Brainwaves – where Brainwaves – where mind and body meetmind and body meet

‘‘Psychology for All’ Psychology for All’

BPS Event, March 2011BPS Event, March 2011

Melissa Foks – Neurofeedback Melissa Foks – Neurofeedback PractitionerPractitioner

MindMind

The human mind is a relational The human mind is a relational and embodied process that and embodied process that regulates the flow of information regulates the flow of information and energy.and energy.

Daniel J Seigel MD (clinical prof of psychiatry Daniel J Seigel MD (clinical prof of psychiatry UCLA)UCLA)

‘‘The mind uses the brain to create The mind uses the brain to create itself’itself’

Daniel J Seigel MD (clinical prof of psychiatry UCLA)Daniel J Seigel MD (clinical prof of psychiatry UCLA)

Author of:Author of:‘‘The Mindful Brain’ The Mindful Brain’ ‘‘Mindsight’Mindsight’

www.mindsightinstitute.comwww.mindsightinstitute.com

The Nervous SystemThe Nervous System

Human brainHuman brain

Brain picBrain pic

The neuronThe neuron

Brainwave frequenciesBrainwave frequencies

International 10/20 International 10/20 mapping systemmapping system

Cerebral cortex - lobesCerebral cortex - lobes

Left hemisphereLeft hemisphere

Language, logic, sequencing, Language, logic, sequencing, maths, science, verbal memory, maths, science, verbal memory, problem solving, seeing the problem solving, seeing the detail, approach behaviour detail, approach behaviour (curiosity/openness).(curiosity/openness).

Right hemisphereRight hemisphere

Social awareness, eye contact, Social awareness, eye contact, humour, empathy, insight, humour, empathy, insight, intuition, music, spatial intuition, music, spatial awareness, non-verbal memory, awareness, non-verbal memory, seeing the whole picture.seeing the whole picture.

Occipital lobeOccipital lobe

Visual processing, locating objects Visual processing, locating objects in space, seeing colours, in space, seeing colours, recognising drawings.recognising drawings.

Temporal LobeTemporal Lobe

Verbal memories, word recognition, Verbal memories, word recognition, reading, audition, spoken reading, audition, spoken language, emotion, music, facial language, emotion, music, facial recognition, social cues.recognition, social cues.

Parietal LobeParietal Lobe

Maths, naming objects, complex Maths, naming objects, complex grammar, sensory integration, grammar, sensory integration, spatial awareness, sense of spatial awareness, sense of direction.direction.

Sensori-motor stripSensori-motor strip

Motor skills, manual dexterity, Motor skills, manual dexterity, sensory and motor sensory and motor integration/processing, physical integration/processing, physical stillness. Also attention, mental stillness. Also attention, mental processing, calm emotion.processing, calm emotion.

Frontal lobeFrontal lobe

‘ ‘the organ of civilisation’the organ of civilisation’

Executive function & all pro-social Executive function & all pro-social behaviour.behaviour.

Working memory, concentration, Working memory, concentration,

planning, initiative, cause & effect planning, initiative, cause & effect thinking, memory, positive emotion, thinking, memory, positive emotion, social awareness, empathy, insight, social awareness, empathy, insight, intuition, morality, regulation of intuition, morality, regulation of autonomic nervous system. autonomic nervous system.

Cerebral cortex Cerebral cortex

Cerebral cortex Cerebral cortex

Nature or Nuture?Nature or Nuture?

What accounts for dysregulation?What accounts for dysregulation? Environmental factors – even at a Environmental factors – even at a

cellular level – Bruce Liptoncellular level – Bruce Lipton Responding to Responding to

environment=learningenvironment=learning Neurons fire up in response to Neurons fire up in response to

information – when?information – when?

Conditions for learningConditions for learning

RepetitionRepetition Emotional arousalEmotional arousal NoveltyNovelty Careful focussing of attentionCareful focussing of attention

Growth/death of Growth/death of neuronsneurons

neurons that fire together wire neurons that fire together wire together – when new synaptic together – when new synaptic connections are made, learning connections are made, learning occurs.occurs.

The neural architecture of the The neural architecture of the brain is changed (plasticity)brain is changed (plasticity)

Non-use leads to atrophyNon-use leads to atrophy

We are…We are…

““We are what we repeatedly do. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, Excellence, then, is not an act,

but a habit.” but a habit.” Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

Survival mechanismsSurvival mechanisms

Pre-date development of neo-Pre-date development of neo-cortex (complex learning)cortex (complex learning)

PainPain drives us away from danger drives us away from danger

PleasurePleasure rewards us for life- rewards us for life-promoting and reproduction promoting and reproduction activitiesactivities

Fight or flight Fight or flight responseresponse

Endocrine & Sympathetic nervous Endocrine & Sympathetic nervous system flood body with corticoids system flood body with corticoids (cortisol & adrenaline) increases (cortisol & adrenaline) increases muscle tension breathing rate, heart muscle tension breathing rate, heart rate, blood pressure, brain wave rate, blood pressure, brain wave frequency.frequency.

Rest & repair functions switch off (e.g. Rest & repair functions switch off (e.g. immune response, digestion)immune response, digestion)

Return to rest & repairReturn to rest & repair

Messages from thalamus go toMessages from thalamus go to

1.1. Limbic system (olfactory bulb, Limbic system (olfactory bulb, amygdala, hypothalamus, amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, cingulate gyrus) hippocampus, cingulate gyrus) automatic action.automatic action.

2.2. Frontal cortex – rational evaluation.Frontal cortex – rational evaluation.

3.3. When threat has passed, return to When threat has passed, return to parasympathetic mode.parasympathetic mode.

Creativity Creativity - - a double edged a double edged swordsword

Body cannot distinguish between an Body cannot distinguish between an external or internal threatexternal or internal threat

Thoughts can be as poisonous as snakesThoughts can be as poisonous as snakes

Thoughts of past & future cause emotions Thoughts of past & future cause emotions to switch on sympathetic arousal in the to switch on sympathetic arousal in the absence of a physical threatabsence of a physical threat

Inhabiting survival mode is dis-easeInhabiting survival mode is dis-ease

Experiential aversionExperiential aversion

Reaction to feelings is the problemReaction to feelings is the problem What’s wrong with me?What’s wrong with me? We develop an aversion to We develop an aversion to

ourselvesourselves Thinking mind tries to fix it as if it Thinking mind tries to fix it as if it

were an external threatwere an external threat

Mind the gap!Mind the gap!

From doing to beingFrom doing to being

You don’t get out of quick sand by You don’t get out of quick sand by kicking harderkicking harder

Purely cognitive strategies are not Purely cognitive strategies are not the answerthe answer

Responding differently to our Responding differently to our thoughtsthoughts

ACT, MBCT, MBSRACT, MBCT, MBSR A major emphasis on ‘mindfulness’A major emphasis on ‘mindfulness’

MindfulnessMindfulness

‘ ‘Mindfulness means paying Mindfulness means paying attention attention

in a particular way; on purpose, in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and non-in the present moment, and non-judgementally’judgementally’

Jon Kabat-ZinnJon Kabat-Zinn

The paradoxThe paradox

By accepting what is, change is By accepting what is, change is allowed to happen. An active allowed to happen. An active process.process.

When we stop trying to get across When we stop trying to get across the gap it disappears. the gap it disappears.

Mind and body re-integrate. Mind and body re-integrate.

(not positive affirmations, faking it (not positive affirmations, faking it til you can make it etc)til you can make it etc)

Benefits of Benefits of MindfulnessMindfulness 8-weeks of MBCT causes 8-weeks of MBCT causes

measurable changes in brain measurable changes in brain functionfunction

Increase in left frontal activationIncrease in left frontal activation Positive mood, approach behaviourPositive mood, approach behaviour Increased immune responseIncreased immune response

Davidson et al 2003Davidson et al 2003

BooksBooks

Mindsight, Mindsight, Daniel SiegalDaniel SiegalBuddha’s Brain - Buddha’s Brain - the practical neuroscience the practical neuroscience

of happiness love & Wisdomof happiness love & Wisdom Rick HansonRick HansonThe Mindful Way through Depression, The Mindful Way through Depression,

Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal & Jon Kabat-ZinnSegal & Jon Kabat-Zinn

A Symphony in the Brain, A Symphony in the Brain, the evolution of the evolution of the new brainwave biofeedbackthe new brainwave biofeedback, , Jim Jim RobbinsRobbins

The Happiness Trap, The Happiness Trap, Russ HarrisRuss Harris

LinksLinks

www.londoninsight.orgwww.londoninsight.org www.mindfulnessinschools.orgwww.mindfulnessinschools.org www.isnr.orgwww.isnr.org

Contact Melissa Foks at:Contact Melissa Foks at:

foksfam@aol.com foksfam@aol.com

www.learningwithneurofeedback.co.ukwww.learningwithneurofeedback.co.uk

Thank you Thank you for your attention for your attention