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How the Brain Connects to Cognitive & Behavioral Change: Bridges to Better Treatment
Not only do nerve impulses from the brain guide human behavior, but evidence shows how practice and treatment can change interactions in the nervous system. Brain imaging and cognitive-behavioral therapy are at the leading edge of these advances in autism, social anxiety, PTSD, and the default state based on clinical psychology and neuroscience.
Eye contact as a social response affected by oxytocin hormone, anxiety-related signals from the prefrontal lobe, the brain's default mode, and cellphone effects are only some of the areas explored. These stories describe how neuroscience can advance our understanding and treatment of social anxiety, autistic spectrum disorder, PTSD, and depression, and how resilience, technology, and treatment can affect people who face these and other challenges.
Among the challenges discussed are childhood stress, tics, and stroke rehabilitation. These stories are works in progress. If you are a reader fascinated by the human brain's connections to behavior, a student of psychology, medicine, nursing, counseling, or therapy, or a clinician, you may find these stories surprising—in a good way.
Eye contact as a social response affected by oxytocin hormone, anxiety-related signals from the prefrontal lobe, the brain's default mode, and cellphone effects are only some of the areas explored. These stories describe how neuroscience can advance our understanding and treatment of social anxiety, autistic spectrum disorder, PTSD, and depression, and how resilience, technology, and treatment can affect people who face these and other challenges.
Among the challenges discussed are childhood stress, tics, and stroke rehabilitation. These stories are works in progress. If you are a reader fascinated by the human brain's connections to behavior, a student of psychology, medicine, nursing, counseling, or therapy, or a clinician, you may find these stories surprising—in a good way.
53 pages, Paperback
Published March 3, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 31, 2017
I’ve always been fascinated by how the brain works and how it relates to our impulses and behaviors. Can science work together with clinical psychology and technology to help us understand and treat such things as anxiety, PTSD, depression and autism? Dr. Robert Lavine thinks so and after reading his book, so do I.
Clinical neuroscience can be dry reading but Dr. Lavine’s writing style is easy-going, knowledgeable and insightful. Each chapter deals with another treatment/theory and he adds applicable examples the reader can understand to support his findings. Lavine quotes from numerous studies and professionals in the medical community which adds validity to his thesis. While he talks about various treatments, he lets the reader come to their own conclusion, which I appreciate.
The best part of the book is Lavine’s repeated statement about discussing all options with a physician and/or professional. I like that because it reaffirms my belief that while research is great (and required for anyone in this day and age), it’s always best to discuss it with your doctor before starting a new treatment.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to live a healthy life because once you understand how your brain relates to the rest of your body, everything else makes sense.
Favorite Character/Quote: “How do some people do better than expected despite poverty, abuse, and other major challenges? … the ability to muster inner resources, an inner ‘locus of control’, and an ability to re-evaluate a threatening situation in a more realistic and empowering manner that encourages people to take meaningful actions to help themselves or others.”
My Rating: 5 stars
This review first appeared: https://princessofthelight.wordpress.com
Clinical neuroscience can be dry reading but Dr. Lavine’s writing style is easy-going, knowledgeable and insightful. Each chapter deals with another treatment/theory and he adds applicable examples the reader can understand to support his findings. Lavine quotes from numerous studies and professionals in the medical community which adds validity to his thesis. While he talks about various treatments, he lets the reader come to their own conclusion, which I appreciate.
The best part of the book is Lavine’s repeated statement about discussing all options with a physician and/or professional. I like that because it reaffirms my belief that while research is great (and required for anyone in this day and age), it’s always best to discuss it with your doctor before starting a new treatment.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to live a healthy life because once you understand how your brain relates to the rest of your body, everything else makes sense.
Favorite Character/Quote: “How do some people do better than expected despite poverty, abuse, and other major challenges? … the ability to muster inner resources, an inner ‘locus of control’, and an ability to re-evaluate a threatening situation in a more realistic and empowering manner that encourages people to take meaningful actions to help themselves or others.”
My Rating: 5 stars
This review first appeared: https://princessofthelight.wordpress.com
July 9, 2017
If simply looking at the title, How the Brain Connects to Cognitive & Behavioral Change by Robert Lavine, PH.D., one might pass on reading this book based on the seeming topic and potential dryness.
However, nothing can be further from the truth.
True, the book, through research, experiments and explaining the anatomy of the brain, explains in detail how the brain responds through eye contact and other manifestations can be pretty "heady." However, when the author stirs in the reality of eye contact as it relates to Autism, the treatment of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), the brain's action when using cell phones & GPS Systems (inattention deafness) etc, he presents an interesting and informative narrative that can be relevant to a broader audience. Some members of that audience could include educators, medical personnel or the "average" individual who interacts with others during the course of their day or in understanding their own actions.
In addition to explaining the physiology of the brain, the author shares research studies being done addressing the possible treatment of some of the brain's behaviors.
There are many interesting chapters. One such chapter was on resiliency. David Ross of the Chicago Cubs and Alexander Hamilton are cited with the thought being that resiliency can be learned by the brain.
How the Brain Connects to Cognitive & Behavioral Change by Robert Lavine is an interesting read, not dry as the title may suggest and will educate and inform the reader regarding the amazing human brain.
However, nothing can be further from the truth.
True, the book, through research, experiments and explaining the anatomy of the brain, explains in detail how the brain responds through eye contact and other manifestations can be pretty "heady." However, when the author stirs in the reality of eye contact as it relates to Autism, the treatment of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), the brain's action when using cell phones & GPS Systems (inattention deafness) etc, he presents an interesting and informative narrative that can be relevant to a broader audience. Some members of that audience could include educators, medical personnel or the "average" individual who interacts with others during the course of their day or in understanding their own actions.
In addition to explaining the physiology of the brain, the author shares research studies being done addressing the possible treatment of some of the brain's behaviors.
There are many interesting chapters. One such chapter was on resiliency. David Ross of the Chicago Cubs and Alexander Hamilton are cited with the thought being that resiliency can be learned by the brain.
How the Brain Connects to Cognitive & Behavioral Change by Robert Lavine is an interesting read, not dry as the title may suggest and will educate and inform the reader regarding the amazing human brain.
December 10, 2017
A very informative and well-researched book on how the brain works and the things that impact the effectiveness of the brain. The chapters are short and to the point with plenty of references for further reading and understanding. The medical jargon was kept to a minimum and well explained.
A number of chapters that I liked were the chapter about the character of resilience. It was mentioned that people who coped with stress in an active, healthy way in their daily lives tended to have a particular pattern of changed activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. The greater the magnitude of the change in the neural signal, the more active copers were the persons.
Another chapter I found of interest was about treating Tourette’s Syndrome. There are techniques taught to persons with TS to recognize each tic and sensation that preceded it and practice competing movements that prevent it or make it less conspicuous.
A number of chapters that I liked were the chapter about the character of resilience. It was mentioned that people who coped with stress in an active, healthy way in their daily lives tended to have a particular pattern of changed activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. The greater the magnitude of the change in the neural signal, the more active copers were the persons.
Another chapter I found of interest was about treating Tourette’s Syndrome. There are techniques taught to persons with TS to recognize each tic and sensation that preceded it and practice competing movements that prevent it or make it less conspicuous.
July 10, 2017
An interesting read that covers several brain related issues
This book is about the human brain and how it works. The author has done a lot of detailed research and uses the details from MRI and other technology scans to prove the theories. This book will help you to understand the brain better and will explain some of the effects from autism, PTSD, and stroke to name a few. I found this to be very interesting information on many complex brain issues. I was very surprised with the amount of detail included in the book. A good tool for anyone looking to understand the brain or learn more about specific brain problems. I gained some valuable insight from this book. You should give this one a read and expand your knowledge and I understanding.
This book is about the human brain and how it works. The author has done a lot of detailed research and uses the details from MRI and other technology scans to prove the theories. This book will help you to understand the brain better and will explain some of the effects from autism, PTSD, and stroke to name a few. I found this to be very interesting information on many complex brain issues. I was very surprised with the amount of detail included in the book. A good tool for anyone looking to understand the brain or learn more about specific brain problems. I gained some valuable insight from this book. You should give this one a read and expand your knowledge and I understanding.
December 3, 2017
Psychology is one of my favorite subjects, so this book was obviously a must-read. It is a very short book too, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming if you’re not 100% clued in to all of the elements that the author is talking about. You can always stop and do a little extra research without feeling like this book is going to take you an eternity to read. I really loved the connections the author made with many of the issues that seem so common today. With a few simple changes you can really change the way your brain works. The science behind this book is clearly stated too, so if you do wish to look further into it you won’t be grasping in the dark if you don’t have a degree in the subject. I would recommend this book to anyone hoping to learn more about the brain and the way it works.
March 5, 2018
An informative, easy to comprehend book on the subject of brain anatomy and its internal processing. The author has done a good job in presenting various states of mind and especially how brain responds to eye contact, how brain acts when using a cell phone or GPS systems and social awareness during that time. The book shows the hard work of the author in the form of examples and research studies. It’s a good resource for anyone, whether from the medical field or not. It possibly answer a few questions for readers on the mystery of brain and human reactions.
January 16, 2023
A fun fact that I learn from this book is that possible with autism have big brains but this is not correlate intellect.
And also I recommend reading the atomic habits
And also I recommend reading the atomic habits
March 12, 2017
The reader can tell from when you first start reading this book that Robert Lavine, the author, has done extensive research and is truly intrigued by the human brain. The brain connects us all, but that doesn’t mean each and every one of them will run hundred percent the same. The main thing that caught my eye was his take on anxiety and the triggers that go with it. Me and my two siblings have anxiety, but from different reasons. Before reading this book, I didn’t know I had any behavioral changes or my if my siblings did either. The main changes were that we don’t party like we use to and watch less tv because flashing lights and loud noises were subconsciously linked to our anxiety, so we stopped doing the things with bright lights and loud noises. I didn’t understand why some things trigger my anxiety and other things trigger my siblings, but we also have similar triggers. It was all confusing. Robert Lavine didn’t cure it, but helped me understand why I have it and where in the brain it comes from.
December 10, 2017
A very informative and well-researched book on how the brain works and the things that impact the effectiveness of the brain. The chapters are short and to the point with plenty of references for further reading and understanding. The medical jargon was kept to a minimum and well explained.
A number of chapters that I liked were the chapter about the character of resilience. It was mentioned that people who coped with stress in an active, healthy way in their daily lives tended to have a particular pattern of changed activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. The greater the magnitude of the change in the neural signal, the more active copers were the persons.
Another chapter I found of interest was about treating Tourette’s Syndrome. There are techniques taught to persons with TS to recognize each tic and sensation that preceded it and practice competing movements that prevent it or make it less conspicuous.
A number of chapters that I liked were the chapter about the character of resilience. It was mentioned that people who coped with stress in an active, healthy way in their daily lives tended to have a particular pattern of changed activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. The greater the magnitude of the change in the neural signal, the more active copers were the persons.
Another chapter I found of interest was about treating Tourette’s Syndrome. There are techniques taught to persons with TS to recognize each tic and sensation that preceded it and practice competing movements that prevent it or make it less conspicuous.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews