“Cultivating the mind for more solutions”
~ Cynthia G. Creel
She sat across the table from her best friend, they had attended college together with a history that went back over 25 years. It had been way too long since they had enjoyed each other’s company which now included their growing families. As they enjoyed a delightful meal she had helped prepared it felt like they were young again only in their 20’s, repeating the same event, only knowing a little bit more now. Without thinking she said something that she new was not appropriate, even though their ideas had once been on the same page, her friends page had turned to a new way of thinking that was supported by her husband and children.
She stated, a fact nothing Earth shaking, just that she love the news when it just reported the facts not an add opinion to the subject. This could have meant either a more conservative or liberal news cast, she had not pointed out either. As fast as the words came out she wanted to suck them back in, too late her friends husband said, “Well the liberal media…” She knew right then he did not understand what she had said, it wasn’t about liberal or conservative, it was about a style.
She could feel the “egg shells” crush under her feet as she attempted to “appease the Gods” that hallowed ground had not be desecrated. She did just that by explaining a little further and agreeing that liberals might do this too. She just sat for a moment and wonder why would she have to worry so much to have a conversation that she couldn’t even give a general statement without crafting a story that would satisfy all, not bring in all the high emotions, just a conversation. 25 years ago all that would have happened was the response to the statement would have most likely been the idea we will have to agree to disagree and move on to the next topic. No challenge of who is right or wrong just an exchange of ideas to learn a better way.
Her friend and her husband went to get something from the kitchen. That left her alone for a few minutes to think if I can’t even talk to some one without them getting over emotional how can the United States President, Congress and Senate work together to over come a common challenge and end up with a solution everyone could live with? Why had life changed so much? There must be answers.
Without the ability to think beyond one point of view the solutions are usually lost. Most often in a successful negotiation no one gets everything and everyone gives in just a little to move things forward balancing ideas out to be not too much this way or that. A FMRI study in March of 2006 (6) discovered the human brain could assessed that knowledge of self can be considered without the consideration of others leading to an idea that a particular part of the brain might be more active related to political preference that this might lead to a discovery of a human brain processes exclusive to humans. (Keenan, Nelson, O’Connor, & Pascual-Leone, 2001; Keenan, Wheeler, Gallup, & Pascual-Leone, 2000).
Fast forward a few years and a new FMRI study (1) that liberals (Democrats) and conservatives (Republicans) have the same risk taking behavior and brain tissue when given a task of a gambling game two different areas of the brain were activated influencing the choices people make towards political attitudes and beliefs. Each had an increase in brain cells the liberals in the anterior cingulated cortex and the conservatives in the amygdala. Public records showed which subject was a registered Republican or Democrat allowing the researchers to discover they could accurately predict over 80% of the time from a brain scan who was Republican having more activity in the left posterior insula ( responsible for processing fear, risk and reward) or Democrat with more activity in the right amygdala responsible for processing emotions which would include the “theory of the mind” ( 7) that gives way to the possibility of having the ability to understand the perspective of another thoughts through clues demonstrated by the body giving a way of possibly knowing what another might be thinking.
Leading researchers to the new belief that the brain activity gave better incite to why a person makes the political choices they make are believed to be more accurate than the model based on parental socialization of party identification. All of this supports the idea that conservatives and liberals use different thought process when thinking about the risk with the conservatives influenced more by threatening situations all.
No cause and effect was discovered by the study, the brain is constantly changing so there could be a plethora of reasons why this is. It might be because we are born this way or maybe because we think one way more often verses another leading to more “exercise” of that part of the brain making the use of one part of the brain more prevalent over the others in making choices.
It does give a good explanation of why a person given the same facts come up with very different ideas of what happened and what needs to be done.
Each person knows their own truth, comes to a conclusion of which actions are best to take. The choice that feels better may turn out to be chosen because of the perception of the person and where the information is processed. It is like asking someone who has done something 1,000 times what is the best way verses someone who has done it once. Both can be correct, but the difference could be the experience and knowledge the other obtained over a lifetime of choices influenced by the part of the brain that has the most activation.
I have come across people that have been very liberal when they are younger and turned very conservative when they age. I also know with health not maintained their are physical changes to the body. Could this mean different parts of the brain being activate thus coming to a different conclusion at a different time of life? Would this be the difference between very conservative and very liberal way of thinking? After all a study from Stanford University School of Medicine (10) points out one in ten brain cells are oligodendrocytes or “adult” brain cells mixed among these cells are not particularly proficient precursor cells that have the ability to change into oligodendrocytes brain cells. The oligodendrocytes produce myelin that creates a faster more efficient transmission of messages sent through the nerves. My thought would include the idea: where there are “adult” brain cells there is better performance and most likely better thinking beyond oneself leading to more ideas and the ability to see the best choice for the best results.
We are all human around the world and subject to the strengths and weakness of the body and mind. The difference in the representatives of the Untied States Government seem to demonstrate which part of the brain they are using. I seem to see a third way of looking at life, it seems part of the leaders have a more moderate view with some being slightly more liberal or conservative. It seems brains changing and moving thoughts further apart making it difficult to move forward. With those who can have more similar thinking even with differences in place it is still possible to move forward with the idea of the common good for all and the individuals. All the turmoil in Washington DC, I see hope for this nation and the world to do better together even when they agree to disagree they will still be able to come up with a viable solution.
If the health of a person can change the way of making decisions then it is not isolated to the United States, it would be a concern around the world. It just might not be reported on by the news media if it is just an everyday person instead of world leaders.
From personnel experience the minute I took control of my life and moved on to the path of True Health was the minute my brain begin to function better giving me a look at the world not only from eyes that view myself in the universe and also how the universe fits in me.
If each person helps themselves by stepping on to the path of True Health then there is hope this world can agree or agree to disagree and still move forward. As the video “Garden of Your Mind” (3) a remix of Mr. Rogers by PBS studios gives me the idea that we should all tend your garden in your mind everyday and it will grow ideas. "
By Design ~ “Life is good By Design”
Photo by Cynthia G. Creel all rights reserved ©2013
Everyday I tend my garden, Daffodils appear one day just like an idea .
2-27-2013
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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of By Design or Cynthia G. Creel. Consultation of a medical professional is highly recommended before any changes are considered.
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Sources:
(1) http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0052970
(2) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/republican-democrat-brain-politics-fmri-study_n_2717731.html
(3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFzXaFbxDcM
(4) http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0052970
(5) http://gwtoday.gwu.edu/study-compares-aging-human-chimp-brains
(6) http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17470910600670603?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dpubmed&
(7) http://www.livescience.com/220-scientists-read-minds.html
(8) http://www.livescience.com/10924-7-month-babies-show-awareness-viewpoints.html
(9) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11568425
(10) http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2010/march/barres.html
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