The Proof that Mind Training Works
Every seven years a study is completed in the UK to show how mental health issues are affecting the population. If you are struggling and have not found a way out then read on. If a tennis player or a musician want to get better they see a coach and take a lesson. They learn how to correct errors and find the way forward. The player or musician then goes and practices what they were taught to get better. I am not going to write about the trip to the coach, many will be doing this already. Are you doing the practice afterwards? If not, why not? I am a qualified hypnotherapist. You can turn up for a hypnotherapy session. It is a very powerful way of redirecting the mind. However, it does not necessarily stop there. In some circumstances you can make a real, lasting difference practicing using imagery. This can also be linked with other senses to make the affect even stronger. This blog is going to prove that the practice of visualisation works and if you are not doing it now ask yourself why not? You should try it.
1 The last survey showed that :
General anxiety disorder 5.9/100
Depression 3.3/100
Phobias. 2.4/100
Obsessive-compulsive disorder. 1.3/100
Post-traumatic stress disorder. 4.4/100
Mind anxiety and depression. 7.8/100
Self-harm. 7.3/100
Suicide attempts. 6.7/100
I want proof that visualisation works
2 In 1995 the euro scientist Alvaro-Passaid-Leone studied a group of pianists who practiced with 5 fingers , 2 hours per day for 5 days. Scientists were able to observe their brain functions using transcranial magnetic stimulation. The result of the practice was a broad neural rewiring within the brain. In a second experiment some students visualised the same piano playing rather than actually physically practicing. So, they just pictured the playing in their minds. The results of the experiment were extraordinary. Almost identical neural circuitry was formed within the second group who purely visualised the piano playing compared with the first class who physically played the music. So, visualisation has a huge effect on the brain. This is the bedrock of the freethemindtraining. You can affect the way your mind thinks, and brain reacts purely by visualisation. We will use visualisation techniques to change your state of mind, so you are free of restricting shackles.
That’s one investigation have there been others. In a well-known experiment in the USA Alan Richardson, a top psychologist, gathered some student basketball players together. He split them up into 3 groups. The first he brought in every day to practice shooting for a month. The second group did not practice at all. The third would simply visualise shooting for half an hour each day. They would not practice any physical shooting. When a month was up, they came in to test their shooting skills. The first group improved by 24%. The second group saw no advancement at all. Interestingly the third group managed who visualised the training made the same improvement, 24%, as the first who physically trained every day for 1 month .The power of visualisation for improving performance and wellbeing is massive.
In another experiment, Belinda Dune, a psychologist at the University of Chicago wanted to see if a group of students could influence the selection of a machine that would randomly chose the binary numbers 0 and 1. Over 30 minutes, about 1 million hits, they would visualise the same number and see if they could affect the machine’s choice. The results were staggering, they were successful. It was calculated that the probability of the results happening by chance were 1 trillion to one. The power of visualisation techniques are enormous. It is very convincing, through this mind training we can completely change the state of your mind which at one stage appeared blocked.
Visualisation and the strength of the mind
An American journalist called Lynn McTaggart conducted an experiment with 10,000 people in 80 countries to prove that the mind has power of control over matter. 2 leaves were placed next to each other and one was chosen, through the flip of a coin, to see if mind control could make the intended leaf glow. Every living thing emits photons and a sensitive camera can picture the matter glow as it emits bio-photons.Dr Gary Schwartz at the University of Arizona conducted the experiment. The result of the experiment showed that the leaf which received the mindful intent did actually glow proving the power of mind over matter.
Another experiment was developed that involved firing an electron or photon through a slit. If a single photon is sent through the hole then it will appear as a dot on a film behind. If there are 2 slits then the path of the photon demonstrates a wave. It is as if the small particles are hitting each other within some confines. Radin took a group of people , experienced meditators and non-meditators, to see if they could influence the photon’s movement with only the concentrated power of the mind. Initially he used 50 people and studied them over 50 sessions. He then used more people over 5000 sessions. The conclusion was that through the power of the mind, the meditators could make the photons passing through the double slits appear as particles rather than waves. This demonstrated the power of the mind over matter. He connected people to EEGs to see how the brain was changing as the meditators focused on moving the photons. The evidence suggested that the experienced meditators could influence the photons, however when they lost concentration, their effect on the photons decreased. The EEGs showed that during strong periods of concentration, when the photons went through the 2 slits and appeared as single particles on the film, the right temporal lobe activity increased, thereby demonstrating that physical changes take place when displaying the strength of mind over matter.
There was a study in Italy that closely looked at the behaviour of monkeys around humans and food (peanuts). The study analysed neural activity each time the monkey moved towards the peanuts. However, the monkeys were still wired when humans also reached for peanuts. Interestingly, even if the monkeys didn’t move, their neural activity was similar to the time when they themselves took the nuts. The researchers concluded that watching something being done was the same as actually doing it practice.
Further research in Italy highlighted how the best professional basketball players respond more correctly to the possible outcome of a shot on the free-throw line. Only 486 ms after the shooter started the action , top players could predict success 30% of the time. Expert watchers and novices were only successful 10 percent. On the release of the ball from the free-throw line, 781 ms into the action, the top players could accurately predict the outcome of the shot 75% of the time whilst the watchers and amateur players barely achieved 40% accuracy. The neural and electrical activity within the brain of the top players observing the shots was akin to them actually shooting themselves.
It is believed that the brain can process the visual information more quickly than when it uses other senses . It can therefore deal with a greater amount of visual information. It is as if the brain is geared for action more efficiently when it sees something .
5 A fifth of the neurons in our premotor cortex are fired up identically when we watch an action being done compared with if we do the action physically ourselves. Sportsmen, musicians, actors and actresses all use this as part of their training. Lindsey Vonn in an interview said, “By the time I get to the start gate, I’ve run that race 100 times in my head picturing how I will take the turns.”
6 Another example of mind power was demonstrated in an experiment organised by Tiller.The individuals in the study concentrated on a crystal that was sitting in an electric circuit. This was placed next to some samples of water. The intention was to raise the pH value of the water. All environmental factors within the room were monitored so that nothing could affect the acidity of the water. Through the power of the mind they managed to change the pH value by 1.5pH. The odds of this happening were a hundred to one. One could conclude that the focused, concentrated mind had the power to change the pH value of the water.
The Subconscious leads the march
The brain appears to use the same neural circuits when making a subconscious decision as it does when we are fully aware. In a study that appeared in the journal Science in May, a team of English and French neuroscientists performed brain imaging on 18 men and women who were playing a computer game for money. The players held a handgrip and were told that tighter it was squeezed when images of money flashed in front of them, the more they could keep. The results not surprisingly showed that they squeezed more tightly when a pound flashed infront of them than a penny. However, the intensity of the squeeze made little difference whether the images were obvious to the eye or subliminal. The circuits activated in the brain were also very similar. The ventral palladium was very active when the subjects responded.
Aaron Kay then of Stanford University got his students to play an investment game with someone they could not see on a large table. At the end of the table was placed either a briefcase and black leather portfolio or a backpack. These objects would not have been consciously registered as the students were intent on playing the game. However, the subconscious does see the cases. The conclusion to the experiment was that the investors who sat opposite the briefcase were much tighter with their money than those who sat opposite the rucksack. The mere presence of the objects and the fact they are spotted by the subconscious eye, affected the decision-making process.
Reaffirming the visualised image increases the power
In 1988 Claude Steele developed self-affirmation theory. He wrote that when people are feeling threatened, they don’t simply want to resolve the danger but also want to affirm their self-integrity. They want to restore or develop their self-image. By repeating their positive beliefs through affirmations, they keep their perceived character intact. By reaffirming values, the subconscious mind, which never judges, accepts these to be true. This positivity is bounced back to one’s conscious mind. In 2016 Cascio et al studied how affirmations can make physical differences. They discovered that the affirmations develop new pathways in the brain. Falk et al in 2015 progressed this belief and found that these positive words increase activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in the brain. Simply by speaking positively one can make lasting physical changes. How can we make these affirmations more powerful ? Robert Alexander who worked at the Open Mind Institute claimed that the most effective way of strengthening these statements was to repeat them 3/5 times per day, writing them down and practicing them in the mirror. The visual aspect sends a powerful message to the subconscious. A picture is worth a thousand words.
If positive statements can affect the brain then they surely can affect our physical wellbeing. Visualisation followed with an affirmation before going to bed can make a significant difference. A lot of the body’s healing processes take place when we are in a deep sleep. There have been various studied undertaken to see if affirmations can promote better sleep patterns. Nagendra et al demonstrated how positive values within a meditation programme can improve sleep. All of these studies show how powerful and affective are affirmations in promoting general wellbeing. Directing the subconscious with a powerful affirmation like ‘I am healthy and happy, calm and at peace’ works well. Don’t forget, the subconscious is still working whilst you are asleep. It has time to use this positive energy.
In further studies Sharman et al 2009 and Critcher and Dunning 2015 all found that affirmations can decrease mental and physical stress in people. Keeping positive is a mindset that has profound benefits. In 2001 Layous et al looked at some students who were feeling ostracised. The affirmations helped them improve their GPA grades. These studies prove that affirmations can make a big difference in our wellbeing. Visualising an empty glass and placing it on your shoulders is a great way to stop a ruminating mind. Saying and affirmation like, ‘ My mind is as empty as glass, as clear as the air within’ sends a message to the subconscious to focus on cleansing the mind.
Practice Makes Perfect…
The neuroscientist Michael Merzenich found that the best way to establish new neurological circuits in the brain was through repetition. This probably doesn’t come as a surprise however it is why one has to train and repeat the methods to improve. These and other experiments show that the golfer can change the physical brain through his mind training and therefore make changes on how he views all aspects of his life not just competing at his chosen sport. An anxious ruminating mind can be turned into one that is calm and clear and ready to focus and compete.
Get practicing! Can you afford not to?
Jack Kornfield said in The art of Forgiveness, Loving kindness and Peace, ‘I f you put a spoonful of salt in a cup of water it tastes salty. If you put a spoonful of salt in a lake of fresh water the taste is still pure and clear. Peace comes when our hearts are open like the sky, vast as the ocean.’ Work on clearing the mind. It is tricky at first but with perseverance it makes a big difference.
We can also over complicate things because one consciously does not trust the body and subconscious to act. Sachin Tendulkar, the great Indian batsman, said in an interview with Bobby Ghosh, “ I feel it’s the conscious mind that messes things up. The conscious mind is constantly telling you; this might happen or that might happen, even before it has happened. Your conscious mind tells you the next ball might be an out-swinger, but when it’s coming at you, you realise it’s an in-swinger…so literally you’ve played two balls”.
As Earl Nightingale stated, “ Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become reality”.
Dale Carnegie wrote about fear, ‘ You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. For remember , fear doesn’t exist anywhere except in the mind.’
John Grindler said, “ The unconscious mind records all 1001 little details the conscious mind neglects.”
Milton Erickson said, “ The unconscious mind is decidedly simple, unaffected, straightforward and honest. It hasn’t got all of this facade, this veneer of what we call adult culture. It’s rather simple, rather childish it is direct and free.” The subconscious mind does not reason, it absorbs. During a hypnotherapy session, suggestions are paced in to and absorbed by the subconscious mind. This then navigates the conscious mind. You get back on track extremely quickly.
Also in the 19th Century James Esdaille induced patients into a very deep trance and performed successful surgery without the use of an anaesthetic. He cut the mortality rate in his surgery from 50% to 7%. Sigmund Freud developed the idea of transference which we will investigate further and the accessing of the subconscious mind.
3 Milton Erickson was a pioneer of hypnotherapy being able to put people into a very deep trance. At the age of 17 he suffered debilitating Polio. He learned how to walk again by watching his younger sister playing in the garden whilst he sat on the porch. He used to visualise her movements to instruct his mind and body to copy and restart his own walking. This proved successful and he was soon able to walk.
4 Professor Miguel Nicolelis neuroscientist at Duke University, through the Walk Again project , has enabled nerves in the brain to be reactivated using robotic exoskeletons. He managed to get together some of the great brains in the fields of neurology and rehabilitation to produce some stunning results.
8 paraplegic patients were trained using a brain/machine interface. Brain activity was recorded using EEGs. Vibrations were sent to limbs which still had the sense of touch. Oculus rift VR displays were used so the paraplegic could see the movement of the robotic exoskeletons sending messages to the brain. This enabled the brain to relearn the process of allowing movement within the limb. 12 months after the initial tests, 50% of the group had gone from complete to partial paraplegia.
At Melbourne University, tests have been successful promoting movement within a bionic exoskeleton purely by thought. Electrodes are passed through the jugular vein into the blood vessels within the brain. This is neuroplasticity at its best. It is not that the brain can’t promote movement it’s more that it has forgotten how to. As long as there are still some nerves running down the spinal cord, the brain can rewire itself to put movement back into a paraplegic.
Milton Erickson said, “ The unconscious mind is decidedly simple, unaffected, straightforward and honest. It hasn’t got all of this facade, this veneer of what we call adult culture. It’s rather simple, rather childish it is direct and free.”
As George Dana Boardman said, ‘Sow an act and you reap a habit, sow a habit and you reap a character, sow a character and you reap destiny.’
Sir Arthur Eddington, a celebrated English physicist said, ‘I believe that the mind has the power to affect groups of atoms and even tamper with the odds of atomic behaviour, and that even the course of the world is not predetermined by physical laws but maybe altered by the uncaused volition of human beings.’
Paul Scheele wrote in depth about it in his book ‘The Photoreading Whole Mind System’. It involves achieving a state of relaxation and then a fully focused alertness whilst reading…The brain takes a snapshot of what you have read as you turn the page.The picture is then stored in the subconscious mind. The speed is achieved by relaxing the conscious mind so there’s no interference and allowing the subconscious sponge to absorb everything it is fed. The brain simply allows the eyes and body to picture the page and then turn over…
1 Mental health and wellbeing in England: Adult psychiatric morbidity survey 2014
2 Pascual-Leone A., Amedi A., Fregni F., and Merabet L.B.; Center for Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth IsraelDeaconess Medical Center; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215; “The Plastic Human Brain Cortex” https://brain.huji.ac.il/publications/Pascual-Leone_Amedi_et%20al%20Ann%20Rev%20Neurosci%2005.pdf
3 About Milton Erickson, cited with permission from Ericksonian.com: https://ericksonian.com/about/milton-erickson
4 https://virtualreality.duke.edu/project/walk-again-project/
5 “The Power of Vision — What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Olympic Athletes.” Vaness Lorder, Forbes.
6 Can an aspect of consciousness be imprinted into an electronic device? Tiller WA1, Kohane MJ, Dibble WE.