Sensory Neuroscience may sound abstract and complex, but is really simple to understand when we focus on the three main structures in the brain involved with emotional regulation and activation for productivity. “Calm, yet alert”.
If I could wish for only two things while at work, and two things for my students to achieve when attending lectures, studying, and writing exams, it would be to feel calm-alert.
Calm-alert is when we are bang on point.
The SENSORY brain structures for calm-alert are: the amygdala, the hypothalamus, and the reticular activating system (RAS).
The Amygdala is the brain’s panic button and sounds the alarm in response to threatening input from the environment. Providing the Amygdala with non-threatening sensory stimuli, will immediately and effectively calm dysregulated emotions.
The Hypothalamus controls the Autonomic Nervous System’s fight/flight/fright stress, or, rest/digest/relaxation response. The Hypothalamus is very sensitive to either triggering, or calming sensory input.
The Reticular Activation System is the brain’s motivation button, and controls levels of alertness. The RAS responds to either energizing/activating, or calming/inhibiting sensory stimuli.
If we know what to do on a sensory level – for our unique systems – we can powerfully regulate emotions and improve performance, just like a true Neuroscientist.
Sensory Neuroscience is what we do at Brainsense.
