Activate Your Inner Happiness With Bilateral Brain Stimulations
Neuroscience says going for a walk in the woods will improve your mood.
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When I was young and bored, Mom hollered at me to get outside. It was her answer to life’s dilemmas.
Fast forward to my late thirties. When I struggled with the heart-ache of a broken relationship, once again, I turned to Mom. This time she held me close and, in a gentle tone, reminded me to take a long walk in the woods. Why? Because I’d feel better.
Without realizing it, Mom was onto something existential.
What Are Bilateral Brain Stimulations?
A walk in the woods allows for repetitive movements of the feet while the simple left to right movement activates the brain. The hike, in combination with sunlight streaming through the trees, creates rhythmic patterns. When a body is in motion, the action and light stimulate the use of the right and left (bilateral) brain during the activity. Throughout the exercise, the bilateral brain stimulations help facilitate emotional processing and aid in bringing a person back to a calmer, relaxed state.
The day after Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 US election, she went for a walk in the woods to find solace and healing. Meandering through a forest allowed the former first lady to sort through her thoughts, develop new insights, and reduce stress levels. Her simple practice provided positive, life-affirming results.
Humans possess two hemispheres of the brain. And since neuroscience is a burgeoning field, we continue to learn more about the complexity of the brain and its function as time progresses, and research evolves. When the left and right sides of the brain are activated, and when neural networks integrate, it appears to help in resolving conflict and trauma.
No wonder Mom is a strong proponent of nature walks.
Bilateral Versus Binaural Brain Stimulation
A bilateral and visual experience, such as a walk in the woods, has the same effect on an individual as the auditory binaural sensation of listening to music. Both visual or audio experience will impact the right and left brain…
