3 - Brain Story

Question 1

What are the 4 processing states that exist?

Answer 1

1.) Calm (Green)
2.) Flooded (Red)
3.) Hypo-alert (Blue)
4.) Hyper-vigilant (Combo)

Question 2

What does the calm processing state imply?

Answer 2

Presents with the ability to engage with others. Remains as the processing state with considered “normal” ways our nervous system responds to stress.

Question 3

What does the flooded processing state imply?

Answer 3

When the nervous system is firing quickly. E.g: babies crying may make the adult feel agitated, angry upset and overwhelmed.

Question 4

What does the hypo-alert processing state imply?

Answer 4

When the nervous system is firing slowly. A person may be quiet, depressed, or dissociated. These children often get over-looked because they are quiet.

Question 5

What does the hyper-vigilant processing state imply?

Answer 5

They are very watchful and nervous but quiet. Child may be whiny, adult may be overly anxious or either can present in a quiet manner.

Question 6

What are the 3 kinds of stress that exist?

Answer 6

1.) Positive stress
2.) Tolerable stress
3.) Toxic stress

Question 7

How does the body respond when exposed to stress?

Answer 7

Releases hormones for “fight or flight”

Question 8

What do elevated stress hormones contribute to the brain?

Answer 8

Too elevated stress hormones for too long may disrupt the brain architecture.

Question 9

What is positive stress?

Answer 9

It is a healthy part of brain development.
It is a mild stress response which prepares the brain and the body to cope with stressful situations later in life.
Caring adult offers support so the duration is short lived.

Question 10

What is tolerable stress?

Answer 10

It is not a harmful level of stress with support from caregivers.
Known to be a bit more severe.
Won’t do last damage if caring adults are present to buffer the stress response.
Can vary with duration + intensity

Question 11

What is toxic stress?

Answer 11

It is an intense, repeated and prolonged response to stressful events (weakens brain architecture)
No caring adults around to buffer the stress response
Disrupts brain architecture and increases lifelong health risks

Question 12

What long-lasting contribution would toxic stress and the brain have?

Answer 12

It will cause a shrinkage of neurons documented in the Hippocampus and Prefrontal cortex

Question 13

What is the brain’s executive function system a metaphor?

Answer 13

Air traffic control: in which integrated cognitive, social and emotional skills are paying attention, planning ahead, dealing with conflict, following rules, and controlling emotions.

It is having the ability to prioritize and avoid pile-ups

Helps the child regulate information and the flow of information coming in

Allows the child to plan ahead as they grow older.

Question 14

What can a poor executive function contribute?

Answer 14

Mental collisions, stress and frustration
- This would require support of adults to model the brain

Question 15

What is resilience in relation to brain development?

Answer 15

It is the ability to respond positively in the face of adversity. It is the ability to bounce back from major life stresses.

Question 16

Where does the foundation of resilience come from?

Answer 16

It is built over the exposure of our early and current life experiences.

Question 17

What is the purpose of a resilience scale?

Answer 17

It shows how genes and life experiences combine to shape life outcomes. They are the early experiences that change lifelong health outcomes.

Question 18

How do negative experiences affect lifelong health and wellness of an individual?

Answer 18

They contribute to poor health and wellness (diseases, anxiety and depression)

Question 19

How do positive supports affect the lifelong health and wellness of an individual?

Answer 19

They increase likelihood of lifelong health and wellness which is supported by strong relationships, serve-and-return experiences, and learning opportunities.

Question 20

What would be the major advantage of being a more resilient individual rather than a less resilient individual when faced in adversity?

Answer 20

A more resilient individual would require little positive support to make a positive impact, which would have less leverage on negative experiences.

While a less resilient individual will require only few negative experiences to become more impactful.

Question 21

How do we shift the fulcrum to build resilience in an individual?

Answer 21

• Community support (essential)
• In childhood and adolescence but anyone can become more resilient with positive supports

*serve and return interactions and supportive relationships and communities can shift the position of the fulcrum over time.