Neuroscience Behind Hot-Headed E-Mails Supports Using BrainWise

Posted On: May 6, 2015

hot headed at computerThe Wall Street Journal reports that research conducted by Duke psychiatrist Murali Doraiswam explains why it is easy for people to send off angry emails.  By scanning people’s brains when they are making decisions, he found that when our emotions get aroused – by excitement, stress, love, anger, and these “hot cognitions” trigger the emotionally driven limbic system and amygdala.  http://blogs.wsj.com/experts/2015/03/23/the-neuroscience-behind-hot-headed-emails/?mod=WSJ_article_EditorsPicks_3#&mod=wsj_valettop_email

As a BrainWise practitioner, you will recognize this and understand why it happening!  You also know what to do to prevent the incidents.  Dr. Doraiswam suggests that to avoid these incidences, simply being aware that you are getting “fired up” – or, in BrainWise terms, recognize your internal and external red flag warnings.  To help you calm down (or lower your Emotions Elevator), he suggests using meditation and getting support from a friend.

You have these skills, and even more, at your disposal.  You understand how your five senses trigger your emotions to react impulsively, and that building neural connections to your Wizard Brain (prefrontal cortex), you learn how to stop, think and control your behaviors. When you stay off of your Emotions Elevator, you can quickly assess the problem, identify your choices, consider the consequences and communicate effectively.  And this is why hot-headed emails are not a problem for BrainWise users.

Please follow and like us:

BrainWise Newsletter #100: Stop and Think: A History of Building Brain Connections

Real Stories, Real Impact: BrainWise Educators Empower Generations   Dr. Eric Kandel received the 2000 Nobel Prize for his research describing neuroplasticity — how the brain builds connections when it learns something new. His findings inspired the development of BrainWise as a way to help children and youth learn skills to Stop and Think. The […]

Read More »

From Seed to Synapse

Cultivating Thinking Skills with BrainWise “Planting a seed” is how social worker Dr. Gary Brayton describes his decades-long advocacy for teaching BrainWise and training new instructors. He recently trained 32 health care workers, including longtime instructor Melissa Hudson, in Calgary, Alberta, to become BrainWise trainers. (for background see Hull newsletter   BW professional group.) These […]

Read More »

Bridging States, Building Minds

Shelia Nicholson is a double line in the Constellation of Support for students, teachers and families in the Ferguson, Missouri community. Last March, she took on a new mission: helping a class of low-performing third graders finish the year strong. She turned to BrainWise for guidance—and brought a powerful coalition with her.  (See her story […]

Read More »