--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dr. Leonard Shlain, chairman of…" description: "\"Dr. Leonard Shlain, chairman of laparoscopic surgery at California Pacific Medical Center, said they took some four and five year-olds and gave them vi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/784/roger-ebert-655_activity_dr-leonard-shlain-chairman-of-laparoscop_1934047.jpg" --- # Dr. Leonard Shlain, chairman of laparoscopic surgery at… ![“Dr. Leonard Shlain, chairman of laparoscopic surgery at California Pacific Medical Center, said they took some four and five year-olds and gave them video games and asked them to figure out how to play them without instructions. Then they watched their brain activity with real-time monitors. At…” quote by Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/784/roger-ebert-655_activity_dr-leonard-shlain-chairman-of-laparoscop_1934047.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/784/roger-ebert-655_activity_dr-leonard-shlain-chairman-of-laparoscop_1934047.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/784/roger-ebert-655_activity_dr-leonard-shlain-chairman-of-laparoscop_1934047.jpg) > “Dr. Leonard Shlain, chairman of laparoscopic surgery at California Pacific Medical Center, said they took some four and five year-olds and gave them video games and asked them to figure out how to play them without instructions. Then they watched their brain activity with real-time monitors. At first, when they were figuring out the games, he said, the whole brain lit up. But by the time they knew how to play the games, the brain went dark, except for one little point.” [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early exposure to video games lights up many brain regions, but mastery reduces activity to focused areas. **In simple terms:** Learning engages the whole brain, expertise narrows focus. Key Takeaway Practice refines and concentrates mental effort. Themes learning neuroplasticity expertise Mood curious analytical Type observational informative When to use this quote - education - gaming - training - skill development Key Concepts cognitive load skill acquisition brain efficiency Questions to Reflect On - How does expertise change brain activation? - Can focused focus hinder broader learning? A Different Perspective Expertise may limit creative thinking beyond the task. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Brain Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-activity-339903/) [Brain Lit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-lit-3043131/) [Brain Went](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-went-3043130/) [California](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california/) [Chairman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairman/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Drs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drs/) [Figures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figures/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Five year olds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five-year-olds/) [Five years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five-years/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Games Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games-brain-3043129/) [Instruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruction/) [Lit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lit/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Medical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical/) [Pacific](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pacific/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery/) [Video](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video/) [Video games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video-games/) [Watched Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watched-brain-1080532/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Studies of social games, puzzle games, and brain-training games have shown they have little effect on the brain despite often being marketed as improving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-bavelier/studies-of-social-games-puzzle-games-and-brain-training-games-have/) [Daphne Bavelier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-bavelier/) > [In the course of four hours, I watched my brain completely deteriorate in its ability to process all information. On the morning of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-bolte-taylor/in-the-course-of-four-hours-i-watched-my-brain-completely-deteriorate/) [Jill Bolte Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-bolte-taylor/) > [If we could really measure our brain's activity, it would be a historical turning point for Homo sapiens, making radical human cognitive evolution possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-johnson/if-we-could-really-measure-our-brain-s-activity-it-would-be-a/) [Bryan Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-johnson/) > [“the brain's activity—and, indeed, the activity of our nervous system in total—is our mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-disalvo/the-brain-s-activity-and-indeed-the-activity-of-our-nervous-system-in/) [David DiSalvo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-disalvo/) > [“Nobody has ever come back from the dead, and there is significant evidence that near death experiences are the product of brain activity that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/nobody-has-ever-come-back-from-the-dead-and-there-is-significant/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [ Coffee has ... expand\[ed\] humanity's working-day from twelve to a potential twenty-four hours. The tempo, the complexity, the tension of modern life, call for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-meagher/coffee-has-expand-ed-humanity-s-working-day-from-twelve-to-a/) [Margaret Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-meagher/) > [“As you become skilled in a task, its demand for energy diminishes. Studies of the brain have shown that the pattern of activity associated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/as-you-become-skilled-in-a-task-its-demand-for-energy-diminishes/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [“John-Dylan Haynes22 and his colleagues expanded Libet’s experiments in 2008 to show that the outcomes of an inclination can be encoded in brain activity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-gazzaniga/john-dylan-haynes22-and-his-colleagues-expanded-libet-s-experiments/) [Michael S. Gazzaniga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-gazzaniga/) > [We will move from looking at correlations between brain activity and behaviour to studying how the brain causes mental states and behaviour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-keefe/we-will-move-from-looking-at-correlations-between-brain-activity-and/) [John O'Keefe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-keefe/) > [“acupuncture definitely has some effect on the brain. Functional imaging of brain activity shows that acupuncture has specific”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-aamodt/acupuncture-definitely-has-some-effect-on-the-brain-functional/) [Sandra Aamodt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-aamodt/) > [“Recent breakthroughs in the field of neuro-science have shown that playing the piano is good for your brain. Dr. Gottfried Schlaug of Beth Israel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-isacoff/recent-breakthroughs-in-the-field-of-neuro-science-have-shown-that/) [Stuart Isacoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-isacoff/) > [The emergence of a unified cognitive moment relies on the coordination of scattered mosaics of functionally specialized brain regions. Here we review the mechanisms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-varela/the-emergence-of-a-unified-cognitive-moment-relies-on-the/) [Francisco Varela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-varela/) > [“the brain registers what is really out there in the world, makes a decision about what should be out there, and then generates its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-m-hood/the-brain-registers-what-is-really-out-there-in-the-world-makes-a/) [Bruce M. Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-m-hood/) > [The brain is not the mind. It is probably impossible to look at a map of brain activity and predict or even understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/the-brain-is-not-the-mind-it-is-probably-impossible-to-look-at-a-map/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) ## More by Roger Ebert > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [It is an interesting law of romance that a truly strong woman will choose a strong man who disagrees with her over a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-an-interesting-law-of-romance-that-a-truly-strong-woman-will/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I am, beneath everything else, a fan. I was fixed in this mode as a young boy and am awed by people who take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/i-am-beneath-everything-else-a-fan-i-was-fixed-in-this-mode-as-a/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [“We’d had a revelation. This was the direction American movies should take: into idiosyncratic characters, into dialogue with an ear for the vulgar and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/we-d-had-a-revelation-this-was-the-direction-american-movies-should/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [“Most courtroom movies feel it necessary to end with a clear-cut verdict. But 12 Angry Men never states whether the defendant is innocent or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/most-courtroom-movies-feel-it-necessary-to-end-with-a-clear-cut/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [What every human being should do is eat a vegetarian diet based on whole foods. Period. That's it. Animal protein is bad for you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/what-every-human-being-should-do-is-eat-a-vegetarian-diet-based-on/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I value the kind of prayer when you stand at the edge of the sea, or beneath a tree, or smell a flower, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/i-value-the-kind-of-prayer-when-you-stand-at-the-edge-of-the-sea-or/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [“One of my delights in these books, on the other hand, has been to include movies not often cited as “great”—some because they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/one-of-my-delights-in-these-books-on-the-other-hand-has-been-to/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [A movie isn't good or bad based on its politics. It's usually good or bad for other reasons, though you might agree or disagree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/a-movie-isn-t-good-or-bad-based-on-its-politics-it-s-usually-good-or/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [It is human nature to look away from illness. We don't enjoy a reminder of our own fragile mortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-human-nature-to-look-away-from-illness-we-don-t-enjoy-a/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [ Gene \[Siskel\] often mentioned something François Truffaut once told him: the most beautiful sight in a movie theater is to walk down to the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/gene-siskel-often-mentioned-something-fran-ois-truffaut-once-told-him/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/a-movie-is-not-about-what-it-is-about-it-is-about-how-it-is-about-it/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [James Cameron's films have always been distinguished by ground-breaking technical excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/james-cameron-s-films-have-always-been-distinguished-by-ground/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Friends don't let Jackasses drink and drive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/friends-don-t-let-jackasses-drink-and-drive/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I think we have to get beyond the idea that we have to categorize people. We can now have action movies with two stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/i-think-we-have-to-get-beyond-the-idea-that-we-have-to-categorize/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) [Explore all 427 Roger Ebert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dr. Leonard Shlain, chairman of laparoscopic surgery at California Pacific Medical Center, said they took some four and five year-olds and gave them video games and asked them to figure out how to play them without instructions. 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