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How your brain works: A 200-million-year-old success story
The document explains the evolution and functionality of the human brain, highlighting its three distinct components: the reptile brain, the mammal brain, and the human cortex. Each brain part promotes survival through different methods, such as reacting to threats, forming social bonds, and learning from experiences, while neurochemicals influence emotions and behaviors. Understanding the brain's workings can aid in personal well-being and behavioral change.
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How your brain works: A 200-million-year-old success story
- 1. HowYour Brain Works Loretta G.Breuning, PhD a 200-million-year success story
- 2. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org Humans inherited brain structures from earlier animals and added on.
- 3. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org You have 3 brains
- 4. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org They’re all good Each of your brains has successfully promoted survival for millions of years.
- 5. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org They promote your well-being by working together
- 6. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org Each brain seeks in survival its own way reptile mammal human
- 7. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org The reptile brain seeks survival by reacting to threats. The mammal brain seeks survival through social bonds.
- 8. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org The human cortex seeks survival by learning patterns from experience.
- 9. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org Working together, your three brains use experience to build social bonds and avoid threats.
- 10. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org But it’s not easy. Your three brains are not on speaking terms because the animal brain doesn’t think in words.
- 11. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org It thinks by releasing neurochemicals into the body. Humans experience these chemicals as emotions.
- 12. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org When the animal brain sees something good for survival, it releases chemicals that humans experience as happiness. Dopamine Serotonin Oxytocin Endorphin
- 13. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org Something bad for survival triggers cortisol in the animal brain. Humans perceive it as anxiety.
- 14. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org Neurochemicals are powerful enough to trigger urgent survival behaviors in the state of nature.
- 15. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org Our neurochemical responses are hard to put into words, but it’s easy to see the behaviors they trigger in animals.
- 16. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org Your human cortex learns about survival by extracting patterns from past experience.
- 17. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org You were born with lots of neurons but very few connections between them. Your connections built from life experience.
- 18. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org Neural pathways build from emotion and from repetition
- 19. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org Repetition gradually improves a neuron’s ability to trigger other neurons. Emotion instantly improves a neuron’s ability to trigger another neuron.
- 20. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org Your brain can “learn” behaviors that are not really good for your survival.
- 21. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org Your animal brain seeks whatever felt good in your past, and avoids whatever felt bad. Your human cortex seeks patterns that lead to better feelings in your future.
- 22. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org It’s not easy managing three brains.
- 23. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org The electricity in your brain flows like water in a storm, finding the paths of least resistance.
- 24. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org Electricity flows easily into the pathways built from past emotion and repetition.
- 25. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org You can create new neural pathways by repeating new experiences.
- 26. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org But it’s not easy. ! The more you know about how your brains works, the better you can promote your own well-being.
- 27. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org 200 million years ago, mammals began evolving brain systems that support group life.
- 28. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org More of their babies survived as a result, and the successful brains got passed on.
- 29. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org You have inherited the brains of successful survivors.
- 30. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org Knowing how your brain works helps you understand yourself and others.
- 31. Loretta Graziano Breuning,PhD InnerMammalInstitute.org $9. paper $4. ebook 99 99 Meet Your Happy Chemicals is a lighthearted guide to the brain’s natural ups and downs. You can re-wire yourself for more ups in 45 days.