Research

Stress Science

Axiomatic physiology is based on the brain responding to stress by changing the brain state or dominant brain area. Neural circuits that give us the capacity to bring past experience forward to draw upon in anticipating stressors or responding effectively to current stress is state-specific. When the brain adopts a specific state of stress, then memories formed in that state of stress are "hot" and easily accessed and aroused and open to strengthening or weakening. Memories formed in other brain states are "cold" and not readily accessed, aroused and open to change.

It is normal for the dominant brain area to change throughout the day in response to periods of stress and relaxation, and positive and negative emotion, and approach and avoidance. Stimuli from the internal environment and external milieu flow into the limbic brain (emotional brain = limbic brain and reptilian brain) which perceives the level of threat based on previous experiences and arouses a circuit that is most similar to the current stressor. Once that circuit has been encoded, given a similar experience it will be aroused again easily in preference to encoding a new circuit. The circuits that are encoded in stress are an open looped system, without internal "shut off" and promote chronic amplified stress that is not productive and in most cases is deleterious. The circuits that are encoded in states or relaxation are a closed looped system, so that deviations in arousal are "flickering" rather than tending to be persistent.

The reward and stress circuitry are interdependent and in homeostatic (closed looped) states, the brain can focus attention and experience activation of the reward circuitry that is sustainable and adaptive (eudonic rewards). The rewards are natural pleasures (e.g., nature, music, art, companionship) and higher order rewards (e.g., authenticity, integrity, spirituality). In allostatic (open looped) states, the brain cannot focus attention and experience activation of the reward circuitry that is adaptive. The brain is reward driven. Without access to adaptive rewords, it defaults to artificial rewards that trigger abnormal highs and lows of chemicals in the reward circuitry. Although they are effective in the short term, they tend to become repetitive and deleterious in the long- term. These "hedonic" rewards can be emotions, thoughts or behaviors. In stress, addictive and compulsive behaviors are more common and more extreme, and in the stressed brain state, all domains of life are extreme, and amplify stress and maladaptive aspects of life.

The repeated activation of the stress response can cause wear and tear and adaptation of the mind and body in the long term. Allostatic load is the cumulative impact on the body and the brain that sensitizes the brain to stress and becomes an insult in its own right, contributing to a new set point of chronic stress outside the homeostatic range, which is defended by the organism. Although the alleviation of stress symptoms is important, the problem is the allostatic state of the brain, and without changes in that allostatic load and emotional set point, the individual is at risk of excessive dependency on medications, devices and procedures to treat stress symptoms. EBT suggests a new paradigm of health care in which medical services and pharmacologic interventions are employed, however, the primary focus of health care is to reverse allostatic load and change the emotional set point. Instead of a health goal that is narrow, such the amelioration of a specific stress symptom, the goal is to enhance health and happiness, to decrease the whole range of sources of morbidity and to decrease mortality without excessive dependence and misuse of unsustainable health care practices.

How stress science is applied in Emotional Brain Training

EBT is based on comprehensive care, using health care effectively, lifestyle change appropriately, and the rewiring of allostatic circuits and strengthening of homeostatic circuits. One cannot separate the brain and body, and the external and internal environments, so attention to health promoting environments in proximity and globally are a focus on EBT. EBT is not a quick fix and the orchestration by the individual of the skills and practice of rewiring the emotional brain from favoring allostatic states to favoring homeostatic states involves individual and system changes. However, the focus of the training is on the individual's power to effect positive emotional plasticity, to develop a practice of using the tools repeatedly and progressively until with the limits of their circumstance and genetics stress symptoms have faded and they have freedom from protracted and substantial drives for false attachments and external solutions. This new set point of homeostasis favors personal evolution, and the increasing reliance on eudonic rewards, the rewards that are associated with the long-term survival of the species.