I have defined resilience from many different perspectives thus far: It’s the ability to bounce
back; it’s optimal self-regulation and adaptability; it’s being aware or awake for as many moments
in your life as possible. Here is another aspect of resilience: It’s the optimal birthing of new nerve
cells, or brain cells. Using words such as “birth” and “new” even sounds resilient. They signify
something growing, emerging, regenerating, becoming, transforming. They indicate that depletion
and damage can be overcome by new growth. The good news is that you, too, can get in on
this action!
Your brain’s capability for neurogenesis is an important aspect of being resilient. How you
address this aspect of yourself will help determine your resilience. And here again I come back
to this little area of the brain, the hippocampus, that I became so intimate with during my early
research. The hippocampus, that beautiful little brain nucleus I studied years ago, plays an intimate role in resilience. When you activate your body, and your nervous system goes into action, and when your cardiovascular system revs up, speeding up your heart and your blood pressure, it’s the hippocampus that sends a message to turn down this autonomic nervous system activation. Yes, the hippocampus modulates heart rate and autonomic function by applying the brake to the stress response. It helps us “Chill out.” Chronic stress causes atrophy and dysfunction of the hippocampus. When this occurs, it reduces your capacity to dampen the stress response and your ability to relax.
If this weren’t enough reason to appreciate and be concerned about this little corner of the brain, here in this tiny nucleus is where most of neurogenesis takes place. The hippocampus is a hotbed—or rather, a nursery—for new nerve cell birthing and growth. We want it to function well.
Dr. Stephen Sideroff is an internationally recognized expert in resilience, optimal performance, addiction, neurofeedback and alternative approaches to stress and mental health. He is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA’s School of Medicine, as well as the Director of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Ethics. www.drstephensideroff.com
