The psychology of stress and maintaining emotional hygiene is being increasingly studied by brain and neurological researchers. One recent confirmation of a long-held belief is that the brain exhibits "neuro-plasticity," that is, the malleable ability to "rewire" its neuron synaptic connections to adapt to extremely challenging intensive external stimuli. This cerebral mechanism is particularly maladaptive to the patterned stimuli so prevalent in repetitive stress situations that result in physical anxiety symptoms. In today's active life, whether driven businessman, upscaling career woman, harried parent, or worried retiree coping with an uncertain future, the stressors endemic to these lifestyles will, over time, force the brain to adapt negatively as only it can. However, this same process can be used to heal, as well as harm. Let's look at some of the latest strategies to undo stress' effect on the brain. 

 

 

From Lab To Life

 

We all know the power of distraction; this is a common stress relief technique. Distraction is being used to good advantage in the latest computer games with the melding of brain research and the video gaming industry leading to games being developed for "emotional hygiene." One of these innovative games uses an interactive pattern-recognition computer program for training the user to choose a smiling "approving" face from a changing grid of frowning "disapproving" ones. As the lag time in choosing the cheerful face decreases through diligent, focused effort, the player's brain becomes trained to more rapidly perceive socially approving stimuli and more effective at ignoring negative input. This practice of downplaying "hostile information" reduces social fear of refection with its heightened stress levels.

 

 

 

Music has traditionally been a palliative for anxiety. And stress; as William Congreve noted in his oft-repeated quote, "Music hath charms to sooth a savage breast......."  However, a new category called "Mind Music" is appearing; these recordings use a variety of brain/body phenomena to impact stress. Some of them are:

 

• Entrainment - This is the      alteration of brain/body rhythms using cyclic sound at particular      frequencies and durations coupled with the binaural sound perceptive      properties of the human brain. The cyclic brain/body synchronicity resulting      from presenting unique sequenced tones in each ear simultaneously is      caused by both brain hemispheres synthesizing a derived pulse, or "beat      frequency."  Carefully crafted,      this can yield beneficial, stress-relieving brainwave activity.
• AudioVisual - These DVD media      products combine carefully crafted music with soothing visuals. One      producer features waterfalls and streams, sunsets, landscapes, beaches,      and even a fireplace!
        This creates more of an immersive experience of escape that can be a great      anxiety      relief method as well as a general stress reducer.
• Sculpted Sound - Today's mood-altering      composers use modern psycho-acoustic research that shows stress-relieving      music must emphasize certain elements:
• Ultra       slow zero beat tempo
• Frequency       restriction
• Absence       of dominating rhythm and percussion
• Subtle       melodic and rhythmic elements
• An       "overlay of sound approach" that is continuous music with little empty       aural space
• A variety       of melodic and emotional elements
• Gradual       changes in sound/music with an absence of jarring elements

 

 

 

The rise of "activity-based" video games that use a large floor sensor pad, such as Dance Dance Revolution, have been shown to improve behavior and emotional health in children playing them. The advent of the Nintendo WII game console has offered adults and children a way to have "diversion activity" using a variety of motion-sensing controllers for playing virtual tennis, golf, and bowling, with the floor dance sensor soon to be available. There'll even be a "guitar hero" sensor-no more silent "air guitar"!

  The ability to not only proactively change your "state" but also divert it is the hallmark of the ongoing integration of brain research and technology development-take advantage of it and enjoy freedom from stress!