what was shwashed around in my brain

      Hercule Poirot in the Agatha Christia books always marveled at the mysterious brain cells, "grey cells", that served as the substrate for critical thought. Right now I am struck with the thought that humans' grey cells probably don't work in the same way now as they used to in Poirot's setting. Or maybe it was that he was using his grey cells  in England- I think it was England- and everybody is just smarter there. Except for those football fascists that form gangs and wear their hair all stupid. They are not smart: they would not drink such crappy beer like Carlsberg if they were smarter. 

   Anyway, Poirot was a waaaay better inspector than David Caruso or even that other chick that can manipulate the supertouchscreen camera wall at headquarters. No, Hercule was French. And he used his French intuition. He  always knew  exactly what kind of luggage a person of interest would carry. Like Sherlock Holmes knew that a Cardinal would never drink out of a pewter chalice, Poirot knows a widowed grandma with cholera would never drink Earl Grey tea. (The caffeine hurts the ulcers, is it, Poirot?) He harnessed his grey cells as if he were training for the Orange County Academic Decathlon or something.

   How does that work? How does a person make their mind better, or faster, or more efficient? 

   I have enough trouble just keeping my eyes open.