Developing peripheral vision is one of eight additional intelligence-boosting techniques we investigate (in addition to many of the more obvious ones) in our bestselling GENIUS INTELLIGENCE: Secret Techniques and Technologies to Increase IQ — techniques we believe may hold brain boosting potential for aspiring geniuses.
An excerpt from Genius Intelligence follows:
Peripheral vision is what we use when something catches our attention “out of the corner of our eye.” It is the opposite of central vision, which is literally the center of our vision (looking directly ahead).
Most people in the modern world use central vision all day long with narrow field activities – such as looking at computer screens, reading books and watching television. This is akin to tunnel vision.
By contrast, our ancestors (especially Early Man) had stronger or better-attuned peripheral vision as they were primarily engaged in outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, fighting and traveling. To survive, they needed to scan entire landscapes to spot enemies and predatory animals and the like.
The reason for deterioration of our peripheral vision can be seen here.
In cinematic terms, our modern vision would be a close-up or extreme close-up whereas Early Man’s vision was akin to a panoramic wide-angle shot.
The problem with central vision is it has been shown in studies to be directly linked with beta brainwaves and the left hemisphere of the brain – in other words, stress city.
When you are looking at the world (literally) with peripheral vision, you immediately enter alpha brainwaves and the right hemisphere of the brain. This is much more relaxing and allows the subconscious to come into the equation for super learning.
For example, you may recall in chapter 4 we mentioned how the world’s greatest speed readers use their peripheral vision to take in entire pages at a time instead of one word at a time.
In his book Exuberant Animal: The Power of Health, Play and Joyful Movement, author Frank Forencich says, “We can be sure that long-term overuse of hyperfocused vision, coupled with atrophy of peripheral sensation, will lead to extensive re-wiring of the brain. We can even speculate on a possible link between balanced vision and intelligence. Chronic, tightly focused vision can do amazing things, but it only taps a fraction of our visual-cognitive capability. Monotonous visual inputs may very well lead to static, stereotyped thinking.
Book addresses the vision issue.
“In contrast, a balance of focused and peripheral vision keeps the stimulation moving and taps a far greater percentage of our processing power. Just as chronic overuse of central vision may limit intelligence, active stimulation of our panoramic vision may actually increase it. The message: dumb yourself down with chronic centrally-focused vision; smarten yourself up by relaxing your eyes and letting the periphery in.”
Although ophthalmologists seem to agree there’s no real way to improve or sharpen peripheral vision, there is scientific research that suggests there are ways to at least improve peripheral awareness and the processing of peripheral images.
A few techniques to develop peripheral vision include:
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Widening your vision to something closer to 180 degrees and becoming aware of everything to your extreme left and extreme right.
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Defocus the eyes to counter the hard focus that occurs in central vision.
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Practice eye exercises – especially ones that include a lot of wide-sweeping eye movements.
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Play team sports like soccer or basketball, which force you to constantly use your peripheral vision.
Check out GENIUS INTELLIGENCE: Secret Techniques and Technologies to Increase IQ – http://www.amazon.com/GENIUS-INTELLIGENCE-Techniques-Technologies-Underground-ebook/dp/B00QXQQWXO/
To view the discussion thread on genius intelligence (the phenomenon) in our ‘Underground Knowledge’ group on Goodreads check out: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/142309-29-conspiracy-theories—a-discussion-group >>> Everyone’s welcome!
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Morcan Books & Films 