Understanding Brain Maps

[Thomas3.20.2010]

  Understand brain maps and you can learn how to change a habit, change your life. Now that’s a bold, somewhat bizarre statement. Nonetheless, it holds the key to the power each of us can wield over the health of our brain and therefore the quality of our life. Here is a very basic explanation.

  How Brain Maps Are Formed

  1.  The brain controls everything we think, feel, say and do. It does this through neural networks – basically, neurons (cells) talking to one another in the brain and to and from other neurons throughout the body through the central nervous system. Neurons in the brain are also called brain cells.

  2.  The way our brain cells connect to one another (in other words, form neural networks) is what determines what we think, feel, say and do. By the same token, the thoughts, behaviors we’ve adopted, our environment, genetics, outside influences and the like all influence this pattern of connection. In other words, it influences which neurons are firing; which neurons are receiving and which networks are being formed. Neurotransmitters, neurons, receptors and synapses are keys to the brain’s communication system – its neural networks.

  3.  To help the brain be more efficient, the neural networks that are being repeatedly activated (meaning used at the same time, such as those used for driving a car or typing on a computer or texting on a cell phone) or those we instinctually use (such as those used for breathing or heartbeat) become those that are strengthened (wrapped in a myelin sheath is the term) to form a brain map for an activity. In his book, The Brain That Changes Itself, Dr. Norman Doidge describes this concept by quoting an expression, “Neurons that fire together wire together” to form embedded brain maps for that which we think, feel, say and do.

  Why Brain Maps Are So Important

  Brain maps are what allow us to get through the day with efficiency. If we had to think through all the body parts that go into brushing our teeth, for example, this one activity would take quite some time to complete. With an embedded brain map, it takes on a “life of its own,” so to speak. It just happens. It becomes a habit.

  By the same token, to switch hands and brush our teeth with our non-dominant hand would also take some time. We’d likely have to put the toothpaste in our bedroom in order to jar our thoughts to move away from the embedded brain map long enough to remind ourselves, “that’s right, I’m switching hands” – and thereby wiring a new brain map.

  Thus, if a person’s brain is injured – by a traumatic brain injury or PTSD or substance abuse or addiction or chronic exposure to secondhand drinking, as examples, wherever the injury or change occurs will be the neural networks impacted. Meaning – a person’s behaviors governed by brain maps in that area of the brain will change.

  How to Change a Brain Map

  It is not easy to be sure. It will depend on how long the map has been in use, how many other maps it connects with, your conscious awareness of the map(s) and your untiring dedication to doing whatever it will take to change the map(s). [Think the toothbrush example given above.]

  1.  Understand how your brain map went together – see the above.

  2.  Appreciate the importance of cues. Cues are a sound, sight, touch, smell, memory  – the “something” that triggers the start of the map in the very first place. It could be the time of day, a person, a place, a song, stress….

  3.  Do the key things you can do immediately to restore or bolster brain health – yes – the things I cite next are now scientifically understood to change the “infrastructure” of the brain. Neurotransmitters, for example, are made of amino acids, vitamins and minerals – thus eating a nutritiously healthy diet improves the health of one’s neurotransmitters. These things include: nutrition, aerobic exercise, sleep, and mindfulness.

  4.  Remember you’re changing an embedded brain map – rewiring your brain. This takes unfailing dedication and a commitment to try something else if what you’ve tried did not work. It also takes practicing the new behavior (habit) in order to embed the new brain map. 

  http://www.breakingthecycles.com/blog/2013/02/20/understand-brain-maps-change-habit-change-your-life...

   How does this apply to me, Thomas, today on Day 1225? Well, as I found out the hard way, some of the old brain maps are still hardwired and I need to find them, address them and build a new brain map! 

   Instead of self-isolation, guilt, and forging through with willpower...

   I need to come here and share! I need to humbly ask for Help! I need to stop the addictive thoughts sooner and focus on the PRIZE! FREEDOM! 

   I see it in the light of Day! Now I can begin the long steady work of getting the New Map stronger than the old map - time to get to work!