There are no rules here -we're trying to accomplish
something.
- Thomas A. Edison
Happiness
and
Brain Plasticity
Cindy Mason,CMT, Ph.D.
State Certified Chinese Acupressure
Health Occupation, Health Education
Certified Psychophysiology
Affiliated with Future Health Technology Institute
www.21stcenturymed.org
Decade of the Brain Research
• 1990-2000 was the Decade of the Brain
research, funded by U.S. government
• Designed to advance understanding of the
brain and enhance public awareness of brain
research
• Created new ways of imaging the brain
Functional MRI
A Giant Leap
-Magnetic resonance imaging maps changes in
brain blood that correspond to mental operations
-Observe both the structures and the structures that
participate in specific functions
-Non-invasive assessment of neuronal activity
-Acutely sensitive to blood flow
-Assess neurological status, advance understanding
of brain organization, new ability to directly and
observe brain function
Emotion and Brain Activity
• Work by Ken LaBar at Duke University’s Brain Imaging
and Analysis Center showed Emotions and Focus of
Attention compete, take parallel paths in the brain,
joining at the anterior cingulate,
• The Anterior Cingulate is thought to perform many
functions including bridging left and right hemispheres,
command center for other functions, long term memory
storage, vision tasks, movement.
• Ever notice how well you can concentrate when you are
happy? (or vice versa)
Brain Plasticity
• Brain reacts and adapts in response to
challenge.
• Recent brain imaging technologies show as
we receive input through our senses with
frequency, intensity and duration, the brain
physically changes its structure.
• New connections and neurons sprout.
• Once structure changes, function can
change.
How?
One theory is that the
brain is sensitive to
conflict, so to
strengthen our brains,
we want to reach the
“challenge” point, where
a task is too difficult to
perform.
Intention Can Create change
• Challenges to the brain create change throughout
our lifetime.
• Intention can change our brain.
• Intention to move the eyes has an effect even if
you cannot move the eyes, fMRI study by Joshua
Brown, Washington University
• How? A thought initiates action.. so you want to
reach the “challenge” point, where a task is too
difficult to perform, whether physical or mentally…
Body Talk
• fMRI studies show gestures and speech
spring from the same part of the brain during
communication
• Language, Cognition, and Movement work
together
• The body “speaks” - whether we are sitting,
standing, talking or just listening
• Source: David McNeill, Psycholinguist, U.
Chicago
• Movement plays a role in speech and vice
versa - This has implications in recovery.
Body Talk
• Brain’s Action Center is “All Talk”
• When you HEAR the word “GRASP” the fMRI
shows the brain acts the same way as if you
SEE a GRASP
Source: Reported Sept. 19, 2006 in Current
Biology, Lisa Aziz-Zadeh, Brain and Creativity
Institute, USC
Exercise and Fun Increase
Brain Function
• Exercise Instruction helps and encourages us to
move physically and mentally as we respond to
physical instruction.
• A good class will be open to student jokes, banter,
and be accepting of all levels of movement, be
non-competitive.
• Finding this, being able to afford it, having the time,
being healthy enough to go, being inclined to go…
Physical Touch Brings Healing
• When we’re sick, we can’t exercise. Sometimes when
we’re well, we don’t. There are things that can help,
regardless if we exercise or not.
• Elizabeth Blackwell, the first female physican, knew
positive gentle touch had a very healing effect,
regardless of how big or how small the health project.
• Touch Research Institute has a growing number of
clinical studies on the effects of massage on a large
variety of health projects from asthma, depression,
pain, stress, auto-immune disorders, anxiety, etc. See
www6.miami.edu/touch-research/
• We have been using acupressure at Stanford Hospital
with difficult health projects and encounter positive
results.
Anatomy of Touch
First A Quick Review of The
Human Nervous System
• Central and Peripheral nervous systems
• Central is the brain, spine - receives and sends signals with
Peripheral
• Peripheral nervous system runs the body - peripheral nerves
can be found permeating every organ, gland, brain and
tissue, over the entire length and breadth of the body
• The number of sensory fibers from the skin entering the spinal
cord by the posterior roots is well over half a million
The Anatomy of Touch
• Touch creates chemical and electrical signals that travel
the branches and pathways of nerves starting from the
surface of the body to many locations, including the brain,
organs, glands, etc.
• Many of the electrical and chemical mechanisms have
been identified. Dozens of large molecules convey
information from cell to cell and within cells. Proteins
created from touch guide nerves to make connections with
other nerves.
• A square inch of skin has 21,000 nerves that communicate
with our body.
Acupressure - Ancient Touch
• Based on oriental medical therapies similar to
acupuncture
• Here we discuss a form that has been very popular
among hospital patients in the U.S. and around the
world originating in India and China thousands of
years ago.
• This acupressure works with attitudes, emotions as
they appear on the physical level.
• Practitioners work on themselves to create purified
mental states during training, often have strong
meditation practices and engage in many behaviors
that encourage positive mental state.
• Mental state of the practitioner is considered essential,
as well as the language, attitudes and intentions
toward healing.
Philosophy of Practitioner
Training and Awareness
• How we see ourselves and others, our attitudes and self-talk, matter
greatly in our ability to create a positive influence on body processes.
• Psychophysiophilosophy is a collection of tools both physical and mental
that positively influence attitude, dialogue, vision of our experience of our
body and our experience of our self.
• There is a relationship between physical and emotional well-being.
• Western terms for aspects of these practices include: physiophilosophy, psycho-physio-philosophy, physio-psychology, etc.
• A small book written by a Japanese acupressurist named Mary
Burmeister carries the heart of these ideas… its called “What Mary
Says”. Its unpretentious but very powerful. The following are
examples are from this book.
Physio-Philosophy
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•
Look to this breath only.
The breath we receive is the only reality.
I can stop and exhale all trivialities.
I am my own destiny.
I am my best friend.
See the fun in every situation.
Physio-Psychology
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•
•
•
How you fill your mind is what it will be.
Love is understanding.
Thoughts are things.
A breakthrough is to go beyond limits. Limits are
imposed by ourselves.
• What if yesterday was difficult; let it go and get rid of
garbage bags.
• Make a choice to change your focus.
• In the pursuit of happiness it is sometimes good to be
happy.
Physio-Physiology
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•
•
•
•
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Body follows the mental mind
Whoever controls their tongue controls the whole body
Be patient towards all that is unsolved in your heart
The greatest gift of all riches is that of not desiring them
Laughter is like jogging on the inside.
Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.
Acupressure Results #1
Outcomes in Multiple Myeloma
• Treatment was given intermittently during 4
months before diagnosis, each day of
hospitalization at diagnosis, for side effects that
occurred during bone marrow transplant and
during the 12-day hospitalization with BMT.
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Complete recovery of renal function
Relief from side effects of stem cell BMT
Rapid healing of mucositis
Minimal nausea and intestinal cramping
Relief from abnormal blood pressure
Incipient fevers broken
• Published in Sept/Oct 2002, Alternative
Therapies, Vol. 8, No. 5
Acupressure Results #2
Perceived Stress in Nurses
• 34 nurses received 6 treatments over an 8
week period
• All groups in the study receiving treatments
reported significant reduction in perceived
and somatic stress using Wilcoxan matchedpairs signed rank test. No differences were
detected in the control group
• Subjective response to treatment included
62% felt more relaxed, 53% felt more
centered, calmer or integrated, 41% reported
improved coping, 38% reported decreased
pain or tension
Acupressure Results #3
Recovery from Cardiac Procedure Morristown Memorial Hospital
• Evaluated acceptance by patience and staff, ease of
delivery, potential adverse outcomes
• Nurses identified patients on a daily basis who might
benefit, in the Step-Down Unit - 120 patients total, 168
treatments given
• Patients asked to fill out survey on discharge
regarding the session
• 78% said it was helpful, 82% said they felt different
after the treatment, 32% would pay for treatment, 85%
would refer the treatment to others, 43% would like to
learn self help acupressure
Self Help Acupressure
• Average client for acupressure is either wealthy
and educated, or sick and desperate
• In the Stanford area treatments are expensive,
between $90 - $120/hour out of pocket
• Self-help instruction, in private sessions, by a
class, or by a DVD, teach individual tools that
can be used on an as-needed basis
• Self Help Acupressure used on a daily basis is
an intervention tool for prevention in chronic
conditions and many other health projects
Self Help Acupressure Gentle Touch
• Directly affect nerves, body function, attitude,
create emotional harmony and relaxation
• Can be done “on the go”, in bed, while
commuting, in waiting rooms, offices,
hospitals, anywhere
• Physical methods are simple but have effects
on attitudes, body functions, mental state,
and spirit
Try these simple Self -Help
TOOLS
Five ways to create tranquility in mental
state, so easy, so nice, and now you
can do them anytime you want,
anywhere you find yourself
Contact Details
www dot 21stcenturymed dot org
cindymason@media.mit.edu