Educational Grand Rounds: Reshaping the Mind

Neuroplasticity

Reshaping brain pathways

Having the ability to consciously change

the way the brain processes

This is a new uncharted area of science,

the reality is we are only on the tip of the

iceberg to understanding how brain

growth works.

IS There a Magic Brain Work

Out? We know using your

muscles makes you stronger.

Is that the same concept in the brain? Does using your brain make you smarter?

Neural Pathways

Our nervous system

is wired with

millions of neurons

that run in pathways

that connect like a

complex road.

When we learn new

behaviors we make

new paths.

Neural Pathways

The more we use a certain pathway the

more efficient that neural path gets.

Our thought or action becomes faster

and requires less effort.

Forging New Roads

However…to make new pathway it

requires more than the repetition used to

build muscles.

It also requires attention.

Does it carry over?

It seems that the brain works by building

efficiency of one neural path at a time.

Only the one you give attention too.

That basically means there is no

crossover.

For example, doing crossword puzzles

won’t make you less likely to remember

where you put your glasses but it will

make you better at crosswords

Common Attitudes to Meditation

I am going to do this and must get it

right.

I should focus 100%.

I am going to try extremely hard.

Meditation

It is about getting somewhere you

already are.

Some Benefits of Meditation

Your mind gets stronger and faster.

Increases connections between brain

cells.

Gyrification-linked to processing

information quickly.

Aids in emotional stability

Pain may be less of an

issue

Dealing with stress

STRESS Internally caused

Fears

Repetitive thoughts

Worrying about future events

Unrealistic expectation

Habitual behavior patterns

Overscheduling

Failing to be assertive

Procrastination

PROCRASTINATION

Is it easy?

No it isn’t easy to pay attention to our brain

operations.

Instinctually we like to use a very

automatic portion of our brain – the one

that tells us what to do when we feel

threatened.

To form new pathways we have to use a

more complex portion of our brain called

the prefrontal cortex.

Activities that help

This is a very new area of study where

everything is uncharted waters.

Very few things claiming to help the brain

show any evidence in scientific studies.

Except….

However there are a few activities that

show promise to improving overall brain

function and control

Physical exercise

Meditation

Video games?

Evidence

Studies have shown Monks can control

their body temperature through

meditation!

Confidence is key

Dopamine is the pleasure drug released

by our bodies. It is released when we

are happy or confident.

Studies show that generating new

pathways is more effective if attention is

given to the activity as well as dopamine

is present

If you believe you can do it you will.

Take home points

You are already making the effort.

Continue to pay attention to the

pathways you want to create, not the

ones you want to remove.

Build your confidence to aid inn

neurogenesis.