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Ge#ng to a Calm Brain
Gayatri Devi, MD, FAAN, FACP
Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology New York University School of Medicine
President Na>onal Council on Women’s Health
Immediate Past-‐President American Medical Women’s Associa>on
Why Calm?
• Debra’s story • Defini>on • Medical benefits – Anxiety disorders – Lifestyle Illnesses
• Other benefits – Efficiency – Social pay offs
The Neurology of Calm
• Overview • Modern Deterrents to Calm • The Anatomy of Calm • The War of the Brains (Top vs BoRom) • Vagal Tone and Calm • Paren>ng and Calm • Ge#ng to Calm & Why?
Modern Deterrents to Calm
• Urban environments • Informa>on / Forge#ng • Mul>-‐tasking • Sleep • Choices • Digital Interac>on – Constant Availability
• Gender roles • “Down>me” vs. “wasted >me” for children – Being bored/ need for entertainment
The anatomy of calm
Anatomy of Calm
The War on Calm
Our Brain-‐Body Connec>on
Vagus Nerve
The Buddha Nerve
What is the simplest way to calm?
Sleep & the glympha>c System • What’s enough sleep?
• 6 hrs/day for two weeks • 1-‐2 nights of no sleep
• Memory • Efficiency • Housekeeping for the brain • Sleep related issues – Alzheimer’s disease and sleep – 15-‐33% of all fatal crashes – Obesity – Hypertension – Anxiety and depression
Amyloid Plaque in the Brain
The Calm of Children
• Jerome Kagan • 43 children
• Age 21 months, videotaped • shyness, behavioral inhibi>on & vagal tone • Two years later, 22 confident kids as confident, 21 anxious kids more anxious
• 104 two year-‐olds and paren>ng style • Children more irritable & fearful (low vagal tone) had more anxious moms (also with low vagal tone)
ADHD & environmental factors
• 267 families, low socioeconomic status • Followed from 6m -‐ 42 m • Child and maternal variables rated • 34 hyperac>ve kids, 34 controls (24 boys/gp) • Correlates of ADHD in kindergarten:
• 2/3 maternal variables – Overs>mula>on-‐ advanced play (42 months) – Maternal interference-‐ (6 months)
• 1/30 child variables – late motor matura>on
Calm in Children
• Choices • Scheduling • Fear • Paren>ng • Powerful Children • Giled Children • Playing / Concussions
Ge#ng To Calm • Disconnect • Cul>vate sleep hygiene • Cul>vate Uni-‐tasking – Flow
• Reduce choices-‐ as a parent, as a person • Aim for one schedule free day a week • Aim for face to face contact • Make small workplace changes • Engage your inner Buddha-‐ your vagus nerve • To meditate or to not meditate? • Four legged Buddhas
The Wall Street Journal “The Doctor's Dog Will See You Now.” Melinda Beck, 12/10