Embodied Social Neuroscience and Self-Regulation: brainwaves, heart rhythms, and more
Mar 26, 2024
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Discover how to lower anxiety and improve mental wellbeing with 5 neuroscience-supported pillars. Explore brain waves, heart rate variability, facial expressions, body movements, and a neuro coach program for enhancing brain-body alignment.
Utilize intentional voice modulation to regulate internal states and improve interpersonal interactions.
Practice slow-paced breathing techniques to increase heart rate variability, promoting resilience and well-being.
Deep dives
Understanding the Brain's Role in Well-Being
The brain is essential for optimizing life as it consists of various networks and systems that aid in improving decision-making, relationships, and well-being. Brain waves play a crucial role in consciousness and awareness levels with different bands such as delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma impacting our cognitive and emotional states. Brain waves function like musical notes, each frequency signifying different states, with slower waves related to basic physiological functions and higher waves associated with expanded consciousness and insights.
Enhancing Heart Rate Variability for Resilience
Heart rate variability reflects the adaptability of our nervous system to stressors, with high variability indicating well-being and resilience. Slow-paced breathing techniques can increase heart rate variability, balancing sympathetic and parasympathetic inputs. Engaging in activities that promote variability in heart rate enhances the body's capacity to respond to different environmental stimuli.
Facial Expressions and Eye Contact for Social Engagement
Facial muscles and eye movements are powerful indicators of our internal state, influencing how we connect with others and regulate our emotions. Expressions reflecting comfort, creativity, and control impact our interactions with individuals. Mutual eye gaze and intentional facial expressions contribute to social engagement and oxytocin release, fostering feelings of safety and connection.
Harnessing the Power of Voice and Hand Movements
Utilizing one's voice intentionally can regulate internal states and influence interpersonal interactions, aligning with various intentions such as comfort, creativity, and control. Hand movements and grip strength serve as indicators of cognitive health and mental well-being, emphasizing the importance of intentional and purposeful use of hands in regulating emotional and cognitive states for overall health and functioning.
Our nervous systems and brain networks are powerfully shaped by experiences that are embodied, visceral, sensory-motor and social. This is the essence of Embodied Social Neuroscience.
In this episode, learn about 5 concrete embodied, neuroscience-supported pillars you can use to get better at honing the incredible power of the human mind-brain-body system. We look at several biomarkers and physiological pillars of how to combine the extraordinary, beautiful and magnificent power of the human brain with the mechanics of our body to help us achieve a state of deep fulfillment and sense of agency and alignment with our highest potential.