Maybe this is a bit off topic, maybe not. I saw somethings in the following post that I thought would be really good for folks here to read:
Quote:
Strengthening brain wiring to control impulses/emotions!
Recent brain research has identified that many on the spectrum have weak neurological connections (neurological pathways) between the different brain centers. These weaker connections make it more difficult for the different brain centers to communicate with one another. This has major influence on the way we process, interpret, and respond to information. This also has major impact on why many people on the spectrum have emotional regulation difficulties; thus poor emotional control problems.
In a very simplistic view, the brain has an “emotion” center (Limbic system) and the “thinking” center (Frontal Cortex). The emotion center is part of the primitive center deeper in the brain, that experiences “raw” emotion. It is the part of the brain that provides immediate raw emotion and the fight or flight reaction. The thinking center (pre-frontal lobes) provides us the ability to immediately inhibit our raw emotion long enough to appraise and evaluate the degree of threat, and taper down our emotional reaction. It allows us to control our impulses, by overriding our primitive raw emotions. This inhibiting, appraising, and overriding ability of the cortex can only occur if the neurological pathways from the “thinking” center to the “emotion “ center are strong enough to keep the emotional impulses in check.
Now, if these communication pathways are underdeveloped and weak, then the thinking center cannot not quickly inhibit the emotional response long enough to appraise and override the reaction. Hence the person emotionally goes from 0-100 quickly, over-reacts, and also takes much longer to calm down. The overwhelming emotional tidal wave quickly sets off the “fight or flight” response, which overpowers the “thinking center’s” ability to inhibit it. The person reacts more from the primitive survival (emotion) center than from the “thinking” (appraising, evaluating) part of the brain. In order for the brain to be able to cognitively appraise, assess, and evaluate what is needed, it has to be able to inhibit the immediate response from the emotion center (Limbic System).
In normal development the Limbic System (emotion center) exists at birth. The “thinking” center (pre-frontal cortex) is the slowest to develop; gradually developing throughout childhood and early adulthood. That is why infants and young children have poor impulse control and weak ability to regulate their emotions. As the nervous system matures over the years, the thinking center develops and exerts more control over the emotion center. The person becomes able to inhibit his impulses, appraise the situation, plan a course of action, think about the consequences of his actions, monitor and evaluate the effects of his behavior. However, in autism, if the neurological connections are underdeveloped and the communication is weak between these two centers, the thinking center will not be as able to immediately inhibit the strong reactions from the emotion center. They are more likely to act on impulse, even though they can tell you later that they shouldn’t have. They are more likely to be overwhelmed and emotionally reactive. Also, when they cannot be confident that their “thinking” center will inhibit these reactive emotional responses, they are more anxious about being emotionally reactive. This increased anxiety further hinders their “thinking brain’s “ abilities to inhibit and control their reactive emotion center. The person becomes anxious and apprehensive when experiencing emotion and panics easily from fear of losing emotional control. They cannot trust that their thinking center will be able to control their emotional responses. This insecurity leaves them feeling vulnerable in any situations that may overwhelm them.
Given the nature of this weakness, how can we help? Research on brain plasticity has shown we can strengthen neurological pathways by exercising them. If that is true, then we should (in theory) be able to strengthen the neurological pathways that connect the “thinking” center to the “emotion” center, to become better able to inhibit and control our emotional reactions. We can do this in children by activating the “thinking” center early enough to inhibit the “emotion center”. By activating the “thinking center” earlier, and practicing “think before we act” strategies, we can strengthen the neurological pathways that allow the thinking center to inhibit and override the emotion center.
Young children, and individuals on the spectrum often become so overwhelmed with emotion that they do not, or cannot, activate the thinking center into action soon enough. We can help the child strengthen this ability by:
1. Continually model for the children how to “think things through”. How to stop and think, before acting. How to appraise how threatening a situation is, assess what is needed, plan an response, and execute and monitor the action. Parents can do this by “thinking out loud” as they go through the day. Slowing things down and “thinking out loud” how they appraise and evaluate what to do and how to do it. They can “think out loud” as they face simple challenges in their daily routine.
2. In addition, parents can help the children learn to “think” their way through things;, to stop and think, as the children do things throughout the day. Do the activities with the child, slowing them down, and “thinking it out” together; appraising what is needed, how to do it, and monitor how well they are doing. Mentoring how to appraise, monitor, and evaluate. This process activates the “thinking” center of the brain, making it stronger and more automatic in response. We need to activate the “thinking” center to inhibit the emotion center. We need to practice this strategy throughout the day to engrain activating the “thinking center” in all daily activity. This will strengthen the “thinking” functions to become better at inhibiting the reactions from the emotion center.
3. Parents can also help the child practice and role play using these “thinking” (problem solving) strategies for situations that commonly cause strong emotional reactions for the child. We do this by making a list of common, frustrating situations for the child. We write out each one on an index card. Next we make a problem solving worksheet with four questions on it: (1) what is the problem, (2) why is it a problem, (3) what are possible options, and (4) what are the possible effects of each option? Essentially a “think it through” worksheet. Then each day we pick a couple of problem cards and use the worksheet to “think it through.” In addition, as new situations crop up, we write them on index cards and add them to the stack to practice. This way we are using real life situations that common for the child. This is a very laborious approach at first, but teaches the child pre-appraised solutions to common issues for them, plus teaches them to “stop and think” before hitting boiling point. It becomes easier and quicker as times goes on.
4. Next, the parents and children need to identify early signs of apprehension and agitation, so that they can intervene early, help the child “stop and think”, and activate the “thinking” brain center early enough to inhibit their emotional reactions. It is very important that this process is activated early in the emotional chain so that it is easier to inhibit the emotional reaction before they become overwhelming. In addition, we usually start off by programming little snags into the children’s day, that will present the “just right” challenge, so the children can practice using their “thinking strategies”. They first learn to use these skills under manageable situations, before trying to tackle more problematic events. With the parents help in scaffolding these events for success, the children become stronger in using their “thinking” brain to inhibit and control their “emotional” brain.
As the child learns to activate their “thinking” center quicker and more efficiently, they strengthen the neurological connections between the brain centers, and become more confident in controlling their emotional impulses. Don’t expect this to occur overnight. It needs frequent and long term practice to develop these neurological connections.
23 Jun 2013, 10:35 pm
