1. ADVENTURES WITH THE BRAIN Midwest Risk Management Symposium 10/29/14 © Kris Henker Improve Decision making By Understanding the Brain

2. Two Different Brain Response Systems Effect of threat and the Social Brain Application to Adventure Programs The Adolescent Brain What We’ll Cover

3. Reflexive Response - Autopilot

4. Reflective Response - Intentional

5. Autopilot, Reflexive Intentional, Reflective

6. Reflective System

7. Reflexive system Amygdala

9. Reflexive System Basal Ganglia

11. Reflexive system Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex (VMPFC)

12. Reflexive System Review

13. Reflective System

14. Reflective system

16. Decision making Self Control Working memory Problem solving Emotional regulation Goal setting Abstract thought Planning

17. Reflective system Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC )

18. Reflective system Dorsomedial Prefrontal Cortex (DMPFC )

20. Changing Systems Anterior Cingulate cortex

21. Response Systems Anterior Cingulate cortex

22. X-system/C-system Review  REFLEXIVE  Fast  Energy efficient  Automatic  Habitual responses  REFLECTIVE  Slow  Energy intensive  Controlled  Intentional responses

23. Problems with C-system

24. Prefrontal Cortex Focused Organized Responsible Distracted Disorganized Forgetful Dis-inhibited Introverts Extraverts

25. What Effects the PFC Fear or Threat Stress Over-work Being ‘on’ for too long Not enough glucose

26. Questions on X & C-Systems

27. Two different brain response systems Effects of threat and the Social Brain What We’ll Cover

28. Effects of Threat Brains organizing principle: 1. Minimize threat 2. Maximize reward

29. Effects of Threat Amygdala is key player

30. Effects of Threat This takes precedence over all other strands of thought

31. Doesn’t Take Much

32. Students heading toward cheese could solve around 50% more problems in a creativity test that followed.

34. Threat is Threat The brain registers physical threat in a similar way as it does emotional or social threat

35. Pain is Pain It also registers physical pain in a similar way to emotional or social pain

36. Social Brain

38. Social Brain/ Default Mode

39. Social Brian  Precedes conscious thought of social situations  Active in 2 day old babies

40. The Social Brain

41. Questions on the Social Brain

42. Two Different Brain Response Systems Effect of threat and the Social Brain Application to Adventure Programs What We’ll Cover

43. “What has been the most difficult part of leading past wilderness trip experiences for you? “

44.  67% of answers were about the social or interpersonal interactions in the group. Kids feeling alienated Difficult participants Motivation Trust Social/emotional skills Leadership Dealing with stress, in participants and in self What Effects the PFC

45. Reduce Social Threats  F airness  E xpectations  A utonomy  R elatedness  S elf-Concept © Kris Henker

46. Fairness

47. Expectations

48. Expectation of reward releases dopamine into the brain, not the reward itself

49. Autonomy

50. Relatedness

52. Self-Concept  The overall idea of who a person thinks he or she is

54. Questions

55. Emotional Regulation

56. Four positive emotional regulation strategies Labeling Reappraisal Distancing Mindfulness

57. Labeling Label Emotions “I’m Angry” Dampens the amygdala

58. Reappraise the Situation

59. Distancing

61. Mindfulness

62. “ Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; On purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgementally.” Jon Kabat-Zinn

63. Use the Reflexive system Create intentional habits

64. Work within the Limits of the PFC

66. The Adolescent Brain  Adolescence = Puberty thru the mid 20s

67. The Adolescent Brain

69. Neuroplasticity

70. One Last Thing…

71. Thank You!!