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Tonight's talk is about how we can use consciousness to and especially cognitive tools to literally change the brain and

we'll be paying specific attention to new research that shows ways that we can actually undo negative compulsive behaviors and habits that cause us some form of distress or this

interpersonal lives.

This whole rubric or topic

falls under the category of neuroplasticity

and there's been a lot of

really wonderful studies that show literally that the brain is not only molded by the early events of childhood, the first roughly 24 to 30 months, are extremely, the brain is

exceptionally neuroplastic. It's being formed by all of the experiences that the infant has with caretakers.

Genetics of course play a significant role in the shaping of the adult brain.

Other factors including exercise nutrition,

any kind of concussive brain events.

But also now there's significant studies that show how we use

consciousness, how we think and how we focus attention actually plays also a significant role in the

synaptic circuits that are wired that will become dominant in adult life, specifically again how we focus attention and how we think.

It's kind of an important subject because when it comes to attempts to change behavior while bottom-up

psychology such as somatic and sensory motor therapies are exceptionally effective, but they have to be done in a very expensive

therapeutic environment.

Whereas learning how to think in ways that literally rewire the brain in positive ways that allow for,

especially the topic tonight will be interpersonal growth is something that we don't need to do with a therapist.

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