Brains On Purpose™

Upcoming Colorado event: Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Click to read all about Networking for Skeptics and Procrastinators: Using Your Brain to Create More Business.

The Web page is now up for our Smithsonian course

From the Smithsonian Web site . . .

Brains on Purpose: Change Your Mind, Change Your Brain

Sat., March 1, 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

PROGRAM DETAILS

The science of neuroplasticity demonstrates that our brains are always changing, meaning that we can resculpt our brains in productive ways. This seminar teaches you how to achieve control of your brain so you can meet goals, create life-changing habits, and realize your full potential.

Click to read the rest of the program description and to enroll.

The seminar on the neuroscience of conflict resolution: Attend on your computer

I was just talking with my client at Portland State University. She tells me this Friday's six-hour-long seminar will be streamed and available for viewing for a few days after the program. She kindly gave me permission to offer my colleagues and friends who watch by computer the human services discount registration rate.

To sign up, call 1-800-547-8887. Hit O and dial extension 4832. Tell them you are registering for Neuroscience of Conflict Resolution at the human services discount. She recommended registering by phone instead of online as the online is glitchy.

Click for more information about the seminar on neuroscience of conflict resolution.

Don't let the nut run the conflict resolution

In an earlier post, I mentioned a fear center in the brain and a method to facilitate its calming. That part of the brain is the amygdala. At Neurophilosophy, I learned that Dr. Joseph LeDoux, a leading expert on the amygdala and author of The Emotional Brain, has written a primer on the amygdala. The primer has much good information for those of you wishing to learn more about this part of your and your client's brain.

More about the nut reference in a moment . . .

During the seminar on Neuroscience and Conflict Resolution last week in Denver, Jeffrey Schwartz talked often about the amygdala. At one point, he became the amygdala and I interviewed him as that reactive part of the brain—a part of the brain that, during conflict resolution, we do not want to be running the show.

In beginning the interview, I asked Jeff if he wanted to be called Mr. Amygdala or Dr. Amygdala. He told us to call him simply Amyg. Who knows? Maybe in Portland next month he will be just Amy. As you may be able to guess, some fun was included in the seminar learning.

On another neuroscience note mixed with some fun, Dr. LeDoux has founded a rock group, The Amygdaloids. He calls his musical genre Heavy Mental. One of his songs is called "All In a Nut," a reference to the fact that the amygdala is shaped like an almond and its name comes from the Greek word for that nut. You can listen to previews of the Amygaloid songs here. Here's an article from The Scientist: "The Amygdaloids: Scientists who rock out." And their performance at Madison Square Garden. A longer clip of "All in a Nut" at Madison Square Garden. Here LeDoux blogs about the Amgdaloids.

Why, why, why do we feel so afraid?
Why, why, why do we feel so afraid?
Don't have to look very far
Don't get stuck in a rut
Don't go looking too hard
It's all in a nut
In your brain.

-excerpt from "All in a Nut" lyrics

Note (added November 25, 2007, 1:17 PM Mountain): Click to see the Amygdaloids debut on November 1, 2006, at Union Hall, Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Note (added January 4, 2008, 7:55 Mountain): Today the Dana Press Blog posted about the Amygdaloids performing at Kennedy Center. Excerpt:

Who is drawn to a rock band starring neuroscientists? More than 300 people in Washington, D.C., apparently, who grooved in the foyer of the Kennedy Center on Thursday to the Amygdaloids’ songs about fear, love and passion, not only from the inner depths of experience but also from the band mates’ extensive knowledge of neural pathways.

Joseph LeDoux—songwriter, lead vocalist, rhythm guitar player and member of the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives—leads this “heavy mental” garage band, which also includes Tyler Volk on lead guitar, Nina Curley on bass guitar and Daniela Schiller on drums. All are New York University scientists—three neuroscientists plus an environmental biologist (Volk).

Upcoming seminars in Denver, Portland, and Washington, DC

Our upcoming seminars will always be listed on the Schedule of Events page which can be accessed over to the right under Navigation.

Perhaps you would like to attend a seminar near you? If you have or can recruit a sponsoring organization, we will be very happy to come to your city. Please contact Stephanie about this possibility.

To update you about what is scheduled so far . . .

October 24, 2007

Denver, Colorado — 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The location is Holland & Hart at 555 17th Street in downtown Denver. Contact Stephanie for registration information.

• Six-hour program — Brains on Purpose™

November 15 and 16, 2007

Portland State University, Portland, Oregon — online registration

• November 15 — One-and-one-half-hour evening program on leading your brain instead of it leading you (self-leadership)
• November 16 — Six-hour day program — Neuroscience of Conflict Resolution

March 1, 2008

Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C

• Day-long program — Brains on Purpose™ (Web site will be posted on the Schedule of Events just as soon as it is available)

For more information or to arrange a program in your area, please e-mail Stephanie.

Welcome to this new blog with a primary focus on neuroscience and conflict resolution

I am very pleased to launch this blog on which I will look at how the field of neuroscience can inform the practice of conflict resolution. I am equally pleased that Jeff Schwartz frequently will weigh in here with his expertise and wisdom.

In this first post, I wanted to update you on the seminar. What seminar? Let me clarify  . . .

I have posted a couple of announcements on my other blog idealawg about Jeff's and my upcoming seminar. See Neuroscience and conflict resolution in California: Maybe we will see you there? and Conflict resolution and neuroscience program: Announcing that Dr. Jeffrey M. Schwartz will be presenting. In the last couple of weeks since the announcements, I have received many, many e-mails of interest. And it now looks as if we also may be offering the program in a couple of other locations. This topic is attracting much enthusiasm.

Jeff and I had a couple of long conversations in the last several days; as a result, we have the overview of the seminar. Here's the agenda for our seminar on neuroscience and conflict resolution. The event's exact location in the Bay Area is still unknown; I am exploring options. If you are interested in attending, please e-mail me.

If you want the latest in thought and news about neuroscience and conflict resolution, please come by to read often. Comments are encouraged. Let's make this a conversation.

Note (added June 4, 2007, 8:35 AM Mountain): The Bay Area seminar is planned for mid-January of 2008. The exact date, once it is finalized, will be sent to the people on the information list and posted here.