The brain is a wonderful and complex organ that sometimes needs to be refocused and retrained.

 

The brain is a wonderful and complex organ that sometimes needs to be refocused and retrained.

According to the National Institutes of Health, "The brain is the most complex part of the human body. This three-pound organ is the seat of intelligence, interpreter of the senses, initiator of body movement, and controller of behavior." Yet, the brain is not perfect; it can make mistakes that create misconceptions and increase negative thinking.

 

Neuroscience, clinical trials, and related research on the brain prove that the brain is negatively biased, and as a result, we focus more intensely on negative images and events. Also, we remember negative images and events longer and in greater detail than we remember positive information. Negative thoughts have served to keep our species alive.

 

The brain remains on alert to detect negative emotions, such as fear, sadness, or anger. According to research of Tiffany A. Ito and others (1998), "Negative information weighs more heavily on the brain," and there is a "negative bias" in the way the brain processes the negative information it receives. By focusing more on negativity, the brain warns us of physical or emotional threats.

(c) M.D. Johnson (2015)

 

Yet, as the brain works to keep us aware of danger, it also can over-generalize and cause us to perceive danger where no threat exists. When the brain  over-generalizes about negative experiences, events and images, after one or two experiences, it can make associations that are based on assumptions, rather than truth. It's a natural phenomenon for the brain to provide complete scenarios or pictures from incomplete information. For example, we all can ascertain distinct shapes (such as a lion's face) within cloud formations, or we can mistake an image in the distance for something much more intimidating.  A child running towards us in the distance can resemble a dog running (from a distance) and as a result, the brain might signal a "fight or flight" response--until we realize the image running towards us is a child, not some ferocious animal.

 

Because the brain wants to keep us feeling safe and contented, it can be overly-protective, and if it has been sensitized to negativity early in life (child abuse or any sustained negative childhood experience), it can more easily process negative feelings with incomplete data. Negative thinking has proved essential in the survival of our species but when the brain completes scenarios based on limited information, we make incorrect assessments that support negative thought patterns. 

 

Still, despite a natural inclination toward negative thinking, we have a choice in whether or not to allow our brain's past activity to determine our future behavior. Once we are able to accept our strengths and weaknesses (sensitivity toward negativity), we can begin replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts--every time. With practice and patience, eventually the brain learns to accept new information and adapt accordingly. Eventually it becomes less inclined to complete negatively biased perceptions or images for us to accept.

 

The brain is a wonderful and complex organ, but sometimes it needs to be refocused and retrained. We might not completely understand how or why we process negative thoughts so readily, but it is up to us to change the way our brains respond to negativity. Once negative thoughts are acknowledged, they  must be replaced with positive ones--every time. Eventually, the brain will realize what it needs to offer--positive thoughts, and it is more than willing to change in order to keep us feeling positive as well as safe.

(c) M.D.Johnson, 2015

References:

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/know_your_brain.htm

Ito, Tiffany A., J.T. Larsen, N.K. Smith, and J.T. Cacioppo (1998). Negative Information Weighs More Heavily on the Brain: The Negativity Bias in Evaluative Categorizations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75 (4), 887-900. 

  
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