Stephen Hawking, the greatest space physicist of the 20th century and a genius scientist representing the history of human science since Einstein, is a great physicist who discovered the birth of the universe and the secrets of black holes even amidst the cruel barrier of paralysis called Lou Gehrig’s disease. He did not stop his research despite the harsh physical barriers that paralyzed his entire body and prevented him from moving even a finger. Unable to write down physical formulas on paper, he calculated the huge virtual universe structure and three-dimensional geometric formulas as three-dimensional objects in his head. This imaginative space-time sketchbook exercise was the force that led to huge insights in physics.
Today on BuildSelf, we introduce the cognitive scientific principles of the habit of ‘training with a virtual blackboard in the brain while confined to a wheelchair’ that he adheres to, as well as a 3-step guide that modern people can easily practice in their daily lives.
Historical & Academic Evidence
This content is based on Stephen Hawking, *My Brief History* (2013) & Cognitive Neuroscientific Studies.
1. Analysis of brain science principles that lead to success
Visualization work that involves clearly rendering and rotating invisible abstract geometric figures or complex business variables in one’s mind stimulates the ‘Visuospatial Sketchpad’, which is the core of the working memory system. This strengthens the synaptic connections between the parietal lobe and the prefrontal cortex, increasing the brain’s planning and computing power to perfectly structure and gain insight into multidimensional business structures or design tasks in one’s mind rather than just passing them by.
2. 3-Step Practical Routine for Modern Professionals
Step 1: Setting up environment and tools
Every afternoon, during my break or when I'm organizing the difficult project plan at hand, I quietly close my eyes and create a clear virtual black board in the empty space of my mind. Take a long breath.
Step 2: Full sense projection and practice
On the blackboard, clearly draw the three key elements of the most difficult problem to be solved today (or simple 3D objects such as a clear sphere or pyramid) in the form of three-dimensional shapes.
Step 3: Objective looking and meta-organizing
With your eyes closed, perform a 2-minute cognitive simulation rotation exercise in which you slowly rotate the virtual three-dimensional figures in your head 360 degrees left and right, dock them, and combine them.
3. Behavioral science advice for successful settlement
Don't give yourself a headache by forcing the image to be dark. The training itself is enough to create afterimages of light lines and planes on a virtual blackboard while breathing gently.
📌 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Even when I close my eyes, all I see is a dark, black screen. ▼
This is a very normal reaction. Instead of trying to force yourself to look at a 3D sphere, start by holding the color and shape afterimage of a small 2D flat model, such as an orange square or a white triangle, without shaking for 3 seconds.
Will increasing your brain's sketchbook capacity also help you organize complex tasks and priorities? ▼
Yes, you can virtually display five to-do cards for today in your head, rank their importance by size and color, and rearrange them three-dimensionally, improving your task organizing skills in a very intuitive way.
