Part 1 of 3 Visualization Series – Laying Down the Roots

Last time we talked about the finger strength study and how Kai Miller at the University of Washington determined that imaginary exercises activates the same part of the brain as actual exercises. Today we’ll deep dive into the types of visualization and how you can apply the techniques to your everyday life in order to lay down new neural pathways and ultimately change your habits!

According to Jennice Vilhauer Ph.D., there are 2 types of visualization, outcome and process.?Using both types is what is shown to be the most effective.

Visualization. What’s there to write about? You simply visualize what you want…but what does that mean exactly? Well, in this article we will explore the most common known type of visualization, which is also known as Outcome Visualization.

This form is probably what most of you think about when you hear the term visualization. You envision yourself at your end state, your desired state. If you wanted to lose weight, for example, you might imagine yourself in a purple bikini laying comfortably in the sun on a beach, not being self-conscious, moving around freely without feeling the need to cover up. You feel entirely comfortable and confident in your nearly-there purple bikini.

If you want to reduce your drinking, you might envision yourself enjoying other activities with your family that don’t involve alcohol. You might envision yourself coming home from work and instead of heading towards the kitchen for an ice, cold beer, maybe you pick up your running shoes and go for a jog instead, or maybe you play legos with your kiddo.

Another example is that you finally get started on that business plan you’ve been thinking about the last few years, working away until the early morning hours until you can sleep comfortably knowing all of your thoughts are captured on paper. The point is, you figure out the desired behavior change end state and you envision yourself being there.

My pilot participants implemented this exercise for either 10 mins per day or 5 mins twice per day for three days before they moved onto the next tactic. The outcome visualization laid the framework for new neural pathways and the foundation for a new life. All pilot participants that completed the program saw a significant difference in the behavior they wanted to change. So far, I’ve found that the behavior itself does not matter because all habit formation is located in the same spot in the brain, the striatum.

Those tactics were then translated into levels in my game. We are releasing a level at a time, for a small subscription fee. For now, the game is free but soon we will charge to use. Join the beta today for free at Discord https://discord.gg/Yw7amFQx.

Tune in for our next deep dive on visualization and how the different types translate into building the strength of those new neural pathways.

#neuroscience #neuroplasticity #gaming #change?