By Phillip Tanzilo, CPTD, MHRM
Last night, as I sat watching the news, I felt my brain being pulled in a thousand directions by a whirlwind of biased information and sensationalism. In today’s media-saturated world, I’ve become acutely aware of how news and information can be skewed by bias, often leading us to react without proper verification. It has happened to me, and this realization inspired me to explore ways to support peak mental performance and critical thinking in both my personal and professional life.
I am grateful for the many experiences I have been given to partner and support some incredible organizations. “Keeping my saw sharp” is critical for my cognitive function and emotional well-being. Applying concepts that support resilience, critical thinking, and creativity are essential. For some time now, my journey has led me to explore how our brains respond to external stimuli, particularly sound and music, and how we can harness this knowledge to unlock our full potential. I’ve found that by deliberately managing the inputs I expose myself to, I can significantly enhance my resilience, critical thinking, and creativity.
What goes into our brain has a direct impact on what comes out. If we let garbage in, we then put garbage out (Garbage In, Garbage Out – GIGO). And, if we let quality information in, we then put quality results out (Quality In, Quality Out – QIQO). This seems simple enough. In fact, while I am writing this post, I am listening to theta waves.
There are, of course, filters and barriers that influence and cloud our thinking and judgment. Without awareness and clarity to manage these, we may get garbage out. My experience has involved overcoming the challenge of discerning reliable, evidence-based information from false or misleading data. It requires discipline on my part to ensure the quality I share is reliable so those relying on me get quality out.
I am researching the impact of ways to better manage these filters and barriers like the brain chatter of self-doubt, bias, stereotyping, resistance, fear, etc. These are all normal brain functions as our brain works to protect us from harm. Seeing this for what it is indeed helps me to be conscious when I am in that space and step out of it when it becomes counterproductive. Because it tends to focus on the worst-case scenario, preventing me from seeing the greater possibilities from a ‘flipside perspective.’
My emphasis is focused on the root cause of limiting performance, to maximize resilience, critical thinking and creativity. The root cause is the ability to be in a conscious state to self-manage my thinking at peak levels.
Among the many ways to do this, I have found managing the stimuli going in to be quite credible and logical. Much research on what has long been an interest of mine is the impact of acoustical stimuli. For example, theta waves, which are naturally produced during states of deep relaxation and meditation, have been shown to enhance focus and performance.
This concept is supported by scientific research. As noted in a study published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, “Rhythmic sensory stimulation that entrains neural oscillations is hypothesized to enhance perception and facilitate attention through its influence on brain dynamics” 1 (Ronconi et al., 2018).
Our brains can match the beat of sounds or flashing lights. This is called neural entrainment. When this happens, it can help our brains work better and make us feel good. Common outside stimuli can include sound and music. There are some songs that make me feel I can take on the world. I am so taken by the song I begin humming and tapping my toes in alignment with the beat, getting into a synchronized rhythm.
The power of music on our cognitive functions is well-documented. According to a review in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, “Music is a powerful elicitor of emotions and can therefore be used for emotion regulation. Music can also reduce stress and anxiety, and increase cognitive performance, including creative thinking.” 2
I apply these concepts in my professional life when working with organizations. I often change the environment by moving meetings and programs outdoors or to offsite retreat locations with scenic views. I arrive early to deliberately set a mood by pre-setting activities and place settings, playing upbeat music before the session and sometimes during activities. This approach helps create an atmosphere conducive to creativity and focused thinking.
There are also rhythmic waves that can help me as well. Different kinds of sounds can help our brains work better:
Binaural Beats – Sound waves:
- When you listen to different sounds in each ear, your brain makes a new sound. Imagine listening to a humming sound in one ear and a buzzing sound in the other. This can help you relax, focus, or be more creative. When studying or preparing for a program, I listen to #BinauralBeats to help my focus and retention.
Isochronic Sounds – Drum beats:
- These are sounds that turn on and off quickly, like a drum playing a steady beat. You don’t need headphones for these. They can help you feel relaxed or give you more energy, depending on how fast they are. I use #IsochronicTones when solving difficult challenges to achieve clearer thinking.
Music – Instrumental tracks and melodies:
- Some music, like classical music, can help your brain work better. Nature sounds like birds singing or leaves rustling can make you feel happier, less stressed, and help you focus on your work. My ability to brainstorm more powerfully and generate creative solutions is enhanced with music or sounds from nature.
White Noise and Natural Sounds – Gentle machine noises:
- Soft sounds like rain, ocean waves, or the quiet hum of a fan can help block out other sounds. These can help you concentrate better, relax, or fall asleep easier. Each night I go to bed with white noise from the air purifier and sounds of nature either from a river flowing or a campfire to ensure quality sleep, leading to improved creativity.
Using these sounds regularly can help your brain work better and come up with new ideas.
The effectiveness of these various sound types in enhancing cognitive function and emotional well-being is supported by numerous studies. For instance, a meta-analysis published by the National Institute for Health (NIH) stated, “After listening to binaural beats, participants performed better on memory and attention tasks compared to listening to a placebo sound.” 3
When I need to be most resilient and manage stress, I like to go to my Calming Playlist of relaxing music or even sounds from nature. My morning routine always includes upbeat music from my Upbeat Playlist to uplift and energize my brain for creativity.
My exploration of neural entrainment and the impact of sound on cognitive function has revealed powerful tools for cutting through the noise of biased information and keeping mental clarity. By incorporating these techniques into my daily routines and work environments, I’ve found ways to enhance my focus, creativity, and overall well-being, even in the face of constant media stimulation. As I continue to apply and refine these methods, I find myself better equipped to discern truth from bias, navigate challenges, and seize opportunities in our complex world – skills that I’m eager to share with the organizations and individuals I work with.
SOURCES:
- Ronconi, L., Busch, N. A., & Melcher, D. (2018). Alpha-band Sensory Entrainment Alters the Duration of Emporal Windows. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 11810.
- Schäfer, T., Sedlmeier, P., Städtler, C., & Huron, D. (2013). The Psychological Functions of Music Listening. Frontiers in Psychology, 4, 511.
- Garcia-Argibay, M., Santed, M. A., & Reales, J. M. (2019). Efficacy of Binaural Auditory Beats in Cognition, Anxiety, and Pain Perception: A meta-analysis., National Institute for Health (NIH).
- Google, ChatGPT and Claude AI were used for feedback on support sources, cohesion, clarity and identify keywords.
#NeuralEntrainment, #CognitiveFunction, #CriticalThinking, #Creativity, #Resilience, #ThetaWaves, #BinauralBeats, #IsochronicTones, #MusicTherapy, #SoundHealing, #BrainHealth, #MentalClarity, #EmotionalWellbeing, #Focus, #StressManagement
