Lockdown Read : Rewire Your Brain - John B Arden

So finally at a single place,  you may learn  to rewire your brain to improve virtually every aspect of your life-based on the latest research in neuroscience and psychology on neuroplasticity and evidence-based practices

Not long ago, it was thought that the brain you were born with was the brain you would die with, and that the brain cells you had at birth were the most you would ever possess. Your brain was thought to be “hardwired” to function in predetermined ways. It turns out that's not true. Your brain is not hardwired, it's "softwired" by experience. This book shows you how you can rewire parts of the brain to feel more positive about your life, remain calm during stressful times, and improve your social relationships. Written by a leader in the field of Brain-Based Therapy, it teaches you how to activate the parts of your brain that have been underactivated and calm down those areas that have been hyperactivated so that you feel positive about your life and remain calm during stressful times. You will also learn to improve your memory, boost your mood, have better relationships, and get a good night sleep.

In the last few years, leading magazines have suddenly shown interest on the new advances in neuroscience. The concepts of neuroplasticity, mirror cells, neurogenesis, and the social brain have all been discussed on many radio shows and in newspaper articles. In US as well as Europe. The new advances in neuroscience have dramatically affected our understanding of what occurs in psychotherapy. If you’re like most people, you’ll want to learn more about how these developments can be applied to your practical life.

This book  by John B Arden is based on recent developments in neuroscience and evidence-based treatment (the types of treatment that have been found to work best). The good thing is that it is less technical and an ordinary reader can also follow the subject. Rewire Your Brain is meant to be a practical resource book that describes how to actually change your brain based on well- researched principles that work. The book will guide you through the process of rewiring your brain so that you can change your

life. You cannot change how you think and feel without changing your brain.

We all feel a little anxious or down in the dumps at times. You’ll learn how to deal with normal levels of these feelings, how to minimize such periods, and how to get the most out of life. You’ll also learn healthy habits to enhance your brain’s longevity and to maxi- mize a vibrant life free of self-imposed limitations.

Each chapter in this book addresses key components of the new developments in neuroscience and describes how to apply them to specific areas of your life in order to help you thrive.

Chapter 1 talks about the major changes that have occurred in the field of neuroscience, including the discovery of neuroplasticity, which has been described by the saying “Cells that fire together, wire together.” You’ll learn how habits are formed and how to increase good habits and end bad ones. Since our brain is always developing new connections between neurons and killing off old connections that are not being used, you’ll learn how to develop connections that promote good habits and shut off those that support bad habits. You’ll learn the acronym FEED to help you remember the steps to rewire your brain: Focus, Effort, Effortlessness, and Determination. Through the practice of these steps, you can feed your brain to make the rewiring changes described in the rest of the book.

Chapter 2 deals with part of your brain called the amygdala can needlessly create fear. Since the amygdala can trigger a false alarm, it needs to be put in check by the frontal lobes. You’ll also learn about the balance between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems, which help you to become active when you need to be and to calm down afterward. You’ll also learn how to calm down your amygdala so that you can approach life courageously and with a sense of vitality.

Chapter 3 deals in the issues related to underactivation of the left frontal lobe has been associated with depression and that activation of this lobe is associated with the alleviation of depression and the promotion of positive feelings. I will explain how the techniques of

behavioral activation (borrowed from evidence-based treatment) and cognitive restructuring (borrowed from cognitive-behavioral therapy) can shift your brain to a different attractor state (borrowed from neurodynamics) in your left frontal lobe. It also explain how light affects your biochemistry and your mood. You’ll learn how to stay positive and enjoy life with optimism.

Chapter 4 deals with  memory skills that you can cultivate by wiring your brain to improve your memory. Various memory techniques have been used for thousands of years, and you can refashion them to enhance your memory capacity. You’ll learn mnemonic devices to make your memory skills work optimally.

In Chapter 5  learn how to ensure that your brain creates the right biochemistry for making your brain cells communicate with one another so that you can be calm, energized, and focused. In addition to consuming the right amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, you’ll need the correct essential fatty acids to ensure that your cell membranes are supple and flexible, enabling neuroplasticity to occur.

In chapter 6, you’ll learn that exercise and sleep play a significant role in how your brain rewires and creates new neurons. Exercise is one of the most powerful ways to jump-start the neurochemical mechanisms of neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. You’ll learn about the role of sleep in memory and how to achieve a healthy sleep cycle. The exciting field of psychoneuroimmunology (the links among the mind, the brain, and the immune system) is explained, and suggestions are made to achieve healthy and vibrant living.

Chapter 7 deals in the advancement on the brain systems that are collectively referred to as the social brain. This system includes mirror neurons, spindle cells, the orbital frontal cortex, and the anterior cingulate.  It also talks about how these neural systems help to build relationships and empathy. People who maintain positive social relationships live longer and feel more satisfied with their lives. In this chapter author suggests ways to expand and vitalize your relationships.

In chapter 8  learn how to increase your ability to be resilient and to approach life with vitality despite obstacles. You’ll also learn how to make aging a gain instead of a loss. You can acquire wisdom by maximizing your brain’s capacity to see the bigger picture and thus make your later years wise ones. Concepts from positive psychology, such as optimism and a positive focus on healthy ambition, offer an antidote to the passive and material focus that is endemic in contemporary society. In addition, the practice of compassion and nonattachment provides an antidote to needless tension and suffering. Since there are always bumps on the road of life, resiliency and openness allow you to rewire your brain to be flexible and accepting of the rich complexity of life.

Finally in the last chapter, the  author focuses on the calming yet vitalizing role of attention, your prefrontal cortex, and attitude. He says that the subtle power of parasympathetic meditation can increase your tolerance of stress and your sense of peace. Here learn how to increase your ability to be mindfully present and to maintain a sense of connectivity with others and the world you inhabit.