Have you ever wondered what is the best way to start a talk? So did the Norwegian doctor and lecturer Ole Petter Hjelle. As a neurologist, doing research on how the brain works, Hjelle decided to find out.

In an experiment with nursing students, the doctor placed sensors on everyone´s head. Then, he carefully registered how their brain waves responded to different openings. Giving the same lecture on heart attacks to different groups, Hjelle changed only the first few minutes.

One group got the most common start, familiar to every audience around the world: Dr. Hjelle spent the first minutes introducing himself and the topic, and telling the students how happy he was to be with them today. Then he fumbled a bit as he switched to his power point presentation.

The other version of the lecture was identical in form and factual content, with one notable exception: The start. Instead of the predictable introduction, Hjelle immediately started telling a dramatic story about a guy getting a heart attack. Then, after a few minutes, he gave the same lecture as to the other group.

So, did it make a diffence? As Hjelle studied the recordings of the brain waves, he discovered a remarkable difference between the two groups: Getting the story first activated the brains much more. But more surprising: The effect lasted long after the story was finished!

Hjelle tested all students to see how much they remembered from the factual content. The results were striking. The students getting the story first scored on average 30% higher than the rest!

- It makes a world of difference how you start, says Dr. Hjelle. So start with a bang!

In this month's podcast, Ole Petter Hjelle gives you tips on how to start and end a talk. Our interviewer is Arild Sondre Sekse.