thank you unfortunately I don’t do stand-up comedy anymore don’t worry I’m
stand-up comedy anymore don’t worry I’m
stand-up comedy anymore don’t worry I’m still funny so in a research lab in
still funny so in a research lab in
still funny so in a research lab in Wisconsin a woman sits in the waiting
Wisconsin a woman sits in the waiting
Wisconsin a woman sits in the waiting room filling out paperwork as one of the
room filling out paperwork as one of the
room filling out paperwork as one of the scientists attaches electrodes to her
scientists attaches electrodes to her
scientists attaches electrodes to her ankle
ankle
ankle they stick her inside an MRI machine to
they stick her inside an MRI machine to
they stick her inside an MRI machine to make a movie of her brain activity as
make a movie of her brain activity as
make a movie of her brain activity as they administer a series of electric
they administer a series of electric
they administer a series of electric shocks don’t worry she volunteered for
shocks don’t worry she volunteered for
shocks don’t worry she volunteered for this they they give her a small screen
this they they give her a small screen
this they they give her a small screen that alerts her from time to time that
that alerts her from time to time that
that alerts her from time to time that she’s about to get shocked
she’s about to get shocked
she’s about to get shocked and as she sits there in a state of
and as she sits there in a state of
and as she sits there in a state of apprehension and anxiety a predictable
apprehension and anxiety a predictable
apprehension and anxiety a predictable set of brain regions lights up one’s
set of brain regions lights up one’s
set of brain regions lights up one’s contributing to worrying and detecting
contributing to worrying and detecting
contributing to worrying and detecting danger they repeat the experiment
danger they repeat the experiment
danger they repeat the experiment scanning her again but this time they
scanning her again but this time they
scanning her again but this time they bring her husband in to hold her hand
bring her husband in to hold her hand
bring her husband in to hold her hand she still gets the same warnings and the
she still gets the same warnings and the
she still gets the same warnings and the same shocks but her brain response has
same shocks but her brain response has
same shocks but her brain response has changed and the activity in the worrying
changed and the activity in the worrying
changed and the activity in the worrying and danger circuits has calmed down in
and danger circuits has calmed down in
and danger circuits has calmed down in Japan a young man pedals on a stationary
Japan a young man pedals on a stationary
Japan a young man pedals on a stationary bike as scientists use infrared light
bike as scientists use infrared light
bike as scientists use infrared light sensors to monitor subtle blood flow
sensors to monitor subtle blood flow
sensors to monitor subtle blood flow changes in his brain
changes in his brain
changes in his brain by the way scientists love using
by the way scientists love using
by the way scientists love using stationary bikes because it’s so much
stationary bikes because it’s so much
stationary bikes because it’s so much easier to record from someone’s brain
easier to record from someone’s brain
easier to record from someone’s brain when you don’t have to chase after them
when you don’t have to chase after them
when you don’t have to chase after them but they find that just 15 minutes of
but they find that just 15 minutes of
but they find that just 15 minutes of exercise is sufficient to increase
exercise is sufficient to increase
exercise is sufficient to increase activity and prefrontal circuits
activity and prefrontal circuits
activity and prefrontal circuits responsible for emotional control and
responsible for emotional control and
responsible for emotional control and elevate levels of the neurotransmitter
elevate levels of the neurotransmitter
elevate levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin and finally in a hospital in
serotonin and finally in a hospital in
serotonin and finally in a hospital in Pittsburgh doctors noticed that patients
Pittsburgh doctors noticed that patients
Pittsburgh doctors noticed that patients recovering from spinal surgery don’t
recovering from spinal surgery don’t
recovering from spinal surgery don’t seem to do as well on one side of the
seem to do as well on one side of the
seem to do as well on one side of the hospital compared to the other and it
hospital compared to the other and it
hospital compared to the other and it appears to have something to do with the
appears to have something to do with the
appears to have something to do with the fact that the rooms on that side of the
fact that the rooms on that side of the
fact that the rooms on that side of the hallway star straight at another
hallway star straight at another
hallway star straight at another building while the rooms on the other
building while the rooms on the other
building while the rooms on the other side are bright and sunny with scenic
side are bright and sunny with scenic
side are bright and sunny with scenic views of downtown Pittsburgh the you can
views of downtown Pittsburgh the you can
views of downtown Pittsburgh the you can laugh it’s okay
laugh it’s okay
laugh it’s okay sorry Pittsburgh the the doctors find
sorry Pittsburgh the the doctors find
sorry Pittsburgh the the doctors find that patients move to the sunny rooms
that patients move to the sunny rooms
that patients move to the sunny rooms suddenly have a higher tolerance for
suddenly have a higher tolerance for
suddenly have a higher tolerance for pain and need less medication the
pain and need less medication the
pain and need less medication the sunlight helping the brain to produce
sunlight helping the brain to produce
sunlight helping the brain to produce its own form of morphine these stories
its own form of morphine these stories
its own form of morphine these stories hint at our new understanding of the
hint at our new understanding of the
hint at our new understanding of the neuroscience of resilience and
neuroscience of resilience and
neuroscience of resilience and illustrate how the brain is malleable
illustrate how the brain is malleable
illustrate how the brain is malleable and can be reshaped my idea worth
and can be reshaped my idea worth
and can be reshaped my idea worth spreading is this that by making small
spreading is this that by making small
spreading is this that by making small changes in your actions interactions
changes in your actions interactions
changes in your actions interactions thoughts and surroundings you can
thoughts and surroundings you can
thoughts and surroundings you can actually change the activity and
actually change the activity and
actually change the activity and chemistry of key brain circuits that
chemistry of key brain circuits that
chemistry of key brain circuits that contribute to mood motivation and
contribute to mood motivation and
contribute to mood motivation and resilience the brain exists in a body
resilience the brain exists in a body
resilience the brain exists in a body and wants to move it it exists in a
and wants to move it it exists in a
and wants to move it it exists in a community and wants to connect to it it
community and wants to connect to it it
community and wants to connect to it it exists in the world and wants to be
exists in the world and wants to be
exists in the world and wants to be engaged by it the topic of resilience
engaged by it the topic of resilience
engaged by it the topic of resilience has been really important to me both as
has been really important to me both as
has been really important to me both as a neuroscientist studying depression and
a neuroscientist studying depression and
a neuroscientist studying depression and on a personal level resilience is
on a personal level resilience is
on a personal level resilience is finding the strength to go on even when
finding the strength to go on even when
finding the strength to go on even when the world threatens to overwhelm you
the world threatens to overwhelm you
the world threatens to overwhelm you whether the barriers they face are
whether the barriers they face are
whether the barriers they face are external or internal it’s it’s resisting
external or internal it’s it’s resisting
external or internal it’s it’s resisting the impulse to give up a spark of
the impulse to give up a spark of
the impulse to give up a spark of motivation that unfortunately in
motivation that unfortunately in
motivation that unfortunately in depression gets stripped away
depression gets stripped away
depression gets stripped away I’ve studied numerous forms of
I’ve studied numerous forms of
I’ve studied numerous forms of modulating the brain activity to restore
modulating the brain activity to restore
modulating the brain activity to restore that spark and it’s tempting in our age
that spark and it’s tempting in our age
that spark and it’s tempting in our age of rapidly advancing technology to think
of rapidly advancing technology to think
of rapidly advancing technology to think that the only solutions lie in high-tech
that the only solutions lie in high-tech
that the only solutions lie in high-tech interventions developed in a lab
interventions developed in a lab
interventions developed in a lab medications like selective serotonin
medications like selective serotonin
medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or devices like
reuptake inhibitors or devices like
reuptake inhibitors or devices like transcranial magnetic stimulation it’s
transcranial magnetic stimulation it’s
transcranial magnetic stimulation it’s easy to see how those modulate brain
easy to see how those modulate brain
easy to see how those modulate brain activity I mean they even sound really
activity I mean they even sound really
activity I mean they even sound really sciency but things like holding
sciency but things like holding
sciency but things like holding someone’s hands getting some Sun and yet
someone’s hands getting some Sun and yet
someone’s hands getting some Sun and yet recent research has uncovered the fact
recent research has uncovered the fact
recent research has uncovered the fact that these types of positive life
that these types of positive life
that these types of positive life changes lead to positive brain changes
changes lead to positive brain changes
changes lead to positive brain changes in its electrical activity
in its electrical activity
in its electrical activity collé composition even its ability to
collé composition even its ability to
collé composition even its ability to form new neurons targeting the same
form new neurons targeting the same
form new neurons targeting the same systems as these high-tech interventions
systems as these high-tech interventions
systems as these high-tech interventions and these positive brain changes make
and these positive brain changes make
and these positive brain changes make further positive life changes more
further positive life changes more
further positive life changes more accessible and importantly this is
accessible and importantly this is
accessible and importantly this is happening whether you’re aware of it or
happening whether you’re aware of it or
happening whether you’re aware of it or not so you might as well become aware of
not so you might as well become aware of
not so you might as well become aware of all the ways that you are influencing
all the ways that you are influencing
all the ways that you are influencing your brain I remember back in college
your brain I remember back in college
your brain I remember back in college during my senior year there was a time
during my senior year there was a time
during my senior year there was a time when everything began to feel really
when everything began to feel really
when everything began to feel really overwhelming every little decision
overwhelming every little decision
overwhelming every little decision worried me I felt a lot of anxiety about
worried me I felt a lot of anxiety about
worried me I felt a lot of anxiety about the future not knowing what I was going
the future not knowing what I was going
the future not knowing what I was going to do with my life making matters worse
to do with my life making matters worse
to do with my life making matters worse I got a tooth infection so bad that it
I got a tooth infection so bad that it
I got a tooth infection so bad that it would wake me up in the middle of the
would wake me up in the middle of the
would wake me up in the middle of the night and I had to get a root canal and
night and I had to get a root canal and
night and I had to get a root canal and then my girlfriend dumped me and even
then my girlfriend dumped me and even
then my girlfriend dumped me and even though I knew there were so many
though I knew there were so many
though I knew there were so many opportunities around me the road ahead
opportunities around me the road ahead
opportunities around me the road ahead just seemed so difficult and with many
just seemed so difficult and with many
just seemed so difficult and with many years of neuroscience now behind me I’ve
years of neuroscience now behind me I’ve
years of neuroscience now behind me I’ve come to understand how all these various
come to understand how all these various
come to understand how all these various factors were pushing my brain into a
factors were pushing my brain into a
factors were pushing my brain into a downward spiral sapping my resilience
downward spiral sapping my resilience
downward spiral sapping my resilience uncertainty and aimless action physical
uncertainty and aimless action physical
uncertainty and aimless action physical pain loss of a close relationship all
pain loss of a close relationship all
pain loss of a close relationship all have myriad negative effects on the
have myriad negative effects on the
have myriad negative effects on the neural circuits of emotion and attention
neural circuits of emotion and attention
neural circuits of emotion and attention and motivation in particular loss of a
and motivation in particular loss of a
and motivation in particular loss of a close relationship meant loss of a
close relationship meant loss of a
close relationship meant loss of a steady source of the neurotransmitter
steady source of the neurotransmitter
steady source of the neurotransmitter oxytocin which helps calm the brain
oxytocin which helps calm the brain
oxytocin which helps calm the brain stress response fortunately there were
stress response fortunately there were
stress response fortunately there were many ways I was inadvertently preventing
many ways I was inadvertently preventing
many ways I was inadvertently preventing my brain from sinking down deeper
my brain from sinking down deeper
my brain from sinking down deeper primarily I was playing on a competitive
primarily I was playing on a competitive
primarily I was playing on a competitive Ultimate Frisbee team not a joke
and and I wasn’t aware of it at the time
and and I wasn’t aware of it at the time but all of the the high-fives and hugs
but all of the the high-fives and hugs
but all of the the high-fives and hugs and handshakes and hanging out we’re
and handshakes and hanging out we’re
and handshakes and hanging out we’re replenishing my oxytocin system all the
replenishing my oxytocin system all the
replenishing my oxytocin system all the the running and jumping strengthened my
the running and jumping strengthened my
the running and jumping strengthened my dopamine circuits of motivation and just
dopamine circuits of motivation and just
dopamine circuits of motivation and just getting outside helps synchronize my
getting outside helps synchronize my
getting outside helps synchronize my circadian rhythms to my sleep cycle I
circadian rhythms to my sleep cycle I
circadian rhythms to my sleep cycle I didn’t have an intentionality about it
didn’t have an intentionality about it
didn’t have an intentionality about it but I just stumbled luckily into all
but I just stumbled luckily into all
but I just stumbled luckily into all these various ways that were that we’re
these various ways that were that we’re
these various ways that were that we’re benefitting me and now I advocate for
benefitting me and now I advocate for
benefitting me and now I advocate for them there is no one big solution to
them there is no one big solution to
them there is no one big solution to strengthening resilience but there are
strengthening resilience but there are
strengthening resilience but there are dozens of small solutions all around you
dozens of small solutions all around you
dozens of small solutions all around you beyond the ones I’ve already mentioned
beyond the ones I’ve already mentioned
beyond the ones I’ve already mentioned there’s gratitude and sleep hygiene
there’s gratitude and sleep hygiene
there’s gratitude and sleep hygiene mindfulness and deep breathing and many
mindfulness and deep breathing and many
mindfulness and deep breathing and many more each doing their part so when the
more each doing their part so when the
more each doing their part so when the road ahead feels just too difficult and
road ahead feels just too difficult and
road ahead feels just too difficult and you don’t know how you can go on it’s
you don’t know how you can go on it’s
you don’t know how you can go on it’s okay you don’t need to solve all of your
okay you don’t need to solve all of your
okay you don’t need to solve all of your problems all at once you just need to
problems all at once you just need to
problems all at once you just need to take one small step to strengthen your
take one small step to strengthen your
take one small step to strengthen your brain and it’ll make the next step
brain and it’ll make the next step
brain and it’ll make the next step easier and the next whether that’s
easier and the next whether that’s
easier and the next whether that’s relying on someone close to help calm
relying on someone close to help calm
relying on someone close to help calm your brains emotional circuitry or
your brains emotional circuitry or
your brains emotional circuitry or moving your body to get a boost of
moving your body to get a boost of
moving your body to get a boost of serotonin the opportunity is there to
serotonin the opportunity is there to
serotonin the opportunity is there to create a new path forward thank you
”
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