The zone for Devo
This isn't so much a question as a response to things Devo was saying on PNL about the zone. Love to get to the audience there but this is going to be a bit long for the show. Please stay with me this does all relate.
Being in the zone has everything to do with brain physiology and function and the fact that the human brain is split into 2 seperate parts (the hemispheres). These two brain halves handle thought and reasoning in completely different ways. If they were brothers they probably would have strangled each other by the time you were 2 or 3. (If you want to find out just how differently they work try looking up "Alien Hand Syndrom" or information on the split brain experiments in the late 50s or early 60s it's a long time ago). The best description of the process I've found is in a book called "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain". Unfortunately for most people almost all of our curent schooling concentrates on left brain activity. The left half is normally dominant so takes care of almost all normal activitys but looks at things as symbols (left brain is what recognizes the little suit symbols on the cards letters, numbers, etc. while the right brain is what picks up the patterns of play and comes up with those inspired insites that people call gut feelings(since it has no symbol set to use to send messages the information just appears to be known ion reality right brain has probably picked up on a pattern of tells or betting that the left brain missed) Since poker is largely a matter of recognizing patterns in play and trying to prevent others from finding patterns in your own play it is definitely a right brain activity. It's easy to tell when you've been in the zone doing right brain oriented tasks since the right side of the brain doesn't even know time exists you'll seem to look up after only a minute of the activity to find that hours have passed.
Getting into the zone can be done in a number of ways including while playing poker(not recommended since the left brain doesn't like shutting itself down. It likes being boss better than being a messanger boy.
So just before you're about to go into the zone it gets EXTREMELY irritated, thoughts such as "this is a stupid activity" or "I'll never be any good at this, why do I continue?" are not uncommon. Um, that's not good if it hits just while you're playing a big hand. I'd recommend 1/2 hour of deep meditation just before a serious game or 1/2 - 1 hour of drawing either should put you into the zone without putting you on tilt. There's a nice side effect to either of those since when you finish the meditation or drawing excercises you will feel completely at peace. That's a great way to start into a tournament or cash game especially if you have the usual mix of left brain oriented players going on tilt or missinterpretting patterns.
Being in the zone has everything to do with brain physiology and function and the fact that the human brain is split into 2 seperate parts (the hemispheres). These two brain halves handle thought and reasoning in completely different ways. If they were brothers they probably would have strangled each other by the time you were 2 or 3. (If you want to find out just how differently they work try looking up "Alien Hand Syndrom" or information on the split brain experiments in the late 50s or early 60s it's a long time ago). The best description of the process I've found is in a book called "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain". Unfortunately for most people almost all of our curent schooling concentrates on left brain activity. The left half is normally dominant so takes care of almost all normal activitys but looks at things as symbols (left brain is what recognizes the little suit symbols on the cards letters, numbers, etc. while the right brain is what picks up the patterns of play and comes up with those inspired insites that people call gut feelings(since it has no symbol set to use to send messages the information just appears to be known ion reality right brain has probably picked up on a pattern of tells or betting that the left brain missed) Since poker is largely a matter of recognizing patterns in play and trying to prevent others from finding patterns in your own play it is definitely a right brain activity. It's easy to tell when you've been in the zone doing right brain oriented tasks since the right side of the brain doesn't even know time exists you'll seem to look up after only a minute of the activity to find that hours have passed.
Getting into the zone can be done in a number of ways including while playing poker(not recommended since the left brain doesn't like shutting itself down. It likes being boss better than being a messanger boy.
So just before you're about to go into the zone it gets EXTREMELY irritated, thoughts such as "this is a stupid activity" or "I'll never be any good at this, why do I continue?" are not uncommon. Um, that's not good if it hits just while you're playing a big hand. I'd recommend 1/2 hour of deep meditation just before a serious game or 1/2 - 1 hour of drawing either should put you into the zone without putting you on tilt. There's a nice side effect to either of those since when you finish the meditation or drawing excercises you will feel completely at peace. That's a great way to start into a tournament or cash game especially if you have the usual mix of left brain oriented players going on tilt or missinterpretting patterns.
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I've also noticed that I play a better game while in the midst of a political discussion on the phone. What's happening there is that the left side of the brain is working on the conversation and leaving the task it doesn't like (evaluating poker situations) to the right half of the brain. Hm, that's interesting! I would think that if you actively listen to the ranting of players like Matasow and Tony G you should end up playing a better game for the same reason. Their banter is then occupying the part of your brain you don't want involved in playing poker. The problem of course is that you must be able to listen while letting it roll off your back otherwise you could go on tilt.
:notreading2ndgradeessayswithnoparagraphs
Sorry you were in a bad mood when you got to that post. It wasn't my fault, get over it!
/g2