New Article
 The
holiday season is supposed to be filled with joy and thanksgiving.
Unfortunately, sometimes bad things happen to good people.
I have become aware of several accidents recently, including
the death of one young man on Thanksgiving Day due to
unexpected asphyxiation. Many times these sad incidents
also serve to accentuate the differences in the way male
brains and female brains grieve. Due to the great disparity
in grieving styles between the genders, it’s no
surprise that some relationships fall apart when loss
occurs. Even when the partners do not separate, they may
misread each other’s messages and fail to offer
the support, acceptance, and nurturing that are so vital
for healthy healing and recovery.
In addition, I believe there is a vast difference between
the grieving process useful in preparation for one’s
own death and the grief recovery that is effective for
survivors of loss. The Kubler-Ross work has been landmark
in helping individuals themselves prepare to die with
dignity. The Grief Recovery Pyramid Model, on
the other hand, is designed to help survivors move through
grief recovery more successfully. Use the information
included in my summary: To Grieve Is to Heal
– Grief Recovery Pyramid Model.
Read
To Grieve Is to Heal... |
Brain Bender
More stimulation for your cerebral neurons! [Note: If
you are receiving the text-only version of this email
newsletter, you will need to view the Brain Bender online
(see link below).]
See
Jan/Feb Brain Bender online... |
Riddle
 How
many letters are in the alphabet?
See Nov/Dec
Bulletin online... |
Brain-Q
 By
request, I am including a puzzle in each Brain Bulletin
to provide additional options for brain stimulation. The
puzzle rules are similar to those of Sudoku, but the puzzle
uses letters of the alphabet rather than numbers. The
object is to complete each grid so that every 3-by-3 box
(there are 9 such boxes in each puzzle), every row, and
every column contain the letters in the puzzle word--used
only once.
Solutions are available on my web site. [Note: If you
are receiving the text-only version of the email newsletter,
you will need to view the Brain-Q
puzzle online.]
The puzzle words, Two Brains, are a
reminder that the cerebrum is composed of two hemispheres.
Brain
Q solution for Nov-Dec 2006... |
Seminar Opportunities
 Saturday,
January 6, 2007, 10-11am
Napa, CA – Community Seminar (no fee)
Fireside Room at 1105 “G” Street
Affirmation, Part 1
Tuesday, February 20, 2007, 10-11am
Santa Rosa, CA – Community Seminar (no fee)
Spring Lake Village, 5555 Montgomery Drive
Age-Proof Your Brain
Friday, February 23, 2007, 9am-4pm
St. Helena, CA– The Women’s Center of St.
Helena Hospital
The Brain and Male-Female Differences
To register, contact Carrie at beggc1@ah.org.
Saturday, February 24, 2007, 10-11am
Napa, CA – Community Seminar (no fee)
Fireside Room at 1105 “G” Street
Affirmation, Part 2
Plan ahead for upcoming “Brain Programs”
- I only present this special seminar a few times each
year. It is preferable to complete the BTSA in advance.
Audit rates are available for those who have already taken
the BTSA.
Friday, March 16, 2007, 9am-4pm
Salem, Oregon
The Brain Program (bring own lunch)
To register, contact Janet Williams at (503) 363-0390
or eastsalemsda@msn.com
Friday, March 23, 2007, 9am-4pm
Spokane, Washington
The Brain Program
To register, contact Kathi Best at (509) 467-5400 or kkbest@comcast.net
Saturday, April 21, 2007, 9am-4pm
St. Helena, CA
The Brain Program (bring own lunch)
Note: This Saturday program is by request, so you “don’t
have to take a day off work.”
To register, contact Carrie Begg at (707) 963-1219 or
beggc1@ah.org.
View
Dr. Taylor's speaking schedule... |
PowerPoint Slides
 My
webmaster has uploaded PowerPoint slides for several seminars.
Feel free to peruse available topics.
View
PowerPoint topics available... |
Frequently Asked Questions
 Q.
Recently a friend of mine told me about a child who died
as a result of playing a game called Black-Out. What is
it and how does it affect the brain?
A. This is NOT a game (in spite of the name). It is a
highly dangerous and potentially life-threatening activity
used to alter one’s state of consciousness. It has
been practiced worldwide for generations and has been
passed down in playgrounds, summer camps, neighborhoods,
and probably via online chat-rooms these days. In almost
any group of adults, one can find someone who played this
game in some form or another during childhood. It is known
by a plethora of other labels including Choking Game,
Fainting Game, Dream Game, Pass-out Game, Flat Liner,
Suffocation Roulette, California Choke, Space Cowboy,
Space Monkey, and Purple Dragon to name just a few.
The goal is to achieve a euphoric state by stopping the
flow of oxygen-containing blood to the brain. Individuals
who engage in this type of activity are typically juvenile
males, but juvenile females and adults of both genders
have also been involved. The activity has been responsible
for hundreds of juvenile deaths, and likely for many others
that were listed as "suicides" although no suicide
note was left. Even if they survive, people are probably
killing brain cells each time they engage in this activity.
The damage is also likely to be permanent and cumulative.
Neurological disabilities (among survivors) are typically
in the juvenile male cohort.
Sometimes children choke each other until the person
being choked passes out. The pressure on the arteries
is then released and blood flow to the brain resumes causing
a "rush" as consciousness returns. There are
variations of this activity which involve hyper-ventilating
until the participant loses consciousness. The variation
in blood pressure may also cause strokes, seizures, and
retinal damage.
Sadly enough, most victims are not children in trouble.
Rather they tend to be well-liked, active, intelligent,
stable youngsters who wanted nothing to do with drugs
or alcohol. This was an activity they felt was safe. In
addition, they don’t realize that a child choking
another child who is injured or who dies, could be indicted
and prosecuted for his/her part in the injury or death—not
a pretty picture.
It is NEVER safe. This activity is dangerous enough in
groups. The danger becomes even greater when a ligature
is used and the activity is performed alone. If the individual
loses consciousness and there is no one there to IMMEDIATELY
release the pressure, he is unable to help himself. Most
of the children who have died from this were alone.
Children have no clue about the physiological principles
involved and need to be told by the adults in their lives
how dangerous this is. Also, most children have no concept
of their own mortality. They truly believe nothing can
hurt them. Children may not fully understand the outcomes
from playing this deadly game, but as they do it more
they may become addicted to the rush/experience. As they
grow older they continue to do this and it can progress
into something even more dangerous. Unfortunately, it
is not only children whose brains have been damaged or
destroyed by this activity but also adults.
The attractions of the activity are myriad. It may be
done as a dare, it can induce a brief sense of euphoria,
it is reported to enhance erotic feelings, it may be amusing
to some to watch others losing consciousness or behaving
erratically, the prospect of an altered state of consciousness
may be attractive, and participants may appear “cool”
because it may be viewed as risky. It is also free, legal,
and can appear innocuous to those who don’t understand
the mechanism involved.
Warning signs may include:
- Any suspicious mark on the side of the neck, sometimes
hidden by means of a turtleneck, scarf, or permanently
turned-up collar
- Changes in personality, such as becoming overly aggressive
or agitated
- Any type of strap, rope, or belt lying about near
the child without any reason (questions about such objects
are often eluded)
- Headaches, loss of concentration, a flushed face
- Bloodshot eyes or any other noticeable signs of stress
on the eyes
- A thud in the bedroom or against a wall indicating
a fall
- Questions or comments about the effects, sensations,
or dangers of strangulation
The only antidote I know of is to TALK ABOUT this activity
and its consequences openly and with everyone—children
(starting in elementary grades), parents, and teachers.
Young people need to be told by the trusted adults in
their lives how dangerous this really is. That information
needs to be part of curricula addressing other risky behaviors
(e.g., alcohol, street drugs).
You can find additional information at the web site below:
http://www.deadlygameschildrenplay.com... |
News Note
 James
E. Zull is Professor of Biology and Director of the University
Center for Innovation in Teaching and Education, at Case
Western Reserve University. He is also author of the book
The Art of Changing the Brain.
Learning actually alters the brain. It changes the number
and strength of synapses (connections between neurons).
According to the author, the biggest difference in brain
function, after right/left hemisphere, is the front and
back cortex. Dr. Zull describes functions of the brain
in clear non-technical language and relates them to the
real world of the classroom. He explains that the learning
cycle arises naturally from the structure of the brain.
It involves experience, reflecting, abstracting, and active
testing. Every properly functioning brain does these four
things, and if you are missing one of them, you are missing
a nervous system.
Zull believes that integration is one of the most crucial
aspects of how brains learn and that it involves the interplay
of the front and back cortex of the brain. The back cortex
is responsible for some memories, information, and data,
while the front cortex is involved in creating ideas and
initiating action (e.g., transforming ideas into action).
The information he presents can be utilized outside the
classroom, as well, since helping people learn tasks/activities
is an integral part of many career paths.
Available
from Amazon.com... |
Point to Ponder
We either make ourselves happy or miserable.
The amount of work is the same. -- Carlos
Castenada, mystic and author (1925-1998)
This might be a good New Year’s Resolution. How
empowering to understand that during this next 12 months
you, and you alone, have the power to choose whether you
are happy or miserable. I can tell you from personal experience
that choosing to be happy beats being miserable, hands
down. There is no “key” to happiness—the
door is always open. Does choosing to be happy mean that
nothing undesirable will ever cross your path? I wish!
It does mean that when bad things happen you recognize
what is is, and you invoke the 20:80 Rule.* Look for the
silver lining, discover what you “get” when
you have to give up something, and recognize that it takes
the same amount of work to be miserable as it does to
be happy. Take your pick.
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