IQ News and You

Building BlocksBuilding Blocks 

24” x 28” – an acrylic painting by Marilynne – $ 450
Stacking blocks in a prescribed order is a challenge in IQ tests.

IQ News and You
When I was nine years old, a friend of my mother’s was taking university courses in educational psychology. For one class she needed practice subjects to give IQ tests to and used my brother and me as volunteer subjects. The test was quite thorough and included tactile manipulatives as well as pencil and paper answers. Though not at genius level, I remember receiving a score that was enough over average to satisfy my parents. From that day on, they accepted the test result as gospel, and increased their expectation of how well I should do in school. My grades acceptable, because in my father’s eyes a girl was not expected to be a brain. Schooling was there to make me a good mother and educated companion to my future husband. Since I was not as important as my brother, I was not overly pressured. In the long run his lack of attention turned me into an achiever.

My brother did not fare as well as I even though he registered equally high on the Stanford Binet scale. He did not react well to my father’s expectations and pushed back by not completing assignments, cutting classes, and just skating through his high school years. School bored him. For many months he hid in his bedroom engrossed in reading the Encyclopedia Britannica from cover to cover, yet his poor grades trumped his independent study in my parent’s eyes. At the end of high school went so far as to falsify his report card by giving himself straight As, and for a few summer months the family was happy. When he never received a college acceptance letter, however, my mother went to school to find out what was going on and discovered that his A grades were really Fs.

“What will he amount to?” my father shouted. “He is good for nothing. Get out of the house.” Though this brother caused a great deal of chaos, his turbulent childhood turned him into an independent thinker. My father gave up, washing his hands of him so to speak, assuming he would slither through life, amounting to nothing.

Thankfully the story does not end badly. After four years in the military, where he managed to get himself assigned to Germany instead of Vietnam, he graduated in urban studies from a four year college to become a productive development entrepreneur. The test he had taken as a child had neglected to measure drive and perseverance. Though he did not like school, no one considered his ability to concentrate on things he did enjoy. Internal motivations, fear of failure and craving for success to prove to his father that he was OK were strong factors in his ambition. In addition, the test never evaluated his interaction with friends or his ability to organize and impress others. And most importantly it did not take into account that people have the power to change their brain.

One benefit of IQ tests like the Stanford Binet or Weschler IV is that they can identify gifted students early. Many of these children are the ones who wind up bored in school and need extra nurturing at an early age. Talented and gifted programs used to be available for these children, but in much of the nation, due to budget cuts, TAG has unfortunately been eliminated. The tests also help educators identify those below average in order to provide extra instruction for those who risk falling behind. Since No Child Left Behind there appears to be more emphasis on helping slow learners.

The downside of the test for a high scoring child is that it can actually stifle potential. Repeatedly telling a person how smart he or she is may get interpreted as this should be easy for me. When solving a difficult problem the child may not take the challenge and instead give up. I have friends who are very intelligent but have little drive to succeed and so they sit around feeling sorry for themselves. At the other end of the spectrum, the low IQ student may develop a poor self-image and label himself as being dumb, deciding that it is not worth trying.

Expectations: In 1964 classic study was conducted in a San Fransico elementary school by Harvard professor Robert Rosenthal. Teachers were informed that the test he was going to administer had the ability to predict which kids were about to achieve a dramatic growth in their IQ. Once the test was taken he randomly chose several children from each class and informed the teachers “those selected were on the verge of an intense intellectual bloom.” Over the next two years Rosenthal followed the children and discovered that expectations affected teachers interactions in many subtle ways. Those expected to succeed were given more time to answer questions, more specific feedback, and received more approvals. They were consistently touched, nodded to and smile at, and as a result increased their IQ score.

More recently, psychologist Howard Gardner has been trying to change expectations by getting people to think more generally about intelligence. He talks of different types of smart rather than only the linguistic and logical-mathematic abilities usually evaluated by IQ tests. Visual-spacial,interpersonal, bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, auditory-musical are abilities rarely appraised in school testing programs. Yet those strengths, along with a desire to succeed and fortitude, can be more important than traditional IQ measurements.

Good News: Scientists have discovered that the brain can reorganize itself when confronted with new challenges, even through adulthood. A consortium of researchers including Columbia University, Harvard, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Abbott Labs have developed a program called Luminosity. Basically they have developed a series of exercises aimed at increasing memory, attention, speed, flexibility, and problem solving. It works for those who commit themselves to the process. Living life fully also trains the brain. The boy with the average IQ mentioned above spent much of his young adult years working in jobs that required him to think on his feet. He eventually launched his own company, having to reinvent and improve it over the years in order to be flexible with the times and economy. As he worked he boosted his memory, attention to details and organizational skills.

Bad News: The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports: “ Young people who smoke cannabis for years run the risk of a significant and irreversible reduction in their IQ.” The findings come from a longitudinal study conducted in New Zealand with approximately 1,000 people. Their international team found that those who started using cannabis below the age of 18 – while their brains were still developing – suffered an average of 8% drop in their intelligence, putting them at a great disadvantage throughout their lives. It will be interesting to follow future studies around IQ as cannabis becomes legal in more states.

Interesting News: According to the London Telegraph we are entering the science fiction world of mind enhancing drugs. A British think tank believes that these drugs might be as common as drinking coffee in a few years. Students, who want to improve their grades and those who are losing memory will benefit by new chemical developments. British medical society says “The ethical debate about whether or not to use drugs to improve performance in normal schoolchildren and students will probably be resolved over the next 20 years. Similarly, there will be continued debate about the ethics of using cognition enhancers in the workplace.”

I wonder about the side effects of these drugs and would cautiously look at the results of longitudinal studies before ingesting. What may be good for one body system could be bad for another. According to BBC writer, Mark Kohn in article about pills designed to boost brainpower: “Drugs and catastrophe are seemingly never far apart.” There are other ways to enhance intelligence. The Telegraph also informs, “that a good light’s sleep really does improve the brain.”

Great News: There recently have been many changes in how scientists access the aging brain. They used to look at it in terms of neuron failure. Now, according to University of Southern California’s Monika Guttman, it is clear that if you don’t have a specific disease that causes loss of nerve cells, then most of your neurons remain healthy until you die. New research suggests that the rate of change may be related to life style factors. For instance, lower weight may affect lower rates of disease like Alzheimers. Other factors include education: “Those who use it, don’t lose it as quickly.” New neurons are created by mental and physical exercises. Those who continue to read and question, do puzzles, get a good night’s sleep, stay away from drugs, and exercise regularly are actually increasing their mental capacities. Brain researchers suggest that people try new activities as they age. Changing job, hobbies and exercise routines will help build new synapses and capacities for thinking. Having fun also reduce stress, another inhibitor to a healthy aging brain.

My Thoughts: Keep your brain busy, healthy and wise. Eat well, exercise and challenge yourself with puzzles, games and new adventures. Play…it is good for you. Sleep … it is restorative. Learn new tidbits of information through reading and travel. Take the time to think . . . it promotes neural pathways to increased knowledge. Smile . . . you may be on Candid Camera.

Artwork is always for sale: Go to eichingerfineart.com for pricing or email me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com

I enjoy your comments. Please respond on my blog page below.
Lots of references:
http://education.seattlepi.com/pros-cons-iq-testing-schools-2014.html – Pros and cons of IQ testing.

http://www.lumosity.com/landing_pages/837?gclid=CjwKEAjws5CrBRD8ze702_2dyjYSJAAAJK9yyltcNqBvx8olsDea_7KDtzxLvTSNNnZutKB-bSBluRoCaxTw_wcB – Luminosity – Brain training games.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/how-does-marijuana-use-affect-your-brain-body – Marijuana and the brain.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140729 –  the-truth-about-smart-drugs

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthnews/3347174/A-good-nights-sleep-really-does-improve-the-brain.html – Sleep and the brain

https://news.usc.edu/7569/The-Aging-Brain/ – Monika Guttman on the Aging Brain

http://www.livescience.com/36143-iq-change-time.html – Can your IQ change?

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2012/09/18/161159263/teachers-expectations-can-influence-how-students-perform – 1964 test given to show how teacher’s expectations influence IQ.

Love, Duty and Instinct

1364104lLady with a Cause  – by Marilynne  

 43” by 23” – 3-D assemblage – $ 785

Love, Duty and Instinct
Are you willing to die to safeguard someone you love? Members of the secret service charged with protecting the President pledge themselves to do just that. I doubt if they love the office holder, though they most likely have a sense of duty for their country and in that way justify their self-sacrifice.

How would your react if a car came barreling towards you while your child or grandchild was walking a few yards in front? Would you run to grab the youngster and protect him or her with your body even if it meant you would get hit, or would you move as fast as you can away from the impending impact to save yourself? I like to imagine (one never knows until it happens) that I would protect my child and willingly sacrifice my life for the one I love, but I wonder if I would do the same for a stranger? I do not feel as secure saying that I would act heroically and risk leaving my own children orphaned? However, it might be that in the crisis moment I would instinctually act the same way.

After the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting, psychologists who studied the reaction of theater goers learned that certain people reacted instinctually to protect someone else. Three of the victims died while shielding their girlfriends, and a young woman risked her life by not leaving the side of a friend who was wounded when she heroically stood to warn the audience of danger.

I wonder if these brave heroes responded out of love. Kate Waldman discussed a recent study published in PLOS ONE by Yale researchers who spoke to fifty-one men and woman who had received the Carnegie Hero Medal given to those who risk their lives to save a stranger. All of them claimed that they rescued first and reflected second when faced with their threatening decision. The study goes on to say that when people face a choice that permits time for reflection, they are less likely to be generous with themselves. Though upon consideration the person may eventually decide to act altruistically, unlike the hero, their response is not considered to be innate. After balancing risks and benefits of sacrifice their long-term strategy may not be totally selfless.

At Georgetown University research is currently being conducted around neural regions of the brain. Scientists have discovered a region of activation that processes pleasure when giving to charity. The study suggests that those who donate posses more empathy than those who do not. Researcher Abigail Marsh looked at nineteen people who had donated kidneys to strangers and compared them with twenty individuals who had not. It turned out that the amygdala, an area that monitors emotions, was 8 percent larger in the donor population.

In Altruism and the Holocaust by Jacqueline Macaulay and Leonard Berkowitz published in 1970 about gentiles willing to hide holocaust victims they write that those heroes possessed high self-esteem, a spirit of adventurousness and a willingness to tolerate danger. Their strong sense of community, as shown by frequent interactions with friends and family, led them to action.

There have also been studies demonstrating that in a crowd individuals are less likely to step forward to aide a stranger. I experienced this situation while wandering the floor of a New York trade show. At one booth I stopped to talk to a vendor and noticed his eyes suddenly turn up while his body slumped forward in slow motion. His skin paled and as he slipped to the floor he stopped breathing. A crowd quickly surrounded us. Not being trained in CPR, I shouted to the onlookers, seeking help from someone experienced. Though I asked several times, no-one came forward. Given the type of conference it was, I am sure that there were people in the audience who had been trained in CPR.

I had to act quickly and though uncomfortable with proceeding, I thought it was better to try to do something than just allow the man to die, so I started pumping his chest in a rhythmic way and hoped for the best. After about three minutes (feeling like an interminable 180 seconds), I perceived a violent thump in my hands as his heart restarted. By the time paramedics arrived his complexion had returned to normal and I knew he would live, so I walked away. I am not sure what made me act as I did, except for the fact that I was the one who happened to be talking to the man when he collapsed. If I had been in the crowd of bystanders, I probably would not have stepped forward.

What I have surmised is that heroes tend to be confident individuals who are not adverse to taking risks. Their response is instinctual and done without thought of recompense or material gain. They also have a great deal of empathy and compassion for those in need. Heroes usually are in good physical shape, and trust themselves to succeed, as in the case of a man who pulled a person back from a moving train. Altruists, in contrast, take time to analyze situations, weighing pros and cons before putting their lives on the line.

With training, people can learn to improve their reaction time and mind set to act heroically in emergencies. Navy Seals are an extreme example of men who have learned to respond quickly in dangerous situations. Physical and moral training from childhood on can increase the likelihood of creating a future hero.

Art work is always for sale: For more information go to eichingerfineart.com or contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com.

Interested in learning more about heroic actions? References follow:

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2014/10/psychology_of_heroism_and_altruism_what_makes_people_do_good_deeds.html – Heroism vs. altruism. study by Yale researchers.

http://psychology.about.com/od/socialpsychology/a/the-psychology-of-heroism.htm- About traits of heroes.

http://psychology.about.com/od/the-psychology-of/a/characteristics-of-heroism.htm – traits of heroes.

http://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/01/everyday-heroes.aspx – Am. Psychological Journal article about heroism.

Jacqueline Macaulay; Leonard Berkowitz – Altruism and the HolocaustPublisher: New York, Academic Press, 1970 about holocaust heroism.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-the-garden-good-and-evil/201203/moral-courage-heroism-and-heroic-rescue – what it takes to do heroic acts.

Freedom to Fail

Rock Creek AwakensRock Creek Awakens – Children need to be able to roam through rich environments like this acrylic landscape by Marilynne

Freedom to Fail!
One October day, while sitting in my museum office, I heard shouting and the sound of feet running towards my door. Needless to say, I was alarmed, and vaulted from my chair imagining that there had been an accident. Instead, I was greeted at the door by a mother and teacher who were extremely excited and wanted to share incredibly good news. A miraculous event had occurred during their visit; Jenny, a six year old autistic child, spoke for the first time.

The women had been exploring my small Lansing science center with their class of disabled students, but because they had several youngsters to oversee, their attention was turned elsewhere and the young girl had freedom to explore the exhibit hall on her own. She had stopped before an oscilloscope, picked up the microphone, and in order to see the wiggly voice patterns, started making sounds. Jenny became mesmerized with the moving lines and repeated several words over and over again. Without pressure to perform, the child had felt comfortable playing with the display in her own way. Eventually, the adults went to find her, and from a distance observed what was happening. They were so amazed and excited that they immediately ran to give me their wonderful news.

The teacher later shared that she had forgotten about the research that had been conducted with autistic children suggesting use of an oscilloscope to help patients vocalize. The day’s dramatic event reminded her of the study and she said that she planned to requisition a scope for her classroom in order to integrate it into a therapy approach with several other students.

The story does not end here, however. Mother, teacher and child returned to the museum several weeks later, and immediately dovetailed to the oscilloscope. The child was placed in front, handed the microphone, and told to talk into it, while the adults stood behind observing with high expectations of a repeat performance. Instead, they saw what some of you might expect . . . silence. And though they were disappointed in the child’s reaction, it fascinated me for it provided insight into human behavior that reinforced some of my assumptions about learning.

What did this incident teach me? First, it confirmed my belief that children need a rich variety of environments through which to roam. Secondly, it corroborated my opinion that youngsters need freedom to make choices away from the eyes of overly anxious adults.

What I like most about science centers and children’s museums is that they provide a safe environment for self-exploration. They are designed to enable visitors to learn in their own way on their own time scale. Parents do not need to hover over children and teachers are not charged with explaining what should be learned. A child exploring the interactive displays, experiments and forms his or her own conclusions. Very quickly the young visiter learns that it OK to be wrong, no one is watching or testing. I suspect that the right to fail is a gift that most of us would enjoy.

Montessori schools utilize a similar approach in their classrooms. Their educational materials and challenges are organized in such a way that the room becomes child, rather than teacher centered. When each student is ready to proceed to the next level, the teacher demonstrates how to use equipment, grapple with new concepts, and complete exercises, but then the child is left alone to experiment or not. Once the task is mastered, the child often becomes inventive and employs the material in personal ways. New subjects are only introduced as the youngster develops skill and knowledge of previously presented challenges. All materials that have been mastered can be used and reused as the child desires. This method gives students freedom to roam throughout the classroom, choosing to advance according to their own wishes and developmental time line.

I remember my daughter zipping through math manipulatives as fast as they were presented. She perceived them as detective problems to be solved and looked forward to ever more demanding puzzles. My son took a different approach than barreling through the material. Once he mastered the fraction and bead boards in a way that demonstrated understanding, he went on to construct high rise buildings and bridges with the pieces. Both approaches were encouraged within this open ended learning environment.

When my children were young, I did not have a museum or classroom at hand, so my home became a place where I developed a similarly organized education playground. Influenced by Montessori’s approach, our basement space was thoughtfully and purposefully arranged. Shelves were filled with toys and games selected to develop math and language competency and analytic abilities by engaging in a variety of activities. There was never a need to sit still for long periods of time so they did not get bored and tired of hearing a talking head. Since the children were always free to choose what they wanted to do, without realizing it they improved their analytic and conceptual abilities and small and large motor skills. Their explorations helped them become more creative people as they imagined new ways of using their toys. As a mother I was pleased because they also learned to care for their materials by returning them to the shelf before proceeding to another activity.

Children’s and science museums are conceived as large scale exploration centers, making them lots of fun to visit. They mimic schools by having an educational bent, but differ in that their philosophy promotes a hands-on pedagogical approach to learning. Unfortunately entrance fees are expensive and trips to museums are not always practical, so it is up to the caregiver to provide exciting educational opportunities for the children in their charge. Families who want to supplement institutional visits need to focus on ways of stimulating their children’s sensory awareness, feeding their intellect and evoking emotional responses around social issues. But possibilities surround us everyday. As Sesame Street’s Grover Monster says; all you need to do is open the door to everything in the whole wide world museum.

I would love to hear your thoughts about educating children. Please comment below.

Art work is always for sale. Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com.

Reference:
Grover and the Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum
by Norman Stiles, Daniel Wilcox, Joe Mathieu (Illustrator)

What Saith the Soothsayer?

Heaven-and-BeyondHeaven and Beyond by Marilynne Eichinger

What Saith the Soothsayer?
“If humanity is to survive long-term, it must find a way to get off planet Earth-and fast. In fact, human beings may have less than 200 years to figure out how to escape our planet,” claims famed physicist Stephen Hawking. “Otherwise our species could be at risk for extinction.”

Wow! Those words are are strong and make me wonder how to embrace ideas such as a mass exodus of earthlings from our planet to one in outer space. Though not my immediate concern, I do wonder about my great-grandchildren. What will their lives be like if they continue to live on land that is being increasingly degraded, or will they be first in line to board a space ship?

There are two potential manmade catastrophes of major concern to humanity. The first is climate change and the second, nuclear or biological warfare. (Genetically engineered monocultures are not far behind.) Every day newscasters present stories about pollution and its related sister, global warming. Pictures of rising coastal waters overspilling land in countries like Bangladesh and of polar bears fighting for their lives in search of ice bergs, give graphic examples of species in trouble. How can we continue to exponentially populate the earth, over-fish the waters, and build oasis houses in the desert? According to the United Nations, 7.3 billion people presently inhabit earth and that number is expected to be 11 billion by the end of the century, adding to the depletion of fresh water supplies and oil resources. This mega-population will also accelerate food scarcity and disease outbreaks caused by dense living-quarters. Earth’s inhabitants presently dump 713 million tons of waste annually and destroy habitat for many thousands of species, cutting 18 million acres of forests each year in competition for land. Clean, fresh water, a major cause of conflict in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa, is now part of the political wrangling in our own Southwestern states. There is no doubt that natural resources are running out at a much faster rate than they can be replaced.

What about nuclear war? Why aren’t citizens clamoring for more treaties like the one proposed with Iran? And why is it so difficult to reach an agreement about weaponry within our own boundaries? According to the Brookings Institute there are approximately 22,600 stockpiled nuclear weapons around the planet (10,600 in the U.S.). Why do we have them? Isn’t it time for an accord to end proliferation of weapons of mass destruction? Aren’t alternative ways available to coexist other than with the threat of military intervention? Why not make efforts to defuse, rather than arm waring factions?

History shows that when societies develop and stockpile weaponry, war is not far behind. In 1961 President Dwight Eisenhower gave the nation a warning that he labeled “a threat to democratic government.” He described the military-industrial complex as a union of defense contracts and the armed forces that had created a large arms industry. These ammunitions providers need war in order to thrive, and congress seems perfectly happy to feed their needs.
When there is no fighting, plenty of politicians are willing to step forward to devise a threat. The war in Iraq presents a clear example of how a cause for war can be invented for economic reasons. It is time to stop poking our noses into foreign conflicts as though we were God, creating enemies where none had previously existed?

Over the past fifty years you might wonder if there were any forecasters giving notice of the consequences of these political and economic actions. The answer is yes, soothsayers exist in every age. The destruction of our planet, and atomic weaponry that were part of yesterday’s predictions, now ring true. As early as 1940, well before we were part of WWII and the Manhattan project, in Solutions Unsatisfactory, Robert Heinlein postulated a world affected by Atomic weaponry would be one assured of destruction. And then came Hiroshima. The same year George Orwell wrote 1984, warning us of the surveillance state. And then came NSA and the Patriot Act. Shortly after, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World predicted genetic engineered human beings. And then came test tube babies and cloned sheep. Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner in 1969 predicted a country plagued with school shootings and terrorist attacks. And then came Colombine and the Twin Towers. William Gibson wrote Newuromacncer, describing what it would be like to live in a scarcity-driven future. Cities like Detroit were depicted as wastelands. And then came Detroit.

Today’s soothsayers are similarly posing questions about where to go from here and how to get there? Will the strain on earth’s resources make people more willing to live in space, and will scientific advancements allow for space-time travel? Scientists and science fiction writers ask us to put aside preconceived notions and embrace a flexible pantheon of ideas to help prepare us for what may eventually become reality. In a book by Philadelphia physicist, Paul Halpern, entitled Cosmic Wormholes, he discusses how to build and use a cosmic wormhole as a interstellar shortcut. Unless astro-physicists come up with ways of traveling to other galaxies at the speed of light, it is going to be difficult to transport a mass population to a livable environment. Yet scientists, such as Harold “Sonny” White of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, are claiming that a ring shaped warp drive device that propels a football-shaped starship even faster than light may be more feasible than previously thought.

Science Fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson won a 2012 Nebula for Best Novel in his latest book 2312. In it he solves solar system problems by adapting asteroids for the task of housing people. He creates gravity by hollowing out the orbiting space rocks so that they cam be set on their axis to spin. He fills various asteroids with plants and animals from different parts of Earth, making a variety of pleasant environments. His early publication, Red Mars, was a foreshadowing of NASA’s goal of sending six astronauts to live on the planet. Kathleen Ann Goodman, published This Shared Dream in 2011. In it, Alima, a bio-architect, grows from a nanotech seed an engineered habitat for 250,000 people. Huge rotating space stations like the one shown in 2001: A Space Odyssey might be a solution closer to home. The station even houses a Hilton hotel for those using it as a transfer stop from Earth to deep space.

Given current technology and mindset, the billions of dollars needed to make habitats that hold large populations does not seem plausible to me — even one thousand years in the future. Yet, if life on earth gets too difficult, there are bound to be a small number of futurists who will be able to live out their dreams on a real space habitat. It is too bad that I won’t be able to come back from the dead to find out . . . or maybe I will, through advancements in cryogenics.

More realistically, the solution I wish for is that will change their mindset by acting immediately to limit population growth, halt deforestation, reduce trash, ban construction in watershed areas, and tackle pollution. These topics form the political issues of the day, and solving them can make a difference to the lives of our immediate descendants. We can have an impact, because each of us has the means of making a difference through personal conservation, and by electing environmentally savvy, committed legislators.

I do worry about our planet’s future even though I will be long gone. Life already seems more difficult for my children and grandchildren than it was for my generation. My California children are concerned about not having enough water for agricultural and recreational uses. They worry about how they are going to wash their cars. I was raised to believe that my role on earth was to leave it a better place than it was when I was born, but now, I am not sure that I and my peers have done that. I plan to do better, and I count on you think that way as well. Together we can be powerful agents for change.

If you find this is a subject worthy of discussion please comment below:

Art is always for sale. For information go to eichingerfineart.com or email me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com.

Interested in learning more ?  References follow:

follow:http://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/consequences_of_depletion_of_natural_resources- About depletion of natural resources.

http://bigthink.com/dangerous-ideas/5-stephen-hawkings-warning-abandon-earth-or-face-extinction – Stephen Hawking’s ideas about expansion into space.

http://www.tested.com/tech/concepts/460223-futurists-were-right-10-predictions-made-sci-fi-writers-came-true/item/antidepressants/ and http://mashable.com/2014/07/23/sci-fi-books-the-future/ For Futurist Predictions that have come true.
http://www.livescience.com/41316-11-billion-people-earth.html- What Life would be like with 11 billion people.

http://www.brookings.edu/about/projects/archive/nucweapons/50 – Nuclear weapons

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/17/132942244/ikes-warning-of-military-expansion-50-years-later- Eisenhower’s warning about the military-industrial complex.

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/12428/title/Cosmic-Wormholes–Where-Science-Meets-Science-Fiction/ – About wormholes and space travel. Book written by Paul Halpern a teacher of mathematics and physics at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science.

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-06/dispatches-future- Predictions of the future from contemporary Science Fiction writers.

http://www.space.com/17628-warp-drive-possible-interstellar-spaceflight.html – Present scientific work with the concept of warp drive.

Spirit Children

 Spirit Child

spirit-child High energy children are surprising. Who knows what they will become after overcoming the childhood stigma of being diagnosed as hyperactive?

All Children are Not Created Equal

All children are not created equal. Some appear to have an easy time with life while others struggle with hidden demons in a less than tolerant society.

I’ve observed a great many children both at home and in the museum and noticed how the calm and collected ones were able to concentrate, grasp ideas quickly and complete what was expected of them. They received good grades in school, learned to play instruments, joined soccer teams, had lots of friends and appeared to float through their school years. By continuously receiving positive feedback they developed strong egos and gained enough confidence to tackle new challenges. Teachers and family members found it easy to love these children and they took pride in their achievements.

Unfortunately, there were those who presented quite a different challenge, especially when they bounced around the room uncontrollably. These children were often diagnosed as being attention deficit and hyperactive. I disliked the idea that they were being labeled ADHD at a young age and wondered if that stigma would last for their entire lifetime? These children were often very bright, but their intelligence was not always appreciated by teachers because behavior problems got in the way.

Unfortunately, public classrooms are large and overworked teachers want attentive students who can focus and not cause a disturbance. Energetic kids, however, have other ideas. They want to get out of their seat and move around the room. At times they create trouble because it is the best way to get attention. Ofttimes their difficulties are the result of boredom because their intelligence has never been recognized. The assigned work can feel like a punishment to them. These children are quite often hands-on or participatory learners rather than sit-in-your-desk, read and write in workbooks type of kids. But because they wiggle about, words of praise are seldom sent in their direction.

One year when one of my sons was in fourth grade, children were being tested for admittance to the school’s TAG program. His teacher did not think he was bright enough to pass the admission exam. My husband and I insisted that he get tested, and bingo, he was a top scorer. His teacher was surprised, but once the results were returned she treated him differently. His TAG opportunities were excellent, and were such that all children should have had the chance to experience since they were organized to promote individual achievement rather than failure.

I too am a highly energetic person. It is difficult for me to sit still for long periods of time. As a professional I served on a great many community boards. When asked to attend day- long meetings I found sitting in one place to be painful. I had to move about, and would often be the only person standing at the back of the room while listening to the proceedings. At my desk I sit on a large inflated ball rather than a chair because it is unstable and moves constantly, requiring physical adjustment for balance.

I have a great deal of empathy for energetic children who are forced to fit into a be-still mold. When I complained about my child’s classroom difficulties, a physician once told me, “ Your son is just the type of person who will be successful as an adult.” He went on to say that my child’s energy would get focused and boredom would be overcome as he embraced activities that he enjoyed. “His exuberance will transform into leadership qualities that will motivate others.” he said. And yes…his prediction came true. My son is successful in a job that requires intense concentration, and he does demonstrate leadership qualities.

Some schools embrace alternative educational approaches for their students. They develop ways of working with energetic students wit the goal of leaving no child behind. Their enlightened educators reinforce achievements, permit movement, and integrate lesson plans that speak to individual learning styles. They acknowledge that attention and behavior problems are often the result of the system and not the child.

Family members living with energetic children with behavior difficulties might consider using a behavior modification approach that reinforces achievements and celebrates the wonderful individuality of their child. Though it may take effort to implement such a program, when practiced in a consistent manner the results will eventually bring a great deal of happiness to your family. But most of all, remember to love and praise these children for all of the wonderful things they can do well.

This article concerns ADHD children, but there are many other disabilities and talents found in a classroom. Serving the individual needs of students is a matter of organization, and there are many successful examples of how this can be done. I find no excuse for putting children in a mold. For example there are 475 public schools that operate Montessori Programs. There are elementary schools that have grade level home room and gym activities, but their students travel to achievement level classes for academic studies. In middle and high schools, vocational training can be integrated with scholastic programs. There is benefit from having children learn to use shop tools and kitchen utensils. These participatory classes get children out of their seats, understand the practical side of life, and let them move around. In all instances, the student should be put on the pedestal taught to his or her needs. Isn’t it time to think creatively so we can stem the drop-out tide by serving our children well?

Please let me know your thought on this subject by going to eichingerfineart.com/blog and responding.

For more information go to:

http://www.adhdandyou.com/hcp/adhd-behavior-modification.aspx – ADHD and You from US Healthcare Professionals- Behavior modification plan for ADHD children.

http://psychcentral.com/lib/setting-up-a-behavior-management-plan-for-an-adhd-child/0002182 – Psych Central – Behavior management plan for children with ADHD.

http://www.public-montessori.org – For Montessori in the public schools.

http://www.montessori-namta.org/Montessori-Implementation – 10 Steps to implementing Montessori in the public schools.

Humming in the Background

city-scaper

Changing City Scape- by Marilynne 

As wooded areas become high rise condominiums, noise levels and pollution escalate. Garbage, mail trucks and automobiles flow through residential areas from before dawn ‘till late at night. Music blasts from open windows, while rooftop parties contribute to the the din of carousing revelers.

Humming in the Background

In my house there is a running debate about background sounds. Thinker craves music or TV voices humming softly, filling the room’s silence, while Forceful prefers to live in a home devoid of extraneous noise. It is not that he does not like music, but when he listens to it he gives it complete attention. “If it is not quiet then I can not hear myself think,” he complains.

Geeker wants loud Metallica music playing throughout the house, claiming it is a necessary background sound for doing homework. Forceful, as you might imagine, threatens to move out if the noise stays booming . . . a problem easily solved with ear buds. So now Geeker wears them at what is probably ear damaging decibels.

Thinker is an artist and always paints with the radio on, tuning out her immediate surroundings, oblivious to the rest of the house with its extraneous noises. Forceful is also an artist but works without electronically produced sound. He is very sensitive to what is going on in the neighborhood…dogs barking, birds chirping, cars rolling by, people walking and talking, etc. He is always berating Thinker for not hearing things. Thinker thinks that Forceful is much too tuned into neighborhood happenings and gossip. “So what if the garbage truck goes by? Ignore it.” she advises.

Sleep-time presents other issues. Thinker’s daughter, Dreamer, turns on a fan or some artificially produced soothing sound to help her fall asleep. She also trained her children to go to bed listing to white noise. Thinker prefers to fall asleep hearing background voices that are so quiet that the words are indistinguishable. The TV or radio tuned quietly does not disturb her as long as the words don’t make sense. She has tried concert music but that keeps her awake because she pays too much attention to what is playing. Forceful, of course, wants silence so he can hear the owls and coyotes howling.

Audiologists have been complaining for some time that children are listening to music that is too loud. A generation of young adults is now dealing with severe tinnitus, vertigo and hearing loss. Did you know that wearing headphones over 2 hours a day can damage hearing according to recent study by the “Centers for Disease Control.” Loud music also has other ramifications? Because of loud music youth are less tuned into each other and the world around them. They are non-communicative at concerts and become isolated when tuned into their ear plugs. Now that cell phone texting has taken the place of telephone calls, life is more complicated, for children listen to music while sending messages at the same time. Trying to get the attention of someone who is listening to music on their ear phones or gazing at their smart phone is not easy.

I became curious about what decibels I hear in a typical walk-about-day. According to Marshall Chasen at the Center for Human Performance and Health, a normal conversation taking place between 3-5 feet is at 60-70 dB, piano practice is the same. The dial tone of a telephone is at 80 dB, a power saw at 110 dB. Pain begins at 125 dB which is at the level of a pneumatic riveter. A violin has a very high decibel rating at 84-95 dB. Symphonic music peaks at 120 dB but it does not usually last very long at that volume so the public is safe. However, musicians in the orchestra often experience hearing loss due to extended hours of playing. Amplified rock music at 4-6 ft is 120 dB and goes to a peak of 150 dB, a damaging number.

The environmental protection agency recommends that neighborhoods be no louder than 55 dB during waking hours. Prolonged exposure of 85 dB and higher will result in hearing loss so protection is advised. At 90 dB (example-lawn mower, router, snowmobile or hair dryer) you are taking a risk if listening to the sound for more than two hours, so ear plugs are advised. Rock concerts? According to the center for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure for more than 30 seconds can cause loss.

Chronic hearing loss is irreversible. Researchers recommend that noise canceling headphones be used instead of buds and that headphones not be used for more than one hour a day at levels below the 60% of maximum volume. This does create a problem for image conscious teens who find headphones a bit more costly, large and cumbersome.

You might be interested to know that nearly 13 percent of children have noise-induced hearing loss? To deal with this poor statistic some establishments are making changes to the noise level inside their pubs and restaurants. One recent response to painful and prolonged decibel defying sounds shows employers of dance halls handing out sound reducing headphones to staff. There are even concert venues that distribute ear plugs or, for a rental fee, ear buds that bring music directly to you, eliminating background sounds and enabling the concert to be heard at a lower decibel rate. However, beware! Because ear buds are placed directly into the ear they can boost the sound signal as much as six to nine decibels.

This summer when the concert series gets in full swing, be sure to pack your ear plugs. It only takes one hour of listening to a concert that is over 105 DB to damage your ears. Even MTV is telling people to “Turn it Down!” With a bit of foresight you can enjoy your summer and your favorite band and still be able to hear the birds in the forest the next day.

Please let me know your experience with hearing loss by responding to this blog.

Art work is always for sale at eichingerfineart.com.

If you want more information about the decibel level of both occupational and non-occupational sounds go to www.http://e-a-r.com/pdf/jhearingcons/noie_Naf.xls.

Living Vicariously

Girl with Pearls – Her eyes are covered as she goes through life unable to absorb the overlapping universes of each individual.

Living Vicariously at the Center of the Universe

Anatole France once said, “Even a little dog is the center of his own universe.” These words were posted on wall of my college dorm room challenging me to remember that everyone sees the world from their own perspective. The only way I could enter another’s universe was to live with them vicariously through imagination. A few of my favorite actors and actresses, like Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, have strong empathetic personalities that make them able to slip inside another person’s skin, so why shouldn’t I try?

The first time I realized that I was truly living vicariously was when my first born was nine months old. As a spring baby, he had never experienced snow, so when the first flakes descended I bundled him up and went outside to introduce him to the falling flakes. At first he became very quiet, looking around the yard in awe, eventually reaching out to catch the elusive patterns with his chubby hands. It was then that I knew that with his birth an additional gift had been given to me. His existence was going to enable me to relive childhood and expand my own universe as he developed his.

I was fortunate in having six children, five biological and one adopted child in later life. With my oldest son I experienced strength and vigor. His fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons held all of the intrigue of a hollywood spectacular and I became captured by the intensity that he and his friends exhibited when playing. His earnestness permeated his waking moments and carried on to other activities in later life. I remember visiting his first apartment at a time he was learning to play tennis. Signs were taped to his bathroom mirror that said things such as, “I am a winner. I focus and am not distracted.” Whether learning to fly a plane, play guitar or ride a bicycle, he does it with total physical and emotional involvement, and each time, though not an expert, he becomes competent. Through him I sensed what it is like to jump into the fray wholeheartedly.


Shortly after my son’s birth I had a daughter who inspired me with her feistiness and astute brain. She understands psychological spheres in great depth, yet sees humor in most situations she encounters, enabling her to gain perspective on life’s unexpected happenings. When she was only seventeen she left college for a year to accept a job as a purchasing agent for a bank and its numerous branches. Sales people would call on her with bribes of gifts and luncheon invitations. She would laugh about their offerings, and demonstrated to me what it takes to stand firm and act ethically in the face of shady business practices. She did this without damaging an ongoing working relationships.

My second daughter helped me to hear more clearly. She has perfect pitch and while practicing the violin I knew that I was listening to a pure note. When she sang there was a smile in her bearing and it was as though the windows opened to spring flowers even on a dark, dank day. Since I was born unable to carry a tune, she gave me insight into what it was like to have expansive auditory senses and experience pleasure from sound. Her access to the world was a path that was foreign to me, but I rode piggyback in order to feel the vibrations of her emotion.

Empathy and caring were gifts my fourth child carried into the birthing room. From a young age this daughter was able to see into the souls of animals. She bleeds inside when an creature is ill and spends hours working to help it survive. With her tales I feel happiness, anxiety and sorrow as she adopts various animals into her life. Her sensitivity produces strong emotions, for she has never erected a protective barrier between herself and the suffering of others. She enables me to see frailty in the animal kingdom and continuously demonstrates that it is important to pay attention to small cues.

Number five offspring, a son, once told me, “ You and Dad work too hard. I’m not going to be like that.” And he is not. He does work with fervor, but is equally engaged with friends in creative activities. He embraces playful endeavors that combine artistry with technology, making him a master tinkerer. My son welds, wires, creates electronic light and sound shows, and fixes engines when not programing computers. Through him I have learned the value of play and of being with friends, getting rid of the guilt that came from having a stubborn work ethic. I vicariously enjoy his ever expanding universe as his circle of friends and unusual projects continue to grow.

The sixth child is a young man who entered my life when he was nineteen. Having lived a difficult childhood, he overcame horrendous beginnings because of an innate desire to survive. He demonstrated that people of every socioeconomic background act in their own self-interest when placed in dire situations, but he also showed me that when given a chance, inner strength can overcome adversity. His appreciation for the assistance he received over the past years has made him generous to those less fortunate. This young man believes that everyone should have a chance to prove his or her self worth, and now so do I.

My family and friends are good models for the theory of an ever expanding cosmos. Each time I vicariously enter their centers to be surrounded by their universes, my understanding of the natural world swells. My blinders are continuously widened when imagining myself in their heads, trying to see through their eyes. My greatest gifts have come from those who over the years let me share the depths of their souls before climbing on their shoulders to look further afield.

Please share your own stories about those who have allowed you to visit the center of their universe.

Artwork is always for sale. Go to eichingerfineart.com for more information.

Epigenetics: Why Care?

NurturingNurturing 

Our environment does make a difference to the genetic makeup of the next generation.

Epigenetics: Why Care?

When my husband was asked why he found me attractive, his reply always was,
“ Because she has good genes.” To my ears it was not a very romantic answer, but he sincerely meant what he said. He told me that when he had decided to get married he started looking for a woman with characteristics that he hoped would carry on to the next generation. I suppose something carried on because several months ago my granddaughter circulated a picture of three generations of women in our family. It showed us all sporting big smiles topped with cascading dark curly hair. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind, we looked like family. I was never sure if it was the curly hair or something else that my husband found attractive.

Geneticists have been working for years to determine the statistical likelihood of your child turning out one way or another. The first words spoken by those visiting new parents are often, “Who does she look like?” The answer, “Oh, Aunt Bessie or Uncle Gary . . . just look at the resemblance!” Modified food, animal husbandry and plant biology have been in the news as targets of complex genetic research. Since the completion of the human genome study we are starting to learn a great deal more about our own condition.

Do you remember Mendel’s peas? When I was in school, genetics was a matter of identifying what would happen to the next generation after cross fertilizing peas. Now students learn of how their cells carry instructions formed on a double helix which hold nucleotide bases. They study that their DNA sequencing gives order to these bases passing on directions that affect growth and death. If you think this information is a lot to comprehend, just consider that there are 3 billion bases and over 20,000 genes making proteins that trigger the biological functions we call life.

So what is epigenetics? Remember the old question of what was more important, your environment or genetic makeup? My friends and I used to spend hours debating the issue, especially when we knew someone who had strange behaviors. “Were they born that way or was it the way they were raised?” we would ask. Well it turns out, the two are related and that certain environmental happenings can cause genes to be turned off and on. They can become dormant or active depending on where you live, what you eat, your sleep patterns, exercise regime, and even your friendships. It is these every day occurrences over time that turn the genetic toggle switch. Even diseases such as cancer or Alzheimer can be genes that have switched away from what was once a healthy state to something with more dire consequences. What is happening is that without changing DNA sequencing, chemical modifications leave marks on segments of the DNA or related proteins that control the off/on switch.

It is epigenetics that makes us unique, because it is the different combination of genes that are turned off and on that makes us enjoy spicy food, have a quiet contemplative or bubbly personality, or even be attracted to curly haired women. And it is this uniqueness of inherited genes, modified by environment, that scientists now believe can be carried on to the next generation. You might think that mapping every single cause and effect of every possible combination could help keep the good and get rid of the bad genes, to slow aging or stop obesity, but it is an impossible task as we know it today. No orchestra leader has stepped forward with a way to conduct this rich genetic music. Methods of control remain for science fiction writers to contemplate.

Why do we care? In an article written for Public Health Ethics, Michele Loi writes from Portugal that, “ Recent epidemiological reports of associations between socioeconomic status and epigenetic markers that predict vulnerability to diseases are bringing to light substantial biological effects of social inequalities.” She goes on to say that there are moral consequences of these findings due to inequality in health care. In my mind epigeneticist have issued a challenge to socially minded people and policy makers.

We now know that the epigenome is highly sensitive and responsive to environmental influences, including toxic exposures, dietary factors, and behavioral impacts. For example, stress and heart disease, intellectual disabilities, immune and psychiatric disorders are all potentially affected by epigenetic changes. Epigenetic effects are especially sensitive during fetal development and in newborn infants. A pregnant woman living in poverty without proper nutrition or medical care, could permanently affect the genetic makeup of her child. Smog, water quality and over populated crime ridden cities can carry forward epigenetic scars that have huge consequences for the rest of society.

The chain of connection between the social and natural or biological world is important to consider as we work to build the type of society we want. By not paying attention to early childhood development, environmental and health issues of all citizens we are accepting great risks to the human population as a whole.

Art work is always for sale. For information go to eichingerfineart.com

I enjoy your comments. Please respond to this blog below.

For a greater understanding of epigenetic and social consequences go to the following sites:

http://www.whatisepigenetics.com/fundamentals/

http://phe.oxfordjournals.org/content/6/2/142.full

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3034450/

Dealing with Bad News

Hope

hope, love, health, together we survive
painted when my son was first diagnosed with cancer

Dealing with Bad News
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
attributed to Greek philosopher Epictetus.

None of us sails easily through life. At one time or another we will have to confront unpleasantries. It may be loss of a job, a natural disaster, divorce, illness or even death. How we deal with these occasions presents defining moments, and no matter how hard you try to prepare yourself, it will be difficult.

The first time I had to confront serious illness was when my son was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease. My initial reaction was visceral, a wildly beating heart, spiked adrenaline, sweaty hands and increased blood pressure. I then became angry. What I was hearing was not fair. “ Maybe the doctors have it wrong.” I thought. Luckily I knew enough not to drive a car immediately upon hearing the news, having once backed out of a doctor’s office into another vehicle after receiving a questionable test result. Taking a few deep breaths and waiting a half-hour calmed me down enough to participate with my husband in developing a plan of action. My original fight and flight response had worked well to motivate my next moves. The doctor continued by telling us that Hodgkins was a diagnosis for which there was a lot of research, and most people are fine after a grueling round of chemotherapy. We followed her directions, and fortunately all ended well for our son, though it had been difficult to sit in the waiting room during chemo sessions and speak to parents who were facing a less optimistic outcome. I became a supporter of the I Have a Wish Foundation.

Several years ago, when my own body rejected me, it came with a double whammy. The first news, a diagnosis of breast cancer, was later followed by words by my physician spoken at my final appointment. “You will not die of cancer, but you may die of heart failure because you have a leaky aortic valve. You need to see a cardiologist.” So, I went from one office visit to the next, and followed one surgery with another.

Throughout it all, though, I had the confidence of youth (at the age of sixty-eight). I felt healthy and did not believe anything bad would come of it. I laughed when my son presented me with a toy that mooed after a cow’s valve replaced my own. From that day on, I became more conscious of the need to appreciate each day as it comes, making the seconds of each day count. I also made a pact with myself to never worry twice. This meant, not to fret in anticipation of bad news, but to relax and get prepared for whatever the outcome.

How do I relax and keep my mind from racing? As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I am a meditator, and that helps— but not always. Another technique I use is to bury myself in reading a juicy, junkie book, one that I do not want to put down. When facing surgery the book goes with me until the last minute. I stop at a page that compels me to pick it up as soon as possible afterwards in order to discover the ending. Another remedy is to get the bad karma out of my body and on to canvas or in writing. The picture above was one I did when my son was first diagnosed. Once the news was delivered I immediately went to my studio to work it out in my mind.

There are those who employ prayer, perhaps even asking others to pray for them. They give their sorrows over to another entity and clear their body channels of pooled stress. They acknowledge that what will happen is not completely under their control, but on-the-other-hand they usually accept responsibility to confront and right the situation to the best of their ability. Step by step, little by little, friend with friend they progress on the path of living fully until the crisis is over.

Facing minor disasters, such as the tree that landed on my house, though not as critical as illness, is also stressful. In these situations, I have to slow down my go-go, get it done quickly attitude and work on patience. As I engage contractors and insurance agents, I look at it as a game to be played where worry has no place. “Overcoming ordinary problems is what makes life interesting,” I say to myself, “and practice in handling adversity with items that are not life threatening can help me learn to deal with more difficult situations. “

In the United States, we are fortunate not to be facing nightly bombing raids or mass executions like those that occur in Syria. Our run-of-the-mill life and death issues are expected as part of the cycle of life. One of the reasons family and friends are so important is that there are times when sharing bad news experiences not only provides practical information, but it helps you to realize that what you are going through is part of the human experience. It is important to remember that most people like to help others. It makes them feel good. So, when assistance is needed, the mask of I can do it myself has to come off and the cloak of good will by others must be worn with grace.

Please let me know your thoughts  by responding to this blog.

Art work is always for sale. Go to eichingerfineart.com for more information.

Great Expectations

SannaWill she be in control?

Great Expectations
My 13 year-old-daughter returned from two weeks in overnight camp with great anticipation. She later told me that during the car ride home she imagined running into the house and jumping onto the pillows of her favorite living room chair. Unbeknownst to her, while she was away, my husband and I had rearranged the furniture. When my daughter entered the room ready to make her leap, instead of the chair being in its familiar location, it had been moved across the room. She became disoriented and quite upset. “ What have you done to the room? Where is my chair? ” she shouted, blaming us for providing a chaotic and unanticipated homecoming. It was as though we had taken away her sense of belonging and safety from the place she called home.

Her reaction reminded me of a similar situation I experience in my childhood. In that instance I was entering my bedroom and discovered that the bureau was moved away from the wall. I did not notice my grandfather hidden behind the furniture trying to fix an electrical outlet. Instead of thanking Grandpa for helping with the repair, I too exploded in anger. Afterwards I was embarrassed by my behavior, and I still cannot think of the incident today without feeling remorseful.

Those two incidences of angry emotional reaction were singular, but as I aged there was one emotion, that of fear, that stayed with me to cause a great deal of trouble. Public speaking was part of my job as museum director yet for years I would get dizzy as soon as I started talking to a crowd. This dysfunctional reaction had started in fifth grade when I was asked to give a book report before the class. Three minutes into the talk I felt dizzy and my eyes would not focus. I had to sit down and put my head between my legs to avoid fainting.

Years later I considered these past experiences and wondered what triggered such fierce reactions, and asked myself how they could be better controlled. Curiosity led me to study the physiological makeup of the body in closer detail, especially the role of adrenaline.
I learned that the way a person reacts to a situation is commonly labeled as an emotional response (happy, sad, anger, fear etc.), and to create that emotion the body’s involuntary nervous system is at work. Several hundred years ago it was believed that body and brain were separate, but today the idea is accepted that they are connected. How our appendages are moved by thought is something most of us can comprehend, or at least accept, for we have control when using the voluntary part of our nervous system. Think about raising your arm and you can probably do it with ease. The involuntary or less conscious part of our sensorium is more complex, but it is where we need go in order to understand how emotional responses are triggered.

This part of our neurology causes so much havoc that I wanted to figure out why. The autonomic, involuntary or visceral nervous system is a part of the body that acts as a control system below the level of consciousness. Bundles of nerves deal with functions like heart rate, perspiration, glands, digestion and salivation, diameter of the pupils, urination, and sexual arousal. Often their effects are life saving, as when adrenaline jumps in dangerous situations, helping to focus attention and enable a fast reaction. At other times, especially under conditions of prolonged stress, the effect can lead to ulcers or heart disease.

I wondered if these involuntary emotional systems could be controlled? Pharmaceutical companies think so, and have developed a multi-billion dollar industry with pills like Prozac. Many monks and yogis are convinced that it is a learned response that can be possessed after years of practicing meditation. Drug dealers, taking advantage of society’s desire for short cuts, sell mind altering drugs like marijuana and cocaine in order to affect autonomic nerves.

When I was president of The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry we developed an exhibit that showed how the mind can learn to control the involuntary system. A visitor would go into a quiet booth and put two fingers on adjacent probes. The goal was to make one finger warmer than the other through mind control. When the finger temperatures differed by a degree, an electric train placed outside of the booth would be put in motion. A great many visitors were able to accomplish this feat though I never could.
Neurologists teach people how to do “hot hands” to treat migraine headaches. I had a doctor friend who used the process often when working in tense emergency medical situations. He learned a modern technique that used bio-feedback equipment to help speed up the meditative process. The goal of his therapist was to teach migraine sufferers how to make their blood flow from head to hands, opening the restricted vessels in their neck that often cause the pain.

My personal technique for controlling my autonomic reactions is meditation. I practice daily and after many years am able to slow my heart rate and keep adrenaline from spiking uncontrollably, enabling me to make a speech when called on to do so. I have friends who practice yoga or Pilates with similar intent, focusing their mind to control stress and other negative emotions.

As I age, I find it more important than ever to incorporate mind control activities into daily practice. It helps me gain a perspective when dealing with unexpected situations involving family, finances, and illnesses to name a few. My desire to stay completely calm in the face of unexpected situations will probably never be fully realized, but I am better than before. I also have perspective, and accept the fact that many things will go wrong, just as many times there will be pleasant surprises with better than expected outcomes. Watching my daughter embark on new new adventures, I see her taking risks based on dreams where she imagines a happy ending. I hope she has learned how to prepare both body and mind to react to unexpected events in order to emotional balance ups and downs that might get in the way. The knowledge that she has internal resources at her disposal may be all that is needed to provide enough courage for her to pursue ideas with great expectations.
Art work is always for sale. Go to www.eichingerfineart.com for more information.
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Art work is always for sale. Go to eichingerfineart.com for more information.

Do you want to know more about the autonomic nervous system?

https://www.rarediseasesnetwork.org/ARDCRC/patients/learnmore/FAQ.htm – also discusses diseases and cures.

https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/auto.html – great description, written for kids

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00466/Biofeedback-Dr-Weil-Wellness-Therapies.html – bio feedback and migraines “With practice, biofeedback can allow you to influence the part of the nervous system that regulates the dilation of blood vessels that contribute to migraine symptoms. Once you master this technique, it can be a tool you can use to abort a headache at the start of an attack.”