Understand your brain
Understand your brain
What is neuroscience?
Neuroscience is the study of the central nervous system which includes the brain and spinal cord.
We study how the brain works on all levels, some of which include genetics, molecular and cellular biology, neurochemistry, neuroanatomy, functionality, connectivity and how all of these things influence emotions, thoughts and behaviour.
Neuroscience is a rapidly advancing field and is shedding new light on how the brain functions and interacts with the environment, enabling us to improve neural performance and optimize the brain's reparative abilities. Our brains have the incredible ability to continuously rewire itself by developing and strengthening new neural connections and pathways, as well as weaken or remove unused connections and networks. This rewiring is known as neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity in trauma and chronic stress
Understanding neuroplasticity is particularly important and pertinent when it comes to trauma and stress because neural pathways, connections and communication between regions of the brain and their networks become compromised. Over time, the traumatised and chronically stressed brain will develop structural brain changes as a result of the overused pathways.
As pathways become more established, they become harder to change. This is why trauma and chronic stress can sometimes be resistant and require decent dedicated time to work through.
Imagine this…
Think of your neural pathways and connections like a 6 lane road that caters for tons of traffic every moment of every day. Then one day, you realise that this 6 lane road is no longer taking you to a destination that helps you, in fact, that destination is now a place that hinders you. So, you decide to detour down a small, quiet side road. At first the road has an unsealed floor, no kerbs, no markings and is a raw basic dirt road.
Imagine that because you decided to drive down this unsealed side street every single day, other cars noticed and started to follow you. Now there is more traffic using the road and so, the road needs upgrading to cater for the extra load. The next day the road gets sealed. The next day, kerbs are added. The next day, road marking goes down. The next day, road signs are put up. The next day, trees are planted. One day you realise that you are driving down a road that is so different to the 6 lane road you’ve driven down your whole life. This new road is safer and fully established (thanks to your commitment to using it daily) and the destination is to a place that helps you, instead of hinders you. This new road that you dedicated yourself to, is named after you!
This is what happens to your neural pathways, connections and communication in your brain when neuroplasticity occurs. You rebuild which neurons (nerve cells) connect to other neurons, where they connect, how the talk to each other, in which part of the brain they connect to, for how long and using what language and chemicals to optimise function.
It is beautifully complex and more than achievable with the right processes, time and dedication.
This is what neurofocused solutions is built on.
Resetting, reframing and retraining your brain, using neuroplasticity!