Wishful Thinking
It’s 11/11, make a wish!
At Soma, we’ve been thinking about wishes. Specifically, what we wish for in good brain health. Most of us know what to wish for in our physical health: strong muscles, low cholesterol, a steady heart, large lung capacity. But what about for cognition?
There are several domains of cognitive function: attention, memory, executive function, processing speed, and language.
Attention is your ability to focus when it matters and filter out what doesn’t. When attention is strong, your mind feels anchored. When it slips, things feel scattered. For attention, wish for focus that is sharp but not rigid.
Memory can be broken down into short-term and long-term memory. They define how you learn and make sense of experience. Good memory isn’t just about recall, it’s also about context and continuity. When it comes to memory, wish for a mind that remembers connections, not just facts.
Executive function is responsible for planning, prioritizing, and problem-solving. When it’s strong, you can juggle tasks, regulate emotions, and move through complexity with ease. Here, wish for smooth coordination between intention and action.
Processing speed is how efficiently your brain takes in, interprets, and responds to information. It’s the difference between feeling sharp and feeling sluggish. Fast isn’t necessarily good, so wish for responsiveness instead of rush.
Language indicates how clearly you express and organize thoughts. Language is the bridge between your inner world and others. For language, wish for clarity of both thought formation and communication.
Knowing what to wish for is just the first step. The challenge is that we’re rarely aware of when our minds are off balance until it’s too late: focus slips, motivation drops, words stop coming easily. We need a way to measure these subtle fluctuations, and understand how to regain balance.
This is what Soma is building towards: a way to see and understand your cognitive patterns, so that brain health isn’t just wishful thinking - it becomes something you can actually nurture.
Contribute to the conversation
Through Clarity, by Soma, we hope to answer your most pressing questions about the brain and cognitive health. Submit your questions here.
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We’ve officially kicked off beta testing and will be onboarding early users on a rolling basis. For priority access, please fill out this survey and we’ll reach out to you in the coming months. If you’ve already filled it out, we’ll be in touch soon.
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