Your words matter
New science shows brains are wired to respond to certain kinds of speech. An expert explains and talks politics
veryones had the experience of leaving a conversation feeling frustrated, convinced the other person didnt understand a word of what they were saying. Whether its a bad meeting with a coworker or an argument with a spouse, ineffective or negative communication may lead to more than just a bad day; new research has shown that it can change the neural pathways in our brains and foster long-lasting negativity. On the other hand, theres evidence to suggest that positive words expressing values such as kindness and respect can go a long way toward building a better brain.
Thats the central premise of "Words Can Change Your Brain," co-authored by Loyola Marymount communication professor Mark Robert Waldman and Andrew Newberg, M.D., director of research at the Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Medical College. Their book argues that our minds are hardwired to respond favorably to certain types of speech and negatively to others. Starting in childhood, humans brains are molded by the words they hear, and they claim that teaching children to use positive words helps them with emotional control and can even increase their attention spans. Their book describes compassionate communication, a method they believe can help people express themselves more effectively, but it also offers a fascinating overview of the latest science around speech and neuroscience.. . .
MUSIC: IT'S IN YOUR HEAD, CHANGING YOUR BRAIN
Elizabeth Landau, CNN 28 MAY 2012
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"I think there's enough evidence to say that musical experience, musical exposure, musical training, all of those things change your brain," says Dr. Charles Limb, associate professor of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at Johns Hopkins University. "It allows you to think in a way that you used to not think, and it also trains a lot of other cognitive facilities that have nothing to do with music."The connection between music and the brain is the subject of a symposium at the Association for Psychological Science conference in Chicago this weekend, featuring prominent scientists and Grammy-winning bassist Victor Wooten. They will discuss the remarkable ways our brains enable us to appreciate, remember and play music, and how we can harness those abilities in new ways.
There are more facets to the mind-music connection than there are notes in a major scale, but it's fascinating to zoom in on a few to see the extraordinary affects music can have on your brain.
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