Don't quit p***. Strengthen your prefrontal cortex.
Summary
TLDRThe video discusses the crucial role of the prefrontal cortex, the brain's command center, in controlling higher cognitive functions, contrasting it with the instinct-driven limbic system. The speaker emphasizes that overcoming addictions requires strengthening the prefrontal cortex through practices like meditation, presence training, and regular exercise. By enhancing this area of the brain, individuals can better regulate emotions, improve decision-making, and resist impulses. The message concludes with a reminder that combating addiction necessitates measurable mental development and discipline.
Takeaways
- 🧠 The prefrontal cortex is the brain's 'mental Command Center', responsible for high-level cognitive functions like decision-making and problem-solving.
- 🐉 The limbic system, often referred to as the 'emotional' or 'lizard' brain, is an ancient part of the brain that regulates emotions, behaviors, and long-term memory.
- 💪 Strengthening the prefrontal cortex can help overcome addiction by enhancing 'top-down control' of the human system.
- 🧘♂️ Regular meditation can lead to structural changes in the prefrontal cortex, improving attention and sensory processing.
- 🔗 Presence training and meditation can enhance connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and other brain regions, aiding in cognition and emotional regulation.
- 💡 Meditation also boosts cerebral oxygenation, activating the prefrontal cortex for sharper focus and better cognitive control.
- 🏃♂️ Extended exercise, especially when combined with higher education, is associated with increased cortical thickness in the prefrontal cortex, improving executive functions.
- 🚫 Reducing task-switching can minimize cognitive fatigue and improve the prefrontal cortex's executive control functions.
- ⏳ The limbic system often dominates in the majority of people, leading to reactive rather than controlled behavior, especially in response to urges.
- 🌱 Developing presence and emotional recognition through practices like meditation can help individuals manage emotional reactivity and maintain composure.
- 📉 The struggle with addiction is tied to the power dynamics between the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system, with the latter often holding more sway.
Q & A
What is the prefrontal cortex and why is it significant in human behavior?
-The prefrontal cortex is the brain's mental command center located at the front, responsible for high-level cognitive functions such as decision-making, problem-solving, and moral judgment. It is significant as it governs executive functions and helps in controlling reactions and behaviors.
What is the lyic system and how does it differ from the prefrontal cortex?
-The lyic system, often referred to as the emotional or lizard brain, is one of the oldest parts of the brain responsible for raw emotions, behaviors, and long-term memory. It differs from the prefrontal cortex as it operates on instinct and automatic responses, unlike the prefrontal cortex which deliberates and calculates actions.
How can the lyic system be described in terms of human survival?
-The lyic system can be described as the human survival reflex center, managing gut-level instincts like fight, flight, or freeze responses, which have been crucial for survival throughout human history.
What is the relationship between addiction and the lyic system?
-Addiction is often a consequence of the lyic system overpowering the prefrontal cortex, leading to reactive behaviors rather than controlled actions. It is linked to the system's ability to regulate emotions and memory, which can become dominant in the absence of prefrontal control.
How can meditation influence the structure and function of the prefrontal cortex?
-Meditation can lead to structural changes in the prefrontal cortex, increasing its thickness and enhancing attention and sensory processing. It also improves connectivity with other brain regions, aiding in cognition and emotional regulation.
What role does presence training play in enhancing the prefrontal cortex?
-Presence training, particularly through meditation, helps to increase the resting state function connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and other brain regions, improving cognitive control and emotional regulation.
How does breath work practice contribute to brain function and control?
-Breath work practices can train the body to become more efficient with oxygen and CO2, leading to better discipline and control. They also boost cerebral oxygenation, activating the prefrontal cortex and enhancing focus and cognitive control.
What is the impact of extended exercise on the prefrontal cortex and its functions?
-Extended exercise, particularly when performed for longer durations, has been associated with increased cortical thickness in the prefrontal cortex area, improving executive functions such as working memory, problem-solving, and planning.
Why is reducing task switching beneficial for the prefrontal cortex?
-Reducing task switching is beneficial as it relies on the prefrontal cortex and can be affected by fatigue, especially when tasks require cognitive flexibility and executive control. Minimizing it helps in maintaining focus and executive functions.
What is the overall message of the script regarding addiction and the development of the brain?
-The script emphasizes that addiction involves a measurable weakness in the brain, specifically the lyic system overpowering the prefrontal cortex. It suggests that overcoming addiction requires the development of strength in the brain, particularly through practices like meditation, breath work, and extended exercise.
Outlines
🧠 The Role of the Prefrontal Cortex in Addiction and Control
The first paragraph discusses the structural basis of addiction in the brain, focusing on the prefrontal cortex as the 'mental Command Center' responsible for high-level cognitive functions such as decision-making and problem-solving. It contrasts this with the 'lyic system' or 'emotional brain,' which is associated with primal instincts and emotional responses. The paragraph suggests that strengthening the prefrontal cortex can help overcome addiction and urges, and highlights the importance of meditation and presence in enhancing the prefrontal cortex's function, leading to better emotional regulation and control.
🧘 Enhancing Brain Function Through Meditation and Exercise
The second paragraph delves into specific practices that can enhance the prefrontal cortex's development and function. It emphasizes the benefits of meditation for increasing cortical thickness and improving cognitive control, as well as the role of breath work in training the body's oxygen and CO2 efficiency. The paragraph also discusses the positive effects of extended exercise duration on cortical thickness, particularly in relation to executive functions. It concludes by advising against task switching, which can deplete cognitive resources and weaken the prefrontal cortex's ability to resist the 'lyic system's' temptations, urging the viewer to use the provided facts to combat addiction.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Addiction
💡Gray Matter
💡Prefrontal Cortex
💡Limbic System
💡Hippocampus
💡Amygdala
💡Hypothalamus
💡Meditation
💡Cerebral Oxygenation
💡Task Switching
💡Exercise
Highlights
Addiction is a consequence of structural weakness in the gray matter, and salvation can be found in its strengthening.
The prefrontal cortex is the brain's mental Command Center, responsible for high-level cognitive functions.
The prefrontal cortex manages executive functions, including decision-making and problem-solving.
The limbic system, often called the emotional or lizard brain, regulates emotions, behaviors, and long-term memory.
The limbic system is responsible for instinctual reactions like fight, flight, or freeze.
The limbic system often overpowers the prefrontal cortex in the majority of people, leading to reactive states.
Strengthening the prefrontal cortex can help maintain top-down control over the human system.
Meditation can lead to structural changes in the prefrontal cortex, enhancing attention and sensory processing.
Presence training and meditation can improve connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and other brain regions.
Meditation can increase cerebral oxygenation and activate the prefrontal cortex, leading to better cognitive control.
Breath work practices can train the body to be more efficient with oxygen and CO2, promoting discipline and control.
Extended exercise duration, especially over an hour, is linked to increased cortical thickness in the prefrontal cortex.
Exercise combined with higher levels of education is associated with greater cortical thickness in executive function areas.
Reducing task switching can decrease reliance on the prefrontal cortex and prevent cognitive fatigue.
The prefrontal cortex is vital for executive control functions, which can be impaired by multitasking and task switching.
Addiction involves a measurable weakness in the brain, and overcoming it requires quantifiable strength development.
The transcript emphasizes the importance of using facts and evidence-based methods to address addiction.
Transcripts
do not be naive addiction is a
consequence of a structural weakness in
the gray matter equally salvation can be
found in a structural strengthening in
that same gray matter here's what you
need know the prefrontal cortex is
perched right at the brain's front lines
it is your mental Command Center it
orchestrates the highest level of
cognitive functions making it more than
a series of just reactions internally
whether calculating your next big move
weighing up a tough decision or
untangling a delicate problem it all
falls under the jurisdiction of your
prefrontal cortex is the master behind
all your higher executive functions
sifting through conflicting thoughts
choosing wisely between the moral right
and immoral wrong predicting future
outcomes based on your current systems
of navigating life's Waters follows
logic that the antithesis of this then
is the lyic system often dubbed as the
emotional or the lizard brain it is one
of the brain's oldest and most Primal
areas responsible for the raw and
unfiltered aspects of our Human
Experience the ancient Network includes
Heavy Hitters like the hippocampus the
amydala the hypothalamus and is the
master regulator of emotions behaviors
motivations and long-term memory suffice
it to say it is brain
autopilot managing those gut level
instincts like the fight or flight or
freeze response that have kept us alive
for Millennia unlike the prefrontal
cortex which deliberately calculates the
lyic system runs on a kind of instinct
hanging on our moods our innate urges
with swift automatic Precision making it
essential processing for regulating both
emotions and our memory in many ways you
can refer to this as our human survival
reflex center which in many ways is
outdated it holds far too much power
amongst the majority of us you see the
simple power struggle therefore in the
delineation and the elucidation of these
particular facets these are physical
structures in the brain that can
likewise be weakened or strengthened
predicated on their Innovation or lack
of innovation it is not too difficult to
discern through the Corpus of scientific
literature the anecdotes the personal
experience that the limic system in the
majority of the demographic Reigns
Supreme comparatively to the prefrontal
should the itch to eat or engage in
sexual activity arise it is usually
through the innovation of the lyic
system not the former prefrontal which
is to say that often we find our say
ourselves in a state of reactivity and
not control man's disillusionment with
himself should he fall victim to
addiction to adult material lies in the
simple strengthening of the muscles that
allow him to keep what is described as
top- down control of the human system
here is how we retain that control in
moments where the lyic system threatens
to overwhelm and encumber us the first
must be increased time spent in presence
all of these are important uh none so
much as exercising the present moment
Consciousness meditation practitioners
particularly have been found to um
demonstrate that their thickness in the
cortical part of the prefrontal cortex
is higher than the average man or woman
which suggests that regular meditation
practice can actually lead to structural
changes literal structural changes in
the brain enhancing areas uh which are
attributed to attention and sensory
processing do you not mistake what I'm
saying or undervaluing it your brain can
literally go through hypertrophy like a
muscle can though perhaps not as
visually rewarding as 3 months of
consistent training your biceps I can
promise emotionally and spiritual
satisfaction when you begin to acrw more
quality from your life because you don't
behave like a impulsive prepubescent
child addicted to sweets and chocolate
secondly presence training has been
known to enhance the resting state
function connectivity between the
prefrontal cortex and other reasion of
the brain more particularly the
posterior singlet cortex and this has
improved connectivity Rel related to
things like cognition and emotional
regulation you know this is a skill that
you develop specifically through periods
of meditation where you begin to note
emotional states and Link them with
interos septic bodily activities for
example I feel a vasod dilation effect
in my a aorta when I experience fear but
the antithesis is when I experience love
I find my venne Cava is subject to that
same Vaso dilation colloquially you
might begin to describe this as as
becoming more Adept in recognizing
moments of uh emotional reactivity you
begin to quell them you begin to keep
your composure you resolve your stoic
temperament meditation equally gives
your brain a breath of fresh air quite
literally it boosts what is known as
cerebral oxygenation and fires up the
prefrontal cortex the brain's Executive
Suite leading to sharper focus and
better cognitive control additionally I
think there's a lot of Merit here to
mention breath work practices like PR
pranama Nish shoda kumaka or breath
retention this will train your body's
ability to become more efficient with
both oxygen and CO2 allowing you to
become a paragon of discipline and
control the second point that will
elucidate your prefrontal cortex
development is extended exercise
duration regular physical exercise
particularly when you're performing them
for longer periods such as 1 hour plus
has been associated with increased
cortical thickness in the prefrontal
cortex area a study found that exercise
especially were combined with higher
levels of educations was linked to
Greater levels of cortical thickness in
the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex
which is involved with executive
functions working memory and problem uh
problem solving and planning the final
point I would um it is more a
subtraction than it is an addition it is
reduce task switching so studies
indicate that switching uh between tasks
relies on the prefrontal cortex and can
be affected by fatigue especially when
the task requires significant cognitive
flexibility and executive uh control
functions which are associated with some
of the features that the prefrontal
cortex has dominion over this was
something that Unos to me I was uh
destroying and absolutely obliterating
in my 20s to my detriment alongside
things like multitasking there as a
famous saying actually is uh to do two
things at once is to do neither you know
watching TV scrolling on your phone or
walk or or or working consequentially
with the the the the former points are
going to demand a high level of
cognitive RAM and you will find that a
big impairment in your ability to see
off Temptation from your limic system
should the moment arise as I preface at
the start this video do not be naive and
thinking that any addiction doesn't
involve some kind of measurable weakness
some kind of quantifiable weakness and
equally don't keep that same naivity
that defeating it doesn't require some
kind of measurable and quantifiable
development of strength you have the
keys use them facts no theories speak
soon
Voir Plus de Vidéos Connexes
"It is in this Part of the Brain where GOD Communicates with Men" Barbara O'Neill
The mysterious workings of the adolescent brain - Sarah-Jayne Blakemore
Hack your own brain | Karolien Notebaert | TEDxUHasselt
Train your brain’s emotional intelligence with metacognition | Arthur Brooks
Human Brain: Major Structures and their Functions
What Allah Say's In The Quran VS What Science Say's | Bilal Assad
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)