Increasing brain health ‘app-titude’
A Queensland neuroscientist has developed the brain vitality index (BVI) app that combines the latest advances in neuroplasticity neuroscience, brain imaging and mobile technology in order to understand brain health.
Neuroscientist, Professor Selena Bartlett, who has developed a new brain health 'app', says the mind is like a 'massive computer'.
Professor Selena Bartlett claimed the BVI app would increase the understanding of brain health in order to live a vital life.
“The great breakthrough in neuroscience is that the brain has an amazing capacity for change, that is, the brain can change not just when you are young but forever,” she said.
“This means, if we don't like what we are saying to ourselves we can work towards changing this immediately and begin to rewrite our brain stories.”
According to Professor Bartlett, she has learnt as a neuroscientist, you are not stuck with the brain you inherited.
She developed the BVI app to help people become aware of their own brain health.
“Often we are not aware of what we are saying to ourselves or the impact this has on our brain health,” she said.
“Your brain is a massive computer. If you get up in the morning thinking 'I'm sad,' or 'I'm worthless', it's like entering a search for 'worthless'.
“Your brain then sets about finding the evidence to support these thoughts and so the whole negative feedback loop becomes part of your brain's hardware.
“Our brains hold onto negative thoughts more than positive thoughts and if we maintain and reiterate endless negative self-narratives it causes stress.
“We all have a genetic susceptibility to stress which is stored in the amygdala where memory is held the longest because it's one of the oldest parts of the brain, evolutionarily speaking.”
The app aims to help people begin to apply the latest ideas in neuroplasticity and dampen or override negative thinking to limit stress and let new thoughts be forged into another part of the brain.
Professor Bartlett said rewiring the internal narrative took time and practice until it became automatic.
“The BVI app aims to provide a tool and tailored suggestions to help the brain refocus negative thinking and promote positive thinking. The suggestions are simple and easy to integrate into our lives all the time,” she said.
“We have to identify that stress is written into our brains by taking note of the negative thoughts and not feeding them. A brain that is fed novelty rather than negativity gets on with life and stays young.”
