Welcome To The Brain Lab: An Overview of "Neurohacking"
Driven, Engaged, Aware, Stable, Happy. It would be great to be all of those things all of the time. But instead we often feel anxious, irritable, depleted, disconnected, apathetic or just plain sad.
For most of human existence, we lived directly off the land. We moved about during the day absorbing sunlight and went to sleep when it got dark. We were active, family-oriented and focused on survival - and therefore alert and aware of the world around us - keeping an eye out for both danger (an attacking bear or warring tribe) and opportunity (a food source, place of shelter, or potential mating partner).
Modern society: most of us have a roof over our head, a constant source of food and water and some level of connection to a community. We also have iPhones and Chicken Fries and Prozac and Coke Zero and Snuggies. The level of danger in our everyday lives (for most of us) is quite a bit lower than it was when we were hunter-gatherers - but I'm not sure our physiology has kept up. We are anxious and stressed; overworked and under-loved. The physiology that got us this far isn't holding up so well in the world we have created.
So if we could replicate some of the healthy activities and lifestyle choices of our ancestors, we would be able to treat our brains with a bit more compassion. When we do, we often feel much better: clear, energized, and happy. But between our jobs, partners, kids, pets, friends, extended family, Facebook, Fantasy Football and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, we don't tend to have time for the amount of self-care we really need.
Enter "Neurohacking"
The concept is simple. Give the brain the nutrients it needs to work at or near it's optimal state. It goes way beyond taking a multi-vitamin in the morning. It is a focused approach to address the specific problems or challenges one is experiencing. What's wrong? "I'm stressed." We may not be able to remove the stressor (like an angry boss at a job we aren't in a position to quit) but we might be able to give the brain the tools it needs to cope with that stress - in a healthy way. We might get a similar sensation from a few beers and all-you-can-eat french fries at Red Robin, but we end up paying the price for these choices with weight gain, high blood pressure and addictions.
The following graphic illustrates the intent: if I know where I am (cognitively and emotionally) and I know where I want to be, I can make a plan on how to get there.
For most of human existence, we lived directly off the land. We moved about during the day absorbing sunlight and went to sleep when it got dark. We were active, family-oriented and focused on survival - and therefore alert and aware of the world around us - keeping an eye out for both danger (an attacking bear or warring tribe) and opportunity (a food source, place of shelter, or potential mating partner).
Modern society: most of us have a roof over our head, a constant source of food and water and some level of connection to a community. We also have iPhones and Chicken Fries and Prozac and Coke Zero and Snuggies. The level of danger in our everyday lives (for most of us) is quite a bit lower than it was when we were hunter-gatherers - but I'm not sure our physiology has kept up. We are anxious and stressed; overworked and under-loved. The physiology that got us this far isn't holding up so well in the world we have created.
So if we could replicate some of the healthy activities and lifestyle choices of our ancestors, we would be able to treat our brains with a bit more compassion. When we do, we often feel much better: clear, energized, and happy. But between our jobs, partners, kids, pets, friends, extended family, Facebook, Fantasy Football and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, we don't tend to have time for the amount of self-care we really need.
Enter "Neurohacking"
The concept is simple. Give the brain the nutrients it needs to work at or near it's optimal state. It goes way beyond taking a multi-vitamin in the morning. It is a focused approach to address the specific problems or challenges one is experiencing. What's wrong? "I'm stressed." We may not be able to remove the stressor (like an angry boss at a job we aren't in a position to quit) but we might be able to give the brain the tools it needs to cope with that stress - in a healthy way. We might get a similar sensation from a few beers and all-you-can-eat french fries at Red Robin, but we end up paying the price for these choices with weight gain, high blood pressure and addictions.
The following graphic illustrates the intent: if I know where I am (cognitively and emotionally) and I know where I want to be, I can make a plan on how to get there.
For much of this website, we will be focusing on Dopamine, Acetylcholine, GABA, Serotonin and to a slightly lesser extent, Norepinephrine. When we are able to balance these neurotransmitters, often the others (Glutamate, Nitric Oxide, etc.) will end up in balance as well. And while hormones also affect out experience (Oxytocin, Vasopressin, Cortisol, Testosterone, etc.), they are not the focus of these pages.
Something to know about me: I'm not a vegan/ health nut/ crunchy granola/ macrobiotic/ believe-in-horoscopes kind of guy. I'm a realist and a pragmatist. Something that is true (for me) is that Oreos taste good. What is also a true is that I don't like being fat. If I can create the satisfied sensation of having eaten Oreos without the weight gain, sign me up. And that's one of the things that Neurohacking / Brain Balancing is all about: allowing my brain to experience the "happy signals" without the negative side effects of unhealthy food and unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Ready to get started? Grab a cup of coffee and some l-theanine: it's time to dig in. -Continue to Self Assessment-
Something to know about me: I'm not a vegan/ health nut/ crunchy granola/ macrobiotic/ believe-in-horoscopes kind of guy. I'm a realist and a pragmatist. Something that is true (for me) is that Oreos taste good. What is also a true is that I don't like being fat. If I can create the satisfied sensation of having eaten Oreos without the weight gain, sign me up. And that's one of the things that Neurohacking / Brain Balancing is all about: allowing my brain to experience the "happy signals" without the negative side effects of unhealthy food and unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Ready to get started? Grab a cup of coffee and some l-theanine: it's time to dig in. -Continue to Self Assessment-
More:
"Neurohacking": An Overview
Self Assessment
Braverman Assessment
Supplements & Adaptogens
Effects of Alcohol on Neurotransmission
Dig Deeper
"Neurohacking": An Overview
Self Assessment
Braverman Assessment
Supplements & Adaptogens
Effects of Alcohol on Neurotransmission
Dig Deeper
Disclaimer: This document is for informational purposes only and is not intended to interfere with or supersede the guidance of medical or psychiatric professionals. You are responsible for your own body, including how you treat it and what you choose to put in it.