“The ultimate healing capacity of your brain may be, for all practical purposes, infinite." Dr. Jay Kumar
Check out the latest podcast from AWAKE with Dr. Jay Kumar on the Doug Stephan Good Day Show. In this episode we discuss how neuroscience now validates the power of our thoughts and intentions in our healing process. A really great episode!
AWAKE & ENJOY!
Dr. Jay Kumar
I’ll give an example of just how powerful our thoughts can be on our brain and body. Scientists at Columbia University conducted an experiment where volunteers were connected to a PET (positron emission tomography) as part of a study to see how neurochemicals in the brain react to pain in the body. The people in the experiment received a pain-producing stimulus of minor heat on their arm. As predicted, the brain registered the pain and released opioids, a neurochemical that relieves pain. The same people were then told to apply a lotion on their arm that they believed was a new experimental painkiller, when in actuality it was just simple body lotion. When the volunteers received the same stimulus, the scientists discovered that higher levels of opioids were produced and secreted from the brain in response to the pain on the area of the arm where the placebo cream was placed. (Full article here)
To quote Dr. Tor Wager, the leading researcher of the experiment, “These results extend our knowledge of how beliefs and expectations affect the brain's neurochemistry and show that one's mental response to a challenge can affect the brain and body in ways that are relevant to health….Understanding these interactions can pave the way for new treatments that are informed by knowledge of mind-body interactions.” In essence this amazing research now validates the adage that our psychology does indeed influence our biology!
The point here is that science is only now beginning to understand the power of human thought, an idea that has existed for millennia in indigenous medical system and in spiritual traditions throughout human history. I’ve always believed that the next major scientific breakthrough will occur when we truly understand the vast capacity of human consciousness and how we ALL ARE HEALERS! As Dr. W. Ross Adey of the Brain Research Institute at UCLA rightfully declares, “The ultimate creative capacity of your brain may be, for all practical purposes, infinite.” I would like to amend his statement by saying, “The ultimate healing capacity of your brain may be, for all practical purposes, infinite.”
Always remember just how amazing, and incredible you are. The key to your health and happiness is to cultivate more empowering thoughts, intentions, words and emotions as part of your daily life. I will discuss more ways in which we can do this in the next blog. Until then, keep on Living Your Light® as you keep on Believing In Your Light!
Dr. Jay Kumar
www.drjaykumar.com
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Curious what neuroscience, compassion, and Casey Anthony have to do with each other? The answer is something in our brains called a mirror neuron. About 20 years ago, neuroscientists in Italy conducted an experiment monitoring the brain wave patterns of a monkey. By pure serendipity, as some of the great breakthroughs in science sometime happen, they discovered that primate and human brains possess mirror neurons that appear to be special brain cells that enable us to understand and interpret the actions, emotions, intentions, and behaviors of other humans (Read the full details of the experiment at Mirror Neurons.
Here are two examples of how mirror neurons work. Think of a time you saw a child fall down and cry for help, or recall the thrill of watching your favorite team on TV make that winning touchdown. In both cases, the same neurons firing in the brain of the child in pain or the sudden euphoria you feel when viewing people in joy are due to mirror neurons. Mirror neurons suggest that our brains are ‘wired’ to feel both the emotions and intentions of others, as if our brain is also experiencing the same action or emotion. It is this biological conditioning that may account for human compassion and our ability to empathize and socialize with others. On a side note, humans may not be the only species with mirror neurons as dogs, elephants, dolphins, and higher primates also appear to have them. Anyone who has pets knows that empathic bond we have with our animals. The discovery of mirror neurons is revolutionizing our understanding of how human biology, evolution, psychology, language, and culture are all interconnected. In essence, mirror neurons make us more compassionate humans!
So now that neuroscience has a possible biological explanation for human compassion, what does this have to do with Casey Anthony? The answer again is mirror neurons. Before I explain, let me share an overview of the Casey Anthony trial that has been in the media recently. For those unfamiliar with the case, Anthony was recently acquitted and freed from the alleged murder of her daughter. What triggered the prosecution’s suspicion that Anthony may have been the murderer was her blatant lack of remorse or grief over her daughter’s death. It is Anthony’s shocking lack of emotional pain that probably also fascinated us with the case. Because of our mirror neurons, we experienced a strong emotional reaction upon hearing the news of the daughter’s death. As a society we were irked, confused, and eventually outraged by Anthony’s blasé reaction to the entire situation. It makes us collectively wonder how a mother could appear to be so heartless over the death of her own child.
Neuroscientists now conjecture that some people, for whatever reason, possess underdeveloped or fewer mirror neurons in their brains, which may now possibly account for people who are autistics, sociopaths, and murderers. Mirror neurons also enable us to recognize and interpret facial expressions, as we express many of our emotions through our face. Those with dysfunctional mirror neurons are able to identify various emotions, e.g. anger or happiness, and imitate their corresponding facial expressions in others. However, they do not easily process the empathic significance of the imitated emotion. When looking at other people’s facial expressions, those with poor mirror neurons do not know what it FEELS like when others are happy, angry, repulsed, afraid, or sad.
While I have no direct proof, my suspicion is that Casey Anthony (and other infamous alleged murderers such O.J. Simpson and Scott Peterson) may lack developed mirror neurons that prevent them from expressing remorse and compunction. Additionally, the media’s and our collective fascination with the Casey Anthony trial stems from our disbelief and anger over the apparent absence of her empathy and compassion.
It goes to show that while mirror neurons may have developed out of a biological necessity for humans to evolve, we are all soft-wired to experience compassion and empathy. Since neuroscience also states that we have the power to rewire our brain’s neural circuitry, we each have the capacity to develop our mirror neurons and, in turn, cultivate greater compassion and empathy toward others.
Keep training those mirror neurons as you keep on Living Your Lightâ.
Dr. Jay Kumar
www.drjaykumar.com
Facebook – Dr. Jay Kumar
Twitter - docjaykumar
"The key to happiness in life is not to be in the KNOW but to be in the NOW!" Dr. Jay Kumar
Check out another great podcast of "AWAKE with Dr. Jay Kumar!" In this week's episode learn how to become more present and live in the now!
ENJOY AND AWAKE!
Dr. Jay Kumar
Check out the podcast of today's debut radio show "AWAKE with Dr. Jay Kumar!" In this week's show -
• Hear what the Dalal Lama had to say about the justification for killing bin Laden.
• What neuroscience says about the nature of compassion and empathy
• How you can become more AWAKE in body, mind, heart, and spirit!
ENJOY AND AWAKE!
Dr. Jay Kumar