BRAINNOTES

BY TONY PEREIRA

Tony Pereira is an Independent Consultant and Founder of SuperTrouper365

And in 100 years , the brain could well be different again . With artificial intelligence , the structure of the prefrontal cortex ( the socalled “ executive brain ”) is likely to change . When humans first existed , the function of the brain was to protect . Hence the amygdala and the response to any threat situation ( fight , flee and freeze ) probably dominated .

The brain has been likened to a supercomputer . In many respects , there are parallels between how the brain and computers operate . Neuroscientists believe that the brain has to process the equivalent of 34 GB of data each day .

It is also estimated that we have 60,000 thoughts daily . Every item we see or hear needs to be processed by the brain so that we know exactly what we are seeing and hearing . The brain is processing this data in milliseconds .

Like an IT system , the brain has its firewall . The function of this firewall is to only allow relevant information through to the hippocampus and other parts of the brain .

The brain has capacity constraints , so the brain ’ s firewall will only allow data that the firewall thinks is relevant . This firewall is located at the back of our head . It is called the Reticular Activating System or RAS .

There are a number of functions of the RAS . In my column in the December 2022 issue entitled Our Amazing Brain , I discussed the RAS ’ s role as our firewall . In this issue , I will discuss how the RAS can help us achieve our goals .

THE BIOLOGY OF THE RAS

The RAS is considered one of the most important systems in the brain . It facilitates the functioning of sensation and attention .

The RAS in not one organ in the brain like the amygdala . Instead , it is made up of a bundle of neurons that run through the hind-brain , mid-brain and a part of the forebrain called the hypothalamus . It is about the size of our little finger .

It is located at the core of the brain stem just above the spinal cord and below the thalamus and hypothalamus . Although the RAS is almost always in working mode , it is especially alerted as signals come in from what we see ( especially ) and hear .

The brain ’ s primitive objective was to keep us safe . The RAS plays a role in achieving this objective . If the RAS is damaged due to trauma , the individual could be in a state of unconsciousness . There is no way of repairing damage to the RAS . It is also believed that

anaesthesia works by depressing the RAS .

USING THE RAS TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS

Knowing that we have this in-built firewall in our brain , we can use the RAS to help us achieve our personal or professional goals .

Here is a very simple procedure to ensure the RAS is encoded with your goals .

1 . Write down your goals When I say write them down , I mean write them down . Do not digitise your goals , that is , do not type your goals out and save it on your digital device . It is believed that writing encodes information better into your memory than typing on a digital device . Many psychologists and personal coaches , advice that maintaining a journal is helpful because wiring sharpens the brain and keeps the prefrontal cortex active . There are other reasons why writing is good for the brain . Writing seems to improve the recall function of the brain . One reason for this is because writing involves focusing more on the written word and the brain through the visual signals , encodes the information better . I remember contrasting experiences with two colleagues . One would constantly be typing as I spoke , making notes ; the other would listen and write things down , occasionally looking hard at me . When I asked her what the problem was , she would respond , “ nothing , I was just pondering .” When she ponders , she activates the default mode network - a creative part of the brain . I don ’ t know if she knew the neuroscience behind her approach but it certainly helped her . She is now a global leader in the organisation . And she still walks around with her note book .

2 . Create a vision board Even more powerful than writing is creating a vision board of your goals . A vision board is simply a collage of photos which visually set out your goals -it could be pictures of people walking ( exercise ), singing ( if you want to develop your vocal skills ), an aeroplane ( if you intend to travel ) et cetera . Here , you are planting an image of what you would like to accomplish into your brain . The RAS then will allow any relevant information it believes will be helpful through the brain .

Consulting companies apply this technique in projects . When hired for a particular

project , they create a visual of the end product . Every day , the client and the consulting team is reminded of the end product . As Adam Grant , the well-known American organisational psychologist , once said , the best way to succeed in your goal is to start at the end and work backwards - what you want to achieve and then work backwards on the steps needed to achieve that goal . When you do this , the brain via the RAS has a clear image of what success looks like . In the Know Your Brain , Train Your Brain seminar that I deliver , I use a simple exercise to help attendees understand how the RAS can help them achieve their goals .

The exercise I get them to do is to write their own year-end evaluation . I ask them to imagine the type of evaluation they would like to receive at performance appraisal time . I then tell them to do two things - seal one copy and give to the human resource department ; the other to look at it as often as possible . By looking at it frequently , one engages the RAS to identify any opportunities and information to help achieve that end state . Why give a sealed copy to HR ? That is a motivational tool . The idea is that during the appraisal session , the employee compares the evaluation written by the company with that written by the employee . Typically , the first time , there could be a divergence but over time , the employee and employer evaluations will converge . This is because the employee will start to understand better the neuroscience behind motivation , adopting the idea of Adam Grant that starting at the end and working backwards increases the chances of really achieving goals , even stretch goals . In a LinkedIn post , Grant said this : “ Instead of planning steps from now to a difficult goal , you ’ re more likely to achieve it if you plan backward from success . Reverse planning makes the path clearer , more motivating .”

3 . Be patient In his book Atomic Habits , James Clear writes about the valley of disappointment . He explains how his clients give up on the pursuit of a goal because the change does not happen as fast as they expect . They expect exponential change when change happens slowly . So don ’ t give up if you don ’ t see this change happening immediately .

So , if you are looking to achieve your goals , give your RAS a chance ! – The HEALTH