ph.D

I am a cognitive scientist with a joint Ph.D in cognitive psychology and neuroscience from the Center of the Neural Basis of Cognition (Carnegie Mellon/Pittsburgh). At IQ Mindware we develop brain training interventions to increase IQ, critical thinking, decision making, creativity and executive functioning.

The IQ Mindware Architecture Model

Mindware Architecture   What is ‘mindware’? The term ‘mindware‘ was first coined by Perkins in his book Outsmarting IQ: The Emerging Science of Learnable Intelligence. Mindware refers to the rules, knowledge, and strategies that  aid decision making and problem solving. Mindware is a term for the knowledge you draw on to tackle target situations intelligently: your cognitive toolkit. There are three types of mindware: architecture, models and methods. Architecture are broad, comprehensive

Effective Decision Making Using the Emotion Imbued Choice Model

Decision-Making: Definition   Decision making can be defined as (ref):   the ability to choose between competing courses of action based on the relative subjective value of their probabilistic consequences   Learning: Definition   The capacity… to acquire or develop new, memories, knowledge or skills based on experience   Today’s Mindware: Emotion Imbued Choice (EIC) Model The tutorial for this session builds on the rational choice decision-making model that we

Gated Dual N-Back: Input and Output Gating

Here I explain how the gated dual n-back (gated DNB) innovation is a critical advance on classic dual n-back training. Warning: some of the material is quite technical. Simply read up to the ‘Summary’ section at the beginning, and then skip down to the last Exec Summary paragraph, for the basic take-home.  In my dual n-back post I reviewed the evidence for the IQ augmenting benefits of dual n-back training, taking a closer look at the Johns Hopkins University DNB study published this

Strategic Action & The OODA Loop

Strategy: Definition & Examples   We will use the following definitions: Strategic action promotes strategic advantage, and/or implements strategic plans. Strategic plans are high level plans to achieve goals under conditions of uncertainty. Strategic vision is intuitive, creative thinking about high-value envisioned futures.   IQ Mindware Strategic Action Exercises: The OODA Loop   1. Mindfulness / Meta-Awareness Applying the OODA loop involves being meta-aware of your own OODA loop as it unfolds,

How CBT can help you Increase your IQ

Mental Attitude : Definition Your ‘mindset’ – your beliefs, values, attitudes and motivations about your own mental capabilities   CBT In this tutorial we will be looking at CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) techniques to promote a more constructive mental attitude for intelligence augmentation. At its core CBT works on the assumption that our thoughts (including beliefs) mediate how we feel and behave, and that cognitive and behavioral techniques can lead to positive change in dysfunctional emotions and behaviors.  

Brain Training for Values and Wisdom

Values and wisdom concern promote overall well-being. Wisdom involves living realistically  by values that infuse one’s actions and goals with meaning and purpose  – thereby promoting  a sense of a life ‘worth living’.   Values & Wisdom: Definition ‘Values’ are defined as: principles or standards of behaviour; one’s judgement of what is important in life What really matters to you, deep in your heart? What do you want to do with your time on this

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