quote:
Originally posted by AlexK:
The three fingers technique is a trigger
technique from the Silva Method, which you could apply if you are familiar with it. It won't hold you in the accelerative learning state when you start focusing on the text during regular reading. To remain in the alpha state with eyes open, when you use the 3 fingers techniques, you need to avoid looking i.e. soft gaze not directly focusing on anything.

You could use the 3 fingers technique for entering your ideal reading state. However tangerine technique trains you to throw your awareness to the back of the head. This ironically I find more effective than the 3 fingers technique because it physically triggers activity in ideal part of the brain for reading. In much the same way as deciding to pick up a glass of water triggers your arm to move in correct response.

Ultimately the PhotoReader will be able to enter his/her ideal state for reading just by having the intention to read. They will notice that their internal focus is somewhat on the back of the head automatically. Entering the accelerative learning state will also just become a matter of intent. A relaxing breath and defocusing the eyes for PhotoReading.

Each of the techniques, the tangerine and the accelerative learning state have a different purpose when it comes to 'reading' During the Activation stage we want both the inner mind and conscious mind to work together. For PhotoReading we want to 'learn' the content of the text with our inner mind keeping our conscious mind out of the way during this knowledge gathering process.

In most area of our lives if would be nice if we could achieve a touch more alpha brainwave activity. It seems that alpha is the communication link between the deeper thinking of our inner processor and our outer conscious focus. When we are able to just go with the flow... doing - without thinking about how we are doing it... in the sense of just do it a relaxed absorbed manner we are in the ideal state. I think if we were to measure it we would find our brainwave to be at a steady low beta wave. Ready to dip into alpha for inspiration and insight.

Since most of us don't have equipment it is pointless to look for certain brainwave patterns to identify the ideal state for reading.

What we do know about brainwaves is that they are linked to our habits of emotional intent and feeling. The ideal state is when our external focus is fully focused on the task before us, having removed other external distractions that pull us away from this focus. We are calm and relaxed. Our inward focus is a sense of curiosity, wondering also calm and relaxed. In this way our brainwaves function according to the needs at hand. Whatever it is it is perfect for you.

If you are physically relaxed and focused externally and inwardly you find yourself worrying about getting it right, worrying about remembering all the steps etc... you need to make some mental adjustments.

If you find yourself mentally relaxed focused and curious inwardly yet externally you got people knocking into you, light glaring from the loud noises distracting you or you are attempting to do two tasks at once you need to make some adjustments to your external environment.

The ideal state for reading is... at ease focus calm/relaxed and curious both internally and externally.

On a side note. I came across some information that listed which parts of reading are left brained and which parts are right. The list led me to conclude the reason it takes so long to read and why the photoreading method is so effective is because we lessen the number of jumps we make between the hemispheres each performing their task in relation to reading by the use of the photofocus step. Unfortunately my browser has lost those bookmarks and now I'm on a search again to find that information for my notes.

Alex

Hi Alex,

Thanks for a clear understanding of the tangerine technique's purpose. First, I didn't really use it much and wondered why my activation didn't work. So, this time, I learned how tangerine technique worked. It somewhat gave me a little advantage prior to activation because after activation I began to know something little bit when doing the mindmapping. Thanks!
Abl25 =)