Ground breaking research demonstrating the use of psychologically based relaxation for reduction of blood pressure in older adults.

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HISTORY AND PRINCIPLES OF BRAIN PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT

Less than 2 years ago the theory of neuroplasticity of the brain received strong scientific support. In November of 1998 the journal Nature Medicine published the results of a study done with terminal cancer patients in conjunction with Swedish and American scientists. A fluorescent green dye marker showed up new neuronal growth in a microscopic view of the hippocampal area of the brains of the just deceased patients. The undifferentiated cells were continuing to divide, and to produce new, fully functional neurons as well, right up until the death of each cancer patient. Now, for the first time, scientists had real proof that new neuronal growth was possible in the adult human brain. A very succinct description of this research is written up by Jim Robbins in his new book, A Symphony in the Brain (May,2000).

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BRAIN LATERALIZATION: WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

In the late 60s and early 70s surgeons Akelietas and Bogen were using a brain-splitting protocol for severe epilepsy. To prevent the spread of the epilepsy from one cortical hemisphere to the other they severed the corpus callosum and anterior commissure (the connecting bridges across hemispheres). The result was a patient relatively free of seizures but whose brain was forever changed. To study these unusual individuals they brought psychologist Roger Sperry to Cal Tech since Sperry had been studying similar phenomena in cats. Because these so-called split-brain patients had no communication between left and right cortical hemispheres the functions of these respective hemispheres could be studied without the one interfering with the other as happens with intact individuals. Sperry found that hemisphere functions differed considerably between the left and right.

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LATERALIZED EMOTIONS?

Tucker and others have found that the negative emotions appear to be mediated by the right hemisphere. In lower animals the right hemisphere does mediate avoidance, withdrawal behavior and the left mediates approach behavior. We know that depression appears to be mediated by the right hemisphere. Since there is little speech ability on the right it's quite probable that pre-verbal trauma (involving negative emotional conditioning) will exist as a pre-verbal right hemisphere memory. However, it's interesting that speech behavior in children for the first 3 years is mediated by the right hemisphere primarily. If this is true then perhaps a change message that is aimed at early trauma would have to use very simple, concrete, highly intonated speech.

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VEHICLES TO INNER SPACE

The various protocols noted above have used a variety of processes to help decrease critical screening and thus ease the presentation of the change message (CM) to inner space,or the deeper part of the brain/mind. These protocols could be thought of as the vehicles that carry the CM to that inner space. Obviously hypnosis is one such vehicle, as is priming (the presentation of change material just below conscious hearing threshold). In addition, multiple voice protocols have been used by a variety of clinicians particularly those using NLP or Neurolinguistic Programming. Whisper tracks are barely heard, on the threshold of hearing, and yet command attention because whispers impact on emotional processes. Dichotic listening has a long history of research in the area of psychology. Essentially, two different messages are presented in left and right headphones. The listener is directed to attend to only one, however. Later he/she is tested on memory for the messaging that went in the unattended ear. The research indicates that the unattended messaging does get into the brain at some point but is not usually retrievable by conscious means. Yet the messaging can affect the individual.

DO DIFFERENT LEFT/RIGHT DUAL TRACKS WORK BETTER?

We believe so, this research has yet to be carried out. Our left/right tracks are different in that the left track (which is heard primarily by the right brain) is simpler in wording and more voice inflected. The right track messaging, which will go to the left brain, can be of higher abstraction level and does not need to be voice-intonated as much.

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BINAURAL BEATS

Of all the types of audio stimulation, e.g., clicks, music, nature sounds, voice, etc., the one having the greatest effect on the brain waves is binaural sound.

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IMAGERY

Imagery is a quasi-sensory and/or quasi-perceptual self-generated experience by which we can become aware of and rescript/reframe inner feelings and tendencies associated with memories of unpleasant experiences. Imagery is generated by visual/spatial processing primarily in the right hemisphere where the locus of emotions, fantasy, intuitive thought and inductive reasoning is centered. The somatovisceral associations with imagery offer a way of detecting and managing emotions. Through changing imagery, both physiologic and emotional conditions can be changed. Guided imagery is used to enable the brain to reframe relevant emotions into a more adaptive state.

RESCRIPTING

Rescripting is a way of instilling a positive outcome "memory" in the "location" of an unpleasant, possibly traumatic memory. Traumatic, embarrassing, self-esteem-battering memories can affect our lives for years afterward. Rescription involves identifying these unpleasant memories and then modifying the episode (creating a more positive outcome), such that a new adaptive scenario is imaged. During the rescription, you will change the original memory with regard to what was said, what was done and what was thought. This rescripted scenario is then imaged a number of times, impacting as forceful a scenario as can be imagined so as to see, hear, feel and even possibly, taste the rescripted scene.


DICHOTIC LISTENING

The phenomenon of hearing two different messages in the left and right ears has been studied extensively. Certain conclusions have emerged: If the messages are of approximately equal volume, they will be largely processed in contralateral fashion, ie, the right ear information will be received in the left hemisphere and the left ear information in the right hemisphere. The other fact is that if the individual focuses on the right ear/left brain message, he will be relatively unaware of the left ear/right brain message. However, there is evidence that the right brain message does influence the on-going mental process, thus acting like a priming affirmation. The Dichotic Listening series created by Dr. Budzynski features a pseudo-random number sequence heard in the right ear/left brain and the "change message" (CM) heard in the left ear/right brain. But, there is one other thing the listener must do, and that is, he/she repeats aloud the numbers given to him in the right ear as fast as he hears them. This task keeps the left brain occupied so that it does not "critically screen" the positive affirmations (CM's) heard in the left ear. As long as the listener adheres to the numbers task, the CM's will do its good work.

PRIMING

Priming has received a great deal of attention recently with the publication of Malcolm Galdwel's best selling Blink. Priming is the influencing of meaning, attitude, polarity, emotion or expectation of a conscious thought, feeling or attitude by a subliminally presented word or phrase just before or simultaneous with the conscious process. Remember priming words and phrases (or visual if that is being used) will affect the ongoing conscious thought process, if it is relevant. The priming must be related to the ongoing process to influence it. If you are thinking of something entirely different from the priming tape you may not receive any benefit. So stay on the topic, visualize goals relevant to the tape to which you are listening. Do not let your mind wander off the topic too much.

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References

1. Budzynski, T.H. (1977). Tuning in on the twilight zone. In Psychology Today, August.

2. Budzynski, T.H. (1986). Clinical applications of non-drug-induced states. In B.B. Wolman & M. Ullman (Eds.), Handbook of States of Consciousness. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

3. Carter, J.A., McNair, L.D., Corbin, W.R., & Black, D.H. (1998). Effects of priming positive and negative outcomes on drinking responses. Experimental & Clinical Psychopharmacology, 6, 399-405.

4. Beauregard, M., Gold, D., Evans, A.C., & Chertkow, H. (1998). A role for the hippocampal formation in implicit memory: A 3-D PET study. Neuroreport: An International Journal for the Rapid Communication of Research in Neuroscience, 9, 1867-1873.

5. Swick, D. (1998). Effects of prefrontal lesions on lexical processing and repetition priming: An ERP study. Cognitive Brain Research, 7, 143-157.