The Brain's Rules for Instantaneous Change

An excerpt from an article by Robin Bernhard, Charlottesville, Virginia.

"It is now known that the mind can alter the structure of the brain and memories are not permanent ...

The latest in neuroscience shows that old memories, especialy body memories, are flexible and can be changed; and sometimes they can be changed in an instant.

Every time an old memory is reactivated there is a brief critical period when synapses between the cells firing together temporarily unlock, a process called de-consolidation. If new information enters during the critical window when the old memory is dissolving, instantaneous change in that memory can occur. According to (Bruce) Ecker two things must happen in order for new information to enter an old memory:

1. The memory must be reactivated in order for it to be briefly dissolvable.

2. New information that sharply contradicts and disconfirms the old expectations must be available when the old memory is reactivated and momentarily unlocked.

The first rule of instantaneous change requires that some aspect of a memory is re-activated. The Body Wraps provide both sensory input to the coetaneous and proprioceptive pathways believed to activate the body's memory, even memory held at cellular level. The beauty of the Tellington TTouch method is how cellular memory flies beneath the radar of the thinking mind so that this gentle activation of the body memory can be addressed without catharsis or even conscious awareness. (...)

The second rule for instantaneous change requires that the building blocks for the new information are available at the right moment and sharply contradict the old expectations. Often the issues being addressed through Telington TTouch are issues of trust, pain and/or fear that developed when the person or animal experienced overwhelming circumstances and helplessness. Tellington TTouch is always conducted within the context of a safe and empowering relationship without pain, fear, force or pressure of any kind."

I hope the short extract will help us realise just how important it is to provide new messages to the brain when we are trying to modify behaviours which are causing our companion animals stress.  We may not know what the source of the fear was, but by observing closely and being aware of that critical moment, that "window of opportunity", we can help them overcome traumas from the past which are influencing their lives in the present and are being detrimental to them.