SELFSpoken Blog - Project Future Institute

Epigenetics, Part III – Behavioral Epigenetics

Feb 17, 2020Howard BellNeuroplasticity

In this, the third blog in a four blog series on epigenetics, I discuss behavioral epigenetics which studies how our environment causes changes in the epigenome of our brain cells. In the fourth and last blog in this series, I will talk about ways to reverse negative epigenetic changes. Epigenetics drives biological functions as diverse

Epigenetics, Part II – How it Works

Dec 30, 2019Howard BellNeuroplasticity, Science of SELF™Adaptive Adolescent Brain, Adequate sleep, Aerobic exercise, Amygdala, Axons, deep breathing, DNA, Epigenetics, Gene expression, Good eating habits, Life science

This is the second in a four-blog series on epigenetics. In this blog, I discuss how epigenetics works. In the third blog, I will talk about a form of epigenetics referred to as behavioral epigenetics. In the fourth, and last blog in this epigenetic series, I will talk about ways to reverse negative epigenetic changes.

Epigenetics, Part I – Why is it important?

Nov 9, 2019Howard BellNeuroplasticityAdequate sleep, Aerobic exercise, Amygdala, Axons, Brain plasticity, DNA, Epigenetics, Good eating habits, Life science, Meditation exercise, Mirror neurons, Neurons, Neuroplasticity, Positive thoughts, Prefrontal Cortex, Rehabilitation, Self-story, Stress reduction, Survive a life threatening event, Synaptic Pruning, Teen neuroplasticity

In my last blog, I stated that “In my next blog, I will discuss epigenetics.” This is the first in a four-blog series on epigenetics. In this blog, I describe what epigenetics is and why it is important. In the second blog, I will discuss how epigenetics works. In the third blog, I will talk

Neuroplasticity, Part IV – How to Strengthen Our Brain

Sep 23, 2019projfu5Neuroplasticity, Science of SELF™Adaptive Adolescent Brain, Adequate sleep, Aerobic exercise, amy, Good eating habits

In my last blog, I stated that “In my next, and final blog in this neuroplasticity series, I will discuss how we can strengthen our brains.” In this blog, I discuss how we can strengthen our brains. Neuroplasticity gives us the power to strengthen our brains, defined as improving our capacity for analysis, creativity and

Neuroplasticity, Part III – Empathy

Aug 5, 2019Howard Bell1 CommentNeuroplasticity, Science of SELF™Adaptive Adolescent Brain, Axons, Life science, Meditation exercise, Mirror neurons, Prefrontal Cortex, Rehabilitation, Self-story, Teen neuroplasticity

In my last blog, I stated that “In my next blog I will discuss how our brain enables us to feel empathy.” In this blog, I discuss empathy and the “Mirror Neurons” that make it possible. Many of our feelings, like empathy and compassion, are due to brain cells called mirror neurons. Mirror neurons mirror

Neuroplasticity, Part II – The Teenage Brain

Jun 30, 2019Howard Bell1 CommentNeuroplasticity, Science of SELF™Amygdala, Axons, Meditation exercise, Neuroplasticity, Rehabilitation

In my last blog, I stated that “In my next blog I will discuss aspects of the teenage brain and why the SELF ProgramTM was designed for this age group.” In this blog, I engage in the discussion of the teenage brain. When it comes to the human brain, talking about the teenage or adolescent

The Science of SELF™ – Neuroplasticity, Part I

May 30, 2019Howard BellNeuroplasticity, Science of SELF™Adult neuroplasticity, DNA, Life science, Meditation exercise, Neurons, Neuroplasticity, Rehabilitation, Self-story

In my last blog, I stated that “in the upcoming blogs, I will discuss each of the science concepts, the positive attitudes, and skills in more depth.” In this blog, I introduce the first of four blogs about neuroplasticity, a science that forms part of the foundation of the SELF Empowerment Program™ (SELF™). Neuroplasticity is

The Science of SELF™, Part I

Oct 10, 2018Howard BellScience of SELF™Amygdala, Attention skills, Brain, Brain-body interface, Epigenetics, Grit, Growth mindset, Life science, Neuroplasticity, Positive attitudes, Self-story, Stereotype threat, Teachable, Tools for success, Working memory

In my last blog, I stated that “In the next blog series, I will talk about some of the science that forms the foundation of the SELF™ Program.” In this blog, I introduce the three science concepts that form the foundation of the SELF Empowerment Program™ (SELF™). I arrived at the three science concepts that form the

MY STORY, MY SELF™, PART IV

Jul 30, 2018Howard Bell2 CommentsSELF™ Origin Story

In my last blog, I discussed my challenges and triumphs in middle and high school, and how they helped to shape my thinking about how to help at-risk students. In this blog, I talk about how I came to understand that the stories we tell about ourselves and the world help determine our chances for

My Story, My SELF™, Part III

May 12, 2018Howard Bell4 CommentsSELF™ Origin Story

In my last blog, I discussed challenges in school I was able to overcome because others opened doors for me and I was willing to work hard after the doors were opened. In this blog, I talk about challenges and triumphs in middle and high school, and how they helped to shape my thinking about