Unlocking the Mysteries of the Mind: A Journey into Neuroscience
The Fascinating World of Neuroscience
Neuroscience is such a fascinating field of science! It is the study of how the nervous system develops, its structure and what it does. It covers the whole nervous system with a primary focus on the brain.
If we understand some basic information of how the brain is processing information, given it’s like a central computer coordinating all activities of the body, it can help us better connect our thoughts and body so we can adapt and respond better to different experiences.
The brain controls what you think and feel, how you learn and remember, and more. It enables the body to respond and adapt to changes both inside and outside the body. But how does it do this?
At a High Level:
- The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and a complex network of nerves.
- Its job is to send messages back and forth between the brain and the body with the main objective of keeping you safe.
- It takes information from the environment by using our five basic senses (taste, hearing, sight, smell, touch), processes that information with the help of our ‘to date’ life experiences and perception, and then responds.
What’s important to know is perception and sensory experience of the world becomes a huge conversation here.
Sensation is non-negotiable and is basically the body trying to perceive what’s happening from the physical world whereas perception is negotiable and is what a person chooses to pay attention to.
The outcome of taking in information and processing it is often seen through one's emotions as this is the body's way of helping the brain and nervous system to match the internal and external environment.
Told you neuroscience is cool!
Let's Take It a Step Further
Depending on what a person has been through, their nervous system may or may not be able to respond to the experience they find themselves in.
When someone struggles to process and cope with an experience, they might be facing:
- A traumatic experience (trauma).
- Overstimulation.
- A medical condition that alters how their brain processes information, often referred to as neurodiversity.
What Does This Mean for You?
Understanding Our Similarities
First and foremost, when we view one another through the lens of our shared nervous systems, we realize just how similar we are. While our experiences, beliefs, skin colors, races, and ages may vary, we all have a nervous system with the primary objective of protecting us. Therefore, when you observe signs of an overloaded nervous system in yourself or others, you have an opportunity to respond with empathy, acknowledge that it may not be functioning as usual, and offer a bit of grace while keeping your boundaries intact.
Supporting the Nervous System
Secondly, you can explore ways to support your own nervous system and share this valuable understanding with others. A well-balanced autonomic nervous system is vital, enabling you to respond appropriately to threats—like fleeing from a bear.
Trauma, overstimulation, and neurodiversity can get really complicated. It is our hope with help of a supportive little buddy that not only will the weighted component help calm the nervous system but each of the buddy’s symbolisms will help too.
~Lakunakai
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