04/13: Conspiracy Theories and the Brain

BHQ site: (www.brainhq.com)

Did you hear that the Coronavirus started because people were eating bats? Or that it is a biochemical product released by the government? Or that it can be cured by spraying yourself with disinfectant? Each of these statements are false, a conspiracy theory developed by people looking to make sense of something they don’t understand.

During this timely lesson, we will look at scams and conspiracy theories and determine their role in our evolution. We will discuss theories on why people can believe alternative theories, and why this was important in our past. We will then look at the conspiracy theories and scams surrounding the Coronavirus, and offer some tips on determining the truth behind them. Don’t let the false information cloud the facts behind this dangerous and deadly pandemic. Read our lesson online (recommended), or you can view/download the handout. See the PowerPoint presentation that summarizes the lesson. Then, take the quiz to see how you do!

We've probably all fallen prey to conspiracy theories sometime in our lives. But can doing BHQ exercises help to protect us from getting caught in these webs of deception? While I couldn't find a direct connection between BrainHQ and it's ability to stop us from buying into conspiracy theories (no surprise), I wasn't at all surprised to find out how brain training (and specifically BHQ) is being used in a number of trials hoping to identify non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical therapies for psychiatric disorders that are wired in the brain. There are many psychological disorders that can be over-evolved by-products of natural human psychological mechanisms, as mentioned in this week's lesson, such as paranoia, PTSD, and psychosis, and may contribute to the attraction of the conspiracy theory trap. Applying the same brain-strengthening techniques used to rewire aging brains and age-related disorders, scientists at Posit Science are exploring new ways to treat psychological disorders that disrupt thought and cloud perception.

Here's just a sampling of some of the studies in which brain training has being applied or shown promise.

In the First Study to Show Brain Training Can Help with Bipolar Disorder, using (BrainHQ) brain training exercises resulted in persistent improvements in cognition in people with bipolar disorder.

University of Minnesota tests new apps to help teen brains fight psychosis. In this recent study on early-psychosis, symptoms of mental disorders that disrupt thought or perception that makes it difficult for the patient to identify reality, researchers are looking for treatments like brain training to augment or replace drug therapy.

Other psychiatric disorders on which (BrainHQ) brain training therapy has been tested include ADHD, depression, schizophrenia, and TBIs. For more information on these brain training studies, read about recent Research, Trials, and Studies.

This week's Zoom Session will be on Wednesday, April 15th. This week, our lessons are very different, but you may want to read over and stay for both. Remember the year YOU created neurons from Play Dough? Will the Basics classes are going to try this activity from home, but you are welcome, too. You can even download this Easy Play Dough Recipe to make your own neurons and share them on Zoom. Take a look at the Basics Lesson to see what your classmates did. Our Basics class at 7:00 will be a great introduction to neurons and brain chemistry, and your very timely Topics lesson will be presented at 7:30. Here’s our schedule of events:

6:30-7:00: For ALL! Q&A time about any of the BHQ exercises or navigating the BHQ or class websites.

7:00-7:30: We will focus on the Weekly Basics Lesson about the Neuromodulators and Brain Chemistry.

7:30–8:00: We will focus on the Weekly Topics Lesson – Conspiracy Theories and the Brain

Just click here to follow the instructions on the Home Page by scrolling down to Weekly Zoom Sessions. Or you can go directly to the Zoom site by clicking here.

First time on Zoom? Just follow the instructions on this Home Page to learn how. Returning students click here to connect directly.

If it’s your first time participating in a Zoom session, you can try it by getting on the site early to see how easy it is to get it set up. We begin our first BHQ Lesson at 6:30, so try getting on at about 6:15-6:30 and call Pat (at the number below) if you have any trouble. You can participate by video and audio, or just listen in by phone. Please let us know if you need help!

Enjoy the lessons, and have a brain-healthy week.

Need help? Contact us at:

Pat Mosteller (pmostell@sdccd.edu) Cell 619-818-3953 - Online classes

Mary Burns (mburns@sdccd.edu) - Online classes

Debbie Flores (dsflores@sdccd.edu) - Cell 619-608-9001 --Online classes & Wednesday AM and PM classes at the Kroc Center

Janet Blair ( blusdbits@gmail.com ) - St Pauls Plaza. Contact for Support and Lesson Review

Yael Lorberfeld (ylorberfeld@sdccd.edu) . Mondays at the Kroc Center, Wednesdays at the College Ave Senior Center (Temple Emanu-El), and Friday mornings at the La Jolla JCC.

Marilyn Kessler (marilynk@ifssd.org) - Mondays at the College Ave Senior Center (Temple Emanu-El)