Name: 3 ways the brain creates meaning
Uploaded: 2009-07-07T01:00:00Z
Duration: 6 min 12 s
Description: Information designer Tom Wujec talks through three areas of the brain that help us understand words, images, feelings, connections. In this short talk from TEDU, he asks: How can we best engage our brains to help us better understand big ideas?

Tom Wujec: 3 ways the brain creates meaning

3 ways the brain creates meaning

Information designer Tom Wujec talks through three areas of the brain that help us understand words, images, feelings, connections. In this short talk from TEDU, he asks: How can we best engage our brains to help us better understand big ideas?

The brain constructs meaning by weaving together what things are, where they are, and how they make us feel. Simple sketches—like the 650 drawn at TED—spark insight by engaging multiple brain regions. Visuals do not just decorate ideas, they clarify, connect, and help teams solve complex problems together. When people interact with images, they remember and collaborate better.