Fair warning. This is a “cerebral” article. “Stupid”, lazy, or topic disinterested people do not need to read any further. This article is for bright people who want to maximize their brain efficiency and slow its neurological deterioration. The brain is the driving force of everything you feel, think, and do. The brain is more malleable than you may think. Neuroplasticity, the ability to modify and change the brain, is a reality.

To change the brain a number of factors are needed. I will focus on four of these:

Consciousness, Capacity, Knowledge, Techniques. Each is important.

Consciousness, according to Dr. Dean Ornish, is a form of energy that goes far beyond what the brain actually does. This energy of consciousness routinely is aware of what is going on in our body and environment and is structured within the concept of time. Dr. Joe Despenza elaborates on this by saying that a person can mentally do certain exercises that raise one’s consciousness further to such a degree that the body and environmental factors are no longer attended to. The person is this graduated state is only aware of thoughts. This ability mastered allows a person to begin to re-wire the brain.

(Other noteworthy authors addressing Consciousness would be Drs. David Hawkins and Eckhart Tolle)

Capacity to do this varies greatly among peoples and cultures. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs reminds us that unless certain basic needs are met a person is not able to rise to a greater capacity of experience. There are physical and psychological pre-requisites that must be present in order to reach a capacity that would enable you to begin to re-wire the brain.

Knowledge of brain functioning is important in order to learn how to “train your brain”. An important principle, developed by Dr. Hebb, is that brain “nerve cells that fire together, wire together”. The more one thinks a particular thought the stronger the neurological connection is made within the brain. This has significant memory ramifications. It is desirable to be able to “delete” painful memories and reinforce those that are positive.

Techniques are needed to accomplish this goal to “train the brain”. There are cetain available techniques to move the brain through states of activity. These four states of brain activity are Beta, Alpha, Theta, and Delta. Each one of these brain wave states is important and necessary for a rested, healthy, and creative mind. An example of brain manipulation or change from one brain wave state to another are certain methods of meditation.

I could elaborate on all of the above and the importance of each for effective brain training. I am aware (conscious) that most of you have either put this article down already, glazed over, or fallen asleep (Delta state). For those of higher capacity and tenacity to comprehend and get excited about the personal opportunity to “train your brain”, I salute you and encourage you to investigate further the practice of brain training and re-wiring the brain. To the extent that you are able to do this you will create new brain cells and postpone the aging process of brain deterioration. That would appear to be sufficient motivation for those so inclined.

Bottom line here is that I want you to know that brain neuroplasticity is real and there are opportunities available to learn how to do this.

“The unexamined life is not worth living” — Socrates

Dr. Stathas can be reached at (706) 473-1780 or Stathas@plantationcable.net.