The Brain’s Negative Bias

The Brain’s Negative Bias

Did you know, the brain has a negative bias?

Ever noticed how if one person says something negative about us, it can end up being the thing we focus on, rather than those numerous compliments we received throughout the day?

Dr. Steve Porgess who wrote the book Polyvagal Theory coined the term neuroception.

Neuroception is the brain’s way of scanning our environment for safety.

Here’s the thing, scanning for threat and danger often takes up such an unnecessarily large proportion of the bodies resources that we may lose touch with reality.

Much of the time, we are actually safe.

Yet, the signals for danger and threat can echo in bodily systems long after the threat of danger passes.

We can actually learn how to turn the threat of alarm in our brain off, so we don’t get caught in a loop.

This is where bodywork and in particular Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy is SO helpful.

It’s where the body learns what safety feels like first hand, which is pivotal for health and healing.

Because when the body experiences safety, it shifts us out of defense and back into health where we belong.