332: MindWaves: How to Use Less Brain Energy to Avoid Burnouts and Better Connect With Those Around You [X] Time:Aug 7, 3:45 - 5:00 PM Location:Governor's B Presenters:Eugene Brewer, Arlene Taylor Level:K-12 Specialty:General Description:Your brain is as unique as your thumbprint. Some things you do require more expenditure of energy from you than it would of others. Some require less. Understanding more about the amount of energy your brain uses in your own thinking processes and aligning your choices to what your brain does easily will add life to your years and possibly, years to your life. MindWaves will help you understand how people-- that's you!--think and learn. (Arlene’s slides follow.)

MindWaves – Implications for everyday living  Arlene Taylor PhD References: Selected Brain Facts URL:

Your Brain is as Unique  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Give up any expectation of another brain perceiving anything exactly as yours perceives it—and vice versa The way your brain functions largely determines your quality of life including the way in which you learn new information This section is one brain’s perception of the research As your thumbprint No two brains are ever identical in structure, function, or perception!

The Brain Grows Quickly  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc In some ways and yet matures more slowly than the physical body in others  Myelination of the corpus callosum is generally thought to be complete by age 20 or 21  Development of the pre-frontal cortex may be complete around the mid twenties, by age  This maturation process may require an additional 1.6 years to complete in the male brain (as compared to the female brain) It is dangerous to assume that individuals with adult-sized bodies have brains that are complete and mature Decisions made prior to mid-twenties may not work well once myelination is complete and pre-frontal lobes are developed

Generation Gap?  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc In PET Scan studies, when participants were asked to respond to a question: Individuals over age 21 tended to process their responses in the thinking brain layer Individuals below age 21 tended to process their responses in the emotional brain layer When questions began with the word why, study participants – regardless of age -- tended to process their responses from the emotional brain layer where there is no conscious thought

Avoid WHY Whenever Possible  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc In the English language, the word why tends to be perceived as threatening – and can trigger the brain to downshift Try using other words to elicit information: What did you want to have happen? What could you do differently in the future? If you exhibit this behavior what do you think might happen? If you make this choice, what are the possible consequences

Use Your Brain by Design  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc In MindWaves, co-authors Brewer and Taylor, highlight four key components of brain function that can impact the amount of brain energy required to accomplish specific tasks  Understanding more about these key components can help you identify, honor, and enjoy your own brain’s uniqueness  It can also help you identify (insofar as possible) and honor the brain uniqueness of others, which can enhance communication/relationships  According to E. G. White, it is the design of God that people with differing types of brains live together in families so they can learn how to get along with those who are not like them

1. Male-Female Continuum  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Takes in 95% of the population Checklists of psychological maleness or femaleness give two scores Some brains definitely lean toward systemizing, others lean toward empathizing, and some are Some brains match their external housing while other’s don’t, and about 5% of brains don’t even fall on the continuum No wonder people are confused! Empathizing Brain (equated more with female brain) Balanced Brain Systemizing = Empathizing Systemizing Brain (equated more with male brain)

Corpus Callosum Differences  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Research has shown differences – controversy exists about magnitude and meaning Female Brain: Has a thicker CC - no chemical bath and an earlier onset of puberty. This promotes a generalized style of brain function. Male Brain: Has a thinner CC - gets a chemical bath during gestation, and has a later onset of puberty. This promotes a lateralized style of brain function. The male brain is at higher risk for conditions exacerbated by reduced hemispheric coordination (e.g., dyslexia, hyperactivity)

M-F Brain Energy Differences  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Female Brain Generalized processing style If any part of the brain is “on,” it’s all on Second for second requires more energy to run Male Brain Lateralized processing style While one part is working, other sections can be “idling” Is more energy efficient; requires less energy to run second for second; tends to evaluate and allot energy in advance of the activity/event

Shopping Challenges and Energy  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Female Brain Tends to browse – for a change or adventure Does more comparison shopping at the time More spontaneous about following a “list,” if one even exists Male Brain Tends to hunt for a pre-identified quarry Does more research ahead of time Allots energy based on estimated time and task, and can run out of energy if the agenda changes

Thought-Processing Styles  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Female Brain Tends to process information verbally and aloud and arrives at a conclusion during the process May want only empathy and a listener rather than help with a solution Tends to function better in an environment with low levels of distraction (e.g., IQ test scores were higher when room was quiet) Male Brain Tends to process information internally and silently, and wants to state the conclusion only when process is completed Usually want to fix the problem or come up with a solution that can be implemented Tends to focus better in an environment where there is some distraction (e.g., IQ test scores were higher in noisy room)

Female Brain Tends to: Generalize Integrate Compound Stew Male Brain Tends to: Lateralize Compartmentalize Segment Separate Rumination Styles – Trunk Metaphor  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc

2. Extroversion Ambiversion Introversion  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Labels refer to the brain’s focus – internal or external And has little or nothing to do with how much you like people Extreme Extroversion 15%  Ambiversion  70% E-I Continuum Extreme Introversion 15% You can flex along the E-I Continuum in specific situations / environments to some degree and still function – long-term it will cost you in energy and can decrease your effectiveness

Extremes – Special Types of Giftedness  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Extreme Extroversion A special protective Callus protects the brain from being readily hurt or bested in specific situations (e.g., highly stimulating, conflictive, competitive, combative) that could overwhelm less extroverted brains. Incoming stimuli are miniaturized A m b i v e r s i o n 70% Extreme Introversion Has no protective Callus. Brain takes in more data second for second and reflects on it to gain understanding or view it in a new way. May shut out additional input to process what has already been absorbed. Incoming stimuli are magnified Ambiversion is a label of exclusion (e.g., not extremely extroverted or introverted, no extreme needs/giftedness)

Blood-Flow Rates Differ  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Dr. Debra Johnson, PET Scan Studies Extreme Extroversion Lower rates of blood flow to the brain (lower internal stimulation) Shorter, fast-acting, less complicated blood-flow patterns; involve areas related to sensory processing (except for smell) and novelty/variety A m b i v e r s i o n 70% Extreme Introversion Higher rates of blood flow to the brain (higher internal stimulation) Longer, complex blood-flow patterns; involve areas related to pondering internal experiences (e.g., planning, recalling)

Different Neurochemicals Fuel  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Dominant pathways - Dr. Debra Johnson Extreme Extroversion Short, direct, dominant pathway is activated by dopamine (pleasure, feel good, brief euphoria) Adrenalin, cocaine, and amphetamines, can increase dopamine levels Crave variety, high intensity, and different types of stimuli A m b i v e r s i o n 70% Extreme Introversion Longer, more complex pathway is activated by acetylcholine (alertness, paying attention) Lecithin (precursor to choline) can increase acetylcholine levels Prefer less variety and intensity, and more depth

Characteristics of Extremes  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Extreme Extroversion Gain energy by interacting with the outer world Tend to spend energy freely Need frequent breaks when trying to focus Energy is drained in an under-stimulating environment (bored, restless, delinquent, fall asleep) A m b i v e r s i o n 70% Extreme Introversion Gain energy by interacting with internal world Tend to be more conserving of energy Can take longer to have energy restored Energy is drained in an over- stimulating environment (tired, (withdraw, get sick, become depressed)

Implications for Everyday Living  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Extreme Extroversion Excel at tasks that provide high levels of stimulation and variety versus prolonged attention to detail. Tend to score higher on “positive” current-mood scales. Less responsive to punishment and are likely to continue acting in face of frustration At higher risk for delinquency A m b i v e r s i o n 70% Extreme Introversion Excel at tasks that require careful attention (e.g. reading radar screens, research labs with solitary cubicles). Tend to dwell more on the negative features of social situations. Tend to be more sensitive to punishment and to negativity, and may be easier to condition At higher risk for depression

3. Sensory Preference  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc The type of sensory stimuli that registers most quickly in your brain  The brain’s decoding centers can receive up to 10 million bits of sensory data per second  Early in life human beings tend to use the senses almost equally  By age 5 or 6 the brain begins to organize toward a sensory preference  Sensory preference impacts how you prefer to absorb sensory data, the type of data you miss, the way you tend to communicate with other, and how you learn easily

Population Estimates of Incidence  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc 20% Auditory Preference More females than males 60% Visual Preference More males than females 20% Kinesthetic Preference  Equal males and females It requires less energy to process sensory stimuli that match your sensory system preference

M-F Vision Differences  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Female brain has m ore P cells in retina – are designed to process color and texture Prewired to be more interested in faces - tend to be less physically active overall More sensitive to red, orange, green, and beige Male brain has more M cells in retina – are motion detectors Prewired to be more interested in moving objects - tend to be more physically active and move more overall More sensitive to black, gray, silver, and blue

Females tend to have a short- range, wider, peripheral-vision style Females may find it easier to locate specific items in cupboards, drawers, and refrigerators as their vision takes in more of the immediate environment Males tend to have a long- range narrower, tunnel-vision style (e.g., built-in binoculars) Males may find it easier to locate items that are a further away (e.g., signs, markers, hunting quarry) M-F Vision Style Differences  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc

Females tend to hear better overall As early as age eleven, girls tends to become distracted by noise levels that are approximately 10 times softer than the levels that comparable boys find distracting. Males tend to have less acute hearing overall Hearing differences become more pronounced throughout life M-F Hearing Differences  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc When communicating with only females, keep room as free of extraneous noise and distraction as possible When communicating with males, speak up and/or use a microphone

Female brain typically processes voice sounds in Wernicke’s area in the L. hemisphere, regardless of age or gender Male brain typically processes male-voice sounds in Wernicke’s area; female-voice sounds in the auditory portion of the R. hemisphere that processes music / melody lines. Hearing Differences Applications  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc A female voice is more difficult for the male brain to process – typically processes it as a “melody line” or as “background music” To increase the likelihood of being “heard” by a male brain, a female must lower her voice pitch and keep it even, speak louder, and allow inflections to fall at the end of sentences Study at University of Sheffield and published in the journal NeuroImage

4. Thinking Preference or Brain Lead  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc Refers to brain’s energy efficiency for processing information Based on PET Scan Studies, the human brains is believed to possess an innate biochemical energy advantage in one of the natural cerebral divisions over the other three It is stable, energy efficient, and impacts: Level of competence Ability to sustain high performance Health and longevity Overall success

PET Scans Have Shown  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc  When performing non-preferred functions, the brain expends more energy and requires: More oxygen, glucose, and micronutrition A longer rest time to recover  To use a monetary metaphor, the difference in energy expended may be pennies on the dollar 1¢ per second versus $1 per second -- and that’s after the skills have been developed Based on brain lead, you will tend to excel at some tasks (energy-efficient expenditure), and procrastinate or struggle with others (energy-intensive expenditures)

Nothing in Life is Free  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc You always give up something to get something – and the bottom- line unit of exchange is energy To be a good steward, minimize your brain-energy drain! Learn to evaluate relative energy expenditures and ask: How much is this something going to cost me in energy? Do I want it badly enough to exchange that amount of energy? Knowing the way in which your brain functions most energy-efficiently can enable you to make pro- active choices about the types of tasks you undertake and the relative amount of time you devote to them

Brain Energy Drain  Arlene Taylor PhD Realizations Inc  Can negatively impact your health, longevity, and long-term success  Estimates are that you can shorten your lifespan from 14-2 years when you spend large amounts of time requiring you brain to complete tasks that are a mismatch with what it does energy-efficiently  Long term you are more likely to be happy, healthy, and successful when there is a match between what your brain does energy-efficiently and a majority (e.g., 51%) of your life’s activities. The life you save may be your own!

Speaker Information If you ask Arlene Taylor what she does in life that absolutely energizes her, she will likely reply, “I’m a brain-function specialist and I help people thrive!” She incorporates cutting- edge brain-function research into her empowering seminars, highlighting strategies that, when practically applied, can help people be more successful  by design. A recipient of the American Medal of Honor for Brain-Function Education (American Biographical Institute Inc, 2002), Taylor holds earned doctorates in Health and Human Services and in Clinical Pastoral Counseling. In 1989 the Loma Linda University Nursing Alumni Association selected Taylor as Alumna of the year. She has life membership in the National Registry of Who’s Who, 2000 edition. A member of the National Speakers Association, Taylor is listed with the Professional Speakers Bureau International. Access her web site ( for descriptions of seminars, Taylor-on-the-Brain Bulletins, SynapSez  newsletter, Selected Brain Facts, Frequently Asked Questions, lecture schedules, and more.

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