Change Your Mind, Change Your Brain
by Clare Marder, LMFT, DHH, CHT
an we really change the physiol- ogy and function of our brains? According to decades of study and solid scientific results, we can. And the implications of those findings are enormous for what we are capable of doing, that once sounded impossible, from growing limbs to healing from stroke to increasing our learning capac- ity and reprogramming our emotions. The discovery of neuroplasticity brings new hope to physical, mental, and emotional capacity. Neuroplasticity, defined as one’s ability to remodel the brain based upon exposure to new experiences that re- pattern thoughts and behaviors, was formerly believed to be limited to the developmental stages of youth, peaking at around 20 years of age. That meant that adult brains beyond 20 were already fixed without the ability to generate new cells or make significant changes in development other than in memory stor- age longevity and capacity. Research that began with Karl Lashley in 1923, and furthered by Michael Merzenich in the 1970’s, brought evidence that the brain can rewire itself. While the research was ignored for many years, continued evi- dence of plasticity of the brain mounted. This brings new awareness to the
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field of psychotherapy and human potential as not only self-healers, but as creators and masters of problem-solving of any kind. History is a reflection of our evolutionary change through our increase and improvements in social interaction and understanding of others leading to a connectedness to something larger than our individuality. Broadening of perspective and new experiences has made evolutionary change possible. But, it is not just exposure to learning that makes the difference. It is how each indi- vidual responds to different concepts and experiences that matters in the develop- ment of the brain.
Physiologically, the brain is an
electrical and chemical communication system that relies on proper diet, exer- cise, oxygenation, and stimulation to function optimally. This means that the brain is dependent upon its carrier for its degree and quality of output. In addition, our emotional personalities and interpre- tations of experiences play a vital role in the brain’s ability to restructure itself and create new cells, particularly the way we regulate emotions during physical, mental and emotional challenges. We know that life’s circumstances are not fixed and stable. They are ever- changing and challenging with increas- ing complexity and require adaptability to survive physically, mentally, and/or emotionally. Just as circumstances can be unstable, so can emotional interpreta- tions of events that are determined by each individual’s emotional personal- ity. One way to reduce chaos or threat during challenges is to regulate our emotions. And, according to experts, the practice of contemplation plays a strong role in emotional responses and outcomes in more ways than one. Emotional regulation is most prevalent, according to research, among medita- tors and those who intentionally practice emotional stability, directed learning and skill-building. One of the reasons this is so is that contemplative states allow the electro-chemical processes of the brain
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