Neuroscience


Wired for performance: your brain at its best In a world of constant change, mastering peak performance has become a necessity. Understanding how your brain functions during change can unlock unparalleled opportunities for you to work with change rather than feel overwhelmed by it. Neuroscience offers powerful insights into how we can thrive in demanding times, transforming stress and uncertainty into focus and performance.


The science of change: how your brain reacts Change triggers a cascade of responses and your brain seeks to balance them. On one hand your brain is a ‘novelty seeking learning machine’. It seeks out new experiences because they can be rewarding. When we approach change with curiosity, the front of the nucleus accumbens (reward centre) releases dopamine, creating a “reward-repeat” cycle. This allows us to embrace challenges as opportunities and encourages to repeat them leading to long-term learning – we adapt to the change. On the other hand, the amygdala, is your brain’s threat detector and usually perceives change as a threat, flooding your body with adrenaline and cortisol which impair decision-making and reduce productivity. Curiously the back of your nucleus accumbens now releases dopamine which is experienced as fear motivating you to >


22 | learnevents.com


W hen you can tip the balance towards curiosity and learning and away from fear and distress you optimise your performance.


F ortunately, your brain is neuroplastic and you an inene it to shift one way more than another!


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