MYTHS ABOUT THE MIND AND BODY!
There’s so much misinformation out there about the mind and body, how they relate and communicate with each other and the effects they produce, both positive and negative. Here is the latest information about this topic.
#1) When we Learn a new Skill and Perform it many times, it is Internalized by the Muscles — this is called “Muscle Memory”
FALSE: There is NO SUCH THING as MUSCLE MEMORY. For years fight practitioners (as well as other athletes) have relied on endless repetition to try to lock their body movements into memory. The name, “Muscle Memory” was coined for this process. But there are no muscle memory cells, and without being actively engaged in the process, the brain won’t remember any body movements. The correct term is “MOTOR MEMORY.” That is because it’s the brain that remembers the movements, not the muscles.
The best proof for this comes from people that have partial or total amnesia. Contrary to Hollywood’s take on the subject, in cases of amnesia, many individuals with high-level skills (in any field) cannot always access [those skills] and indeed will never know they have them until they regain their memory. So as much as notion of someone tapping into their hidden skills automatically as in the movie “The “Bourne Identity,” in reality, it probably won’t occur (however there are some exceptions depending on the amount of damage). The correct term for internalizing any skills is “Motor Memory;” and skills (i.e. fighting) that are linked to the body’s balance auto-response system are more quickly learned and retained than other methods.
#2) The Amygdala and Reptilian Brain provide the same Functions
FALSE: the small nut sized amygdala (there are two, one on each side of the brain) among other things is the center for identification of danger, (fear headquarters) and is fundamental for self preservation. When triggered, it gives rise to fear and anxiety (through the R-complex) which leadS an animal or human into a stage of alertness, preparing for “FIGHT or FLIGHT.”
The reptilian brain (also called R-Complex or Archipallium) is responsible for self preservation. It is there that the mechanisms of aggression, survival and reproduction reside. It also controls some involuntary actions and the control of certain visceral functions (cardiac, pulmonary, intestinal, etc), indispensable to the preservation of life.
#3) When we face Danger our Main Brain (Conscious Brain) shuts down and our Functions are taken over by the Reptilian Brain
FALSE: when we are in danger a message is instantly sent from our senses to the amygdala, the amygdala in turn alerts the automatic response systems (through the reptilian brain) and a few milliseconds later another message is sent to the cortex.
The first message communicates that there is danger and initiates the startle response. This first pathway does not tell us what the danger is, but gives us a few milliseconds for the body to prepare itself. The second pathway allows us to analyze the threat and respond appropriately to it. All of this happens in the space of a few seconds or less.
#4) We have two Cerebral units of the Brain, the Reptilian Brain & the Cortex
FALSE: we actually have three cerebral units to the brain, the Archipallium (R-Complex or Reptilian Brain) which governs self-preservation (vital functions) and reproduction; the Paleopallium (Old Mammalian) consisting of the limbic system and governs emotions; and the Neopallium (New Mammalian – or Neo-Cortex) and governs rational thought or intellectual tasks.
#5) When we feel Butterflies in the Stomach (signaling fear) this is an Intuitive way of warning us of Imminent Danger
FALSE: the feeling of butterflies in the stomach is not intuitive at all but physical, it occurs because our amygdala has sent messages to our body indicating potential imminent danger and our body prepares for this by emptying the blood from the stomach into the brain and muscles.
#6) Being in an Increased Adrenaline-aroused or stressful state over a long period of time (or many shorter intervals) is not really harmful.
FALSE: In short bursts, elevated adrenaline is not damaging or dangerous. In fact, that is what it is designed to do. But when sustained at high levels over a longer period of time, it can be very harmful. The most serious effect of elevated adrenaline, where it is persistent and unrelenting, is its damage to the heart and arteries. These include: An increase in the production of blood cholesterol; a narrowing of the capillaries and other blood vessels that can shut down the blood supply to the heart muscle; a decrease in the body’s ability to remove cholesterol; an increase in the blood’s tendency to clot; and an increase in the depositing of plaque on the walls of the arteries.
#7) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not a real illness, it’s just a Condition of Hypersensitivity in some Individuals
FALSE: PTSD is a real illness and anyone is susceptible if they encounter or live through a scary or near death experience. You can get PTSD if you have been in combat, been raped or sexually abused, a victim in a horrific accident, been in a hurricane or tornado etc. PTSD usually begins after three months of the event but sometimes starts years later. Some symptoms are scary memories, depression, trouble sleeping, or anger. PTSD can be treated with medicine and therapy.
#8) The Only Function of Adrenaline is to give us a Boost of Energy in times of Stress or Danger
FASLE: Adrenalin also has another function, that is, it engraves a fearful or traumatic experience into your brain. This provides a useful function for all animals/humans since it provides a memory or imprint of a dangerous event, thus if a similar incident occurs in the future, the brain will recognize it and react quickly. In some individuals this imprinting is hyper-excited beyond the control of the individual, necessitating the need for medical treatment.
#9) All people have the same “Startle Response”
FALSE: some people have a heightened or exaggerated startle response that does not shut off with because they are unable to recognize “Safety Signals,” the sense of relief that tells you there is nothing to be scared of or the danger has subsided. Due to some traumatic event such as combat, rape or other catastrophes, some people have lost the ability to overcome fear and the switch is always on the “On Position.” Exaggerated startle remains tightly linked to trauma related psychological illness. In fact, according to DSM-IV, Post traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is now the only anxiety disorder in which “Hyperstartle” is listed as a core symptom.
#10) Being “in the Zone” refers to an Intuitive Feeling that Athletes find themselves in, Just Before and/or during an Event
FALSE: The term “In the Zone” is an actual physiological condition that can be measured in a laboratory. When we learn something new, many areas of the brain are stimulated; but as we become more skilled, brain activity is more focused and memories [and shortcuts] are being formed that automatically signal the muscles to perform.
When an athlete is “In the Zone,” the brain structures that are essential to performing a task (e.g. competing in an event) are fully engaged and those structures of mental processes that are not essential drop out. An athlete can also be “Over the Zone,” that is, perform past his/her expectations and may overshoot their desired performance, which is not desired and in some cases can be dangerous.
