Social Evolution

Brain Respect: What's a "Normal" Brain?

First, a word from your writer….

It’s been so long since I’ve posted anything, I decided I needed a new strategy. What tends to block my publishing more frequently is feeling I need to create a longer post that “educates” all by itself. I start posts, but then get pulled away and tend not to finish them.

So I’m trying something new here. I’m going to just post resources as I come across them along with a few words about why I think they’re worthwhile. Hopefully, this will not only give you access to a curated selection of other thinkers and researchers about the brain, but an insight into how I think about the brain — by highlighting what I want you to learn and how I’d like to see you thinking about the brain too.

Now, back to our newly scheduled programming 😉…

What is a “Normal” Brain?

These links are to 60-minute podcasts by the CBC Ideas program. Together, they offer a different perspective on "normal" brains vs the value of neurodiversity.

The Myth of Normal - Part 1

The Myth of Normal - Part 2

So what?

What I would love for you to gain from these talks is an increasing awareness that — apart from physical injury (including nutritional gaps, sleep impairments, or other indirect ways of creating brain dysfunctions) — brains aren’t broken.

There are a variety of brains because there are a variety of people. Some of these differences are the result of natural diversity. Some are the result of learning history. We all grow up with different experiences, have learned different skills, have different talents and practice different things.

None of this means a brain is broken because it’s not “average”. (Just like no family is “broken” because it doesn’t have the average number of children — which in Ontario is 2.9. Who wants 0.9 of a child??)

We just all need to discover our gifts and our work-arounds.

Please feel free to comment on the Ideas episodes, the diversity of brains, and/or my trial of an abbreviated post technique.

Brain-Respect: "Asperger Brains"

 I’m feeling like I want to start a new series about how to treat every brain with respect.

What does that mean?

Well, one of the core principles of the way I think about brains is that every brain is doing its best for its person. A brain isn’t “broken” because it’s not doing what we (or others) want it to do in the way we (or others) think it should be done.

Brains have lots of features (built-in options for flexible functioning) that we sometimes complain about as bugs (“it’s not working”). Instead of complaining about bugs, we just need to learn how to use the features.

What is the Internet Doing to Your Brain? (Revised - links added!)

Is the internet your brain's friend?I was asked a question by someone who was in a discussion about the internet and its influence on our brains. Specifically, they were talking about whether there is any truth to some recent work showing that the internet, and how we (you, your children) are using it, is making us dumber. So the question posed to me was.... Wondering if you have any thoughts/insights on the changing nature of the brain, with increased internet commnunications, and the prevalence of tools like Google to locate information? My answer was:

Brain Tales: Stroke of insight - Part 1

This is a video from TED.com that I think you will find moving and inspirational --- one, because I did and two, because a number of my clients and readers have already shared the link with me, being sure I would want to see it. It's almost 20 minutes, but I think you'll find it gives you food for thought that's worth every minute.Jill Bolte Taylor is a neuroanatomist who realized one morning that she was experiencing a massive stroke.

Why Haven't I Heard of Neurofeedback Before?

I get this question -- Why haven't I heard of neurofeedback before? Why didn't anyone tell me? -- all the time from my clients and people calling or writing to me to find out more about neurofeedback.The really frustrated ones are the individuals who have worked with me to decrease their migraines, stop panic attacks, stabilize their mood and who want to know why their physician never told them about this option. I never have very good answers for them. Today I read an article --