Minds that Win

1. Minds that Win The Science and Art of Success c. 2005 Deborah Wasserman, Ph.D.

2. Successful People need what animals have

3. Animals know how to use their muscles

4. They know how to be still and balance

5. Some know where they are in relation to others

6. Successful people also need … to plan, think, remember and control their emotions.

7. Which of these animals plan, think, remember, or control their emotions?

8. What animals can do depends on what’s in their brains • This is a human brain.

9. Brains of other animals A fish A frog And a bird

10. All backbone animals have a brain stem • It controls heart rate and breathing

11. All backbone animals have a cerebellum • It controls balance, posture, and movement

12. They all have a part that thinks,remembers, makes choices and controls emotions • The Cerebral Cortex is VERY well developed in humans; • less so in fish, frogs and birds.

13. Deep in the thinking part they have an almond shaped amygdala • All animals with backbones have an amygdala

14. The amygdala doesn’t think…it feels

15. When there’s danger, part of your amygdala causes you to: • freeze • fight • ortake flight

16. The part that gets scared and mad turns on the part of your brain that is like a lizard. You need it to defend yourself. • freeze • fight • or take flight

17. Another part of your amygdala causes you to feel good about winning

18. It turns on when the fear part is resting You feel less worried, scared, or angry.

19. The part that feels reward turns on the part of your brain that is like a mammal (like a kitten or a puppy). You need it to play.

20. . . . And cuddle and feel love

21. When your fear part rests, your human (ARTIST) part of your brain works better too. You feel like you are: • Free to make your own choices • Smart and skilled • Connected to friends

22. Play with switching feelings in your amygdala • Put your fingers on each side of your head, halfway between your eyes and your ears. • About one inch inside your skull are your amygdalae. You have one on each side.

23. Imagine your nose in this garbage ….

24. Now imagine smelling your favorite flower

25. Imagine a heavy weight attached to the back side of your amygdala. • Now imagine a feather tickling the front side.

26. When the FEAR part of your amygdala is working too hard, your mammal brain stops • Fight • Flight • Freeze So does your human ARTIST brain.

27. When the FEAR part of your amygdala is working less . . . All of your brain works together

28. When the fear part of the amygdala shuts down completely, you’re “in the zone.” You don’t feel worried, scared, or angry. You feel completely : • Competent • In charge • Connected

29. To be “in the zone,” successful people need to exercise their bodies… They also need to exercise their brains.

30. Art making is an exercise for shutting down the fear part of the amygdala

31. When you make the art you choose • You feel less worried, scared, and angry. • You feel more : • Competent • In charge and • Connected

32. Art making is mind exercise for being “in the zone”.

33. Art making is mind exercise for winning.

34. Winning bodies have winning minds

35. Links to References • The Amygdala: Fun exploration and serious theory • http://www.neilslade.com/ • Self-determination theory and basic psychological need satisfaction • http://www.psych.rochester.edu/SDT/measures/needs.html • Graphics in this presentation • http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/flash/comic.html • http://health.howstuffworks.com/brain3.htm

36. Contact Deborah Wasserman, Ph.D. Columbus Children’s Research Institute Office of Clinical Science wassermd@ccri.net