Cognition

"To Live is To Know"...
When we continually interact between a system and the environment we began to learn how that system works, and also learn how to adapt when changes occur. Cognition involves perception, behavior and emotion. In a sense when we learn to listen to "our gut" when certain situations arise out of the ordinary. We learn that when certain imbalances occur, than certain things may arise or act in a specific way.

I feel that we are always trying to find some sort of balance in our lives. I could see this when I worked with children with special needs. Through time and experience, I was able to see that when certain behaviors emerged that were not 'normal' for a session, to look at outside things that may be provoking them, or to talk to the parent's about possible diet or lifestyle changes that may be occurring. Sometimes the change in the weather, tone of music instruments, the change of rhythms or the lights in the room had provoked a response. When working with children with sensory needs, especially with hyper sensitivities, small changes can cause them to display behaviors that they feel will help them calm down - find balance. Hand flapping in front of eyes may help with not getting enough visual input, etc.

There was one young boy I worked with who had many sensory needs. He could not sit still, and would spin most of the time. He would throw up continually during the session, then play in it with his hands. I soon learned that his body was hypersensitive to many things. Turning off the lights helped calm down the spinning. Having adagio and steady rhythmic music kept him more alert and participated to where I could teach him simple sign language to help communicate basic needs. It was observed that if the music speed up by just a few beat/ seconds, that he too would begin to change his body language, and begin to get more restless and unable to concentrate. He needed the constant rhythm.


Memory and Magic...
Our minds have incredible power. It allows us to see the world in many different ways. A magician is able to use their knowledge of the mind to their advantage by employing facial cues, body language, or suggestive talk to guide us through their show in order for us to see it in the way they envision it to be. I think the more we realize how easily perceived we can become, the more we may realize that there are many different ways to look at one incident or thought. I learned many lessons from this when working at a psychiatric hospital. I would be holding a group, where we would be having a great conversation, or someone would be telling a funny story, then all of a sudden one person would begin to either cry or get defensive because they thought we were all laughing at them. There perception of the event was not accurate, or very different than the whole groups. I think the more we step back from a situation, and take our emotions out, the more we may be able to see it in many different ways.