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FLIP THAT SWITCH


FLIP THAT SWITCH


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Did you know we have a “courage switch” we can turn on and off? It’s true!
Scientists led by Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist at Stanford University,
discovered that a cluster of neurons is responsible for the decision to either
fight or flee in the face of danger and we can use that to our advantage when
courage is a must.

The Study

The researchers tracked neuron activity in mice when a simulated bird of prey
approached.

They discovered two adjacent clusters of nerve cells in the middle of the mice’s
brains. Each cluster sends signals to a different area of the brain which
trigger opposite behaviors (fight or flee) in the face of a threat. When the
researchers stimulated the cluster that goes from the nucleus reuniens to the
medial prefrontal cortex, they found that the mice became more courageous,
preparing themselves for defense against the simulated predator.

Since humans have a similar brain structure to mice, Huberman hypothesized that
the findings may benefit those living with phobias, anxiety, or PTSD, those
whose brains send sharp signals down the “flee” pathway. He posits that it may
help shift from fear to being able to confront challenges.

Flipping Your Courage Switch Today

We don’t all have access to brain changing stimulation, so what can we do in the
meantime to get a little more courageous? Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries, leadership
development professor at INSEAD, offers these tips to help:

Create scenarios. Imagine the worst outcome if you take action and if you don’t.
A lot of the time, our fears are illogical.Focus on possibility. Recognize that
we all have a negativity bias, so spend as much time thinking about positive
outcomes as you do negative. In fact, for every negative outcome, add two
positive outcomes to help counteract your impulse.Acknowledge your fears.
Opening up about a lack of confidence can have a positive empowering effect
because it identifies what we are truly afraid of: our own self doubt.Try mini
acts of courage. Take a stand about small things (choosing where the group eats
for lunch, asking for something you want instead of taking whatever is left
over) which can strengthen your habit for the bigger courageous decisions.

In 2007, scientists at Tokyo University used genetic engineering to remove
certain nasal cells in mice making them unafraid of domesticated cats.  The
researchers surmised from their experiment that fear is often genetically
hardwired, not learned through experience.

Take Action: Jim Detert, the author of Choosing Courage: The Everyday Guide to
Being Brave at Work, invented the Courage Ladder, a visual tool to help
articulate things that frighten you. At the bottom rung are fears that are most
manageable and at the top, things that scare you most. Draft your own Courage
Ladder and take a foothold on the bottom rung with a small manageable step to
teach you that discomfort is okay. Then keep climbing at your own pace.


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