Brain Matters - Constant Contact

4th Annual Neuroplasticity
Brain Health and Environment Conference
Brain Matters
Day 1 - November 28, 2014
Dr. Jackie Gardner-Nix
7:45 – 8:45 Registration
8:45 – 9:00 Welcome
9:00 – 10:15 “Mindfulness, Neuroplasticity and Chronic Pain: Unpacking the Mystery”
This session looks at what happens in the brain as a painful condition becomes long-standing and begins to involve what scientists call “central sensitization”. The practice of mindfulness allows a dismantling of some of the quality of life-sabotag-
ing mental and physiological events that become entrenched in chronic pain suffering. Functional MRI research has done PXFKWRH[SODLQWKHEHQH¿WVRIPLQGIXOQHVVLQFKDQJLQJWKHPLQGWRUHIUDPHDQGFRQWDLQWKHSDLQH[SHULHQFHHYHQDIIHFWLQJ
the painful site itself and not just the brain’s response to it
Speaker: Dr. Jackie Gardner-Nix
10:15 – 10:30 Break
Dr. J. Douglas Salmon
10:30 – 12:00 The neuroplasticity of nature exposure/deprivation
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the balance relative to technological bombardment. Similarly the adverse effects of nature deprivation will be discussed. The talk will also draw a parallel between increased economic/lifestyle focus on sustainability to heal the planet and how a similar psychological focus incorporating nature exposure can be healing at the individual level. Pragmatic tips will be offered from the standpoint of recommended (at least tentatively based upon current research) minimal and optimal levels RIQDWXUDOH[SRVXUHIRUDFRJQLWLYHHQKDQFHPHQWEGHSUHVVLRQFDQ[LHW\DQGGJHQHUDOPDLQWHQDQFHRIPHQWDO
cognitive health.
Speaker: Dr. J. Douglas Salmon
12:00- 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 Eat and Run: The Impact of Diet and Exercise on Neuroplasticity
Learn how to eat brain smart.
Learn why exercise is the ultimate way to preserve brain health.
Speaker: Dr. Nasreen Khatri Dr. Nasreen Khatri Dr. Bob Grisdale
Register & pay
online @
www.kmtlearning.com
or call
2:30 -2:45 Break
Breakouts
2:45 - 4:30 Room (a) Movement is Medicine for the Brain
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where and how much: Movement is Medicine for the Brain.
Speaker: Dr. Bob Grisdale
2:45 - 4:30 Room (b) “The body scan in mindfulness work: its drawbacks and value in chronic pain-related neuroplasticity”
One of the most important and relevant meditations in Mindfulness practice relating to chronic pain is the body scan. Not RQO\LVWKLVPHGLWDWLRQFDOPLQJDQGFHQWHULQJLWDOVRKDVDXQLTXHDELOLW\WRUHFRQQHFWWKHSDLQVXIIHUHUZLWKDVSHFWVRIWKHLU
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the pain sufferer may experience unwelcome feelings and have serious reservations about this meditative practice. Speaker: Dr. Jackie Gardner-Nix
1 844 829 4378
KMT The Learning Group • 1412 Eddie Shain Drive • Oakville, Ontario • L6J 7C6 • T: (905) 829-4378 • F: (866) 259-2058
4th Annual Neuroplasticity
Brain Health and Environment Conference
Brain Matters
Day 2 - November 29, 2014
9:00 – 10:30 How mindfulness alters brain connectivity
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the representation of immediate body sensation. Cultivating interoception creates an attentional ‘anchor’ distinct from conceptual judgment that appears to provide resilience against stress. Cultivating interoception may be helpful because DZDUHQHVVRIWUDQVLWRU\ERG\VHQVDWLRQVFUHDWHVSV\FKRORJLFDOGLVWDQFHIURPKDELWXDOFRJQLWLYHUHDFWLRQVSURYLGLQJIUHHGRP
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Speaker: Dr. Norman Farb
Dr. Norman Farb
Dr. J. Douglas Salmon
10:30 – 10:45 Break
10:45 – 12:00 The neuroplasticity of mindfulness training
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ple’s variation on the activity. I am including a review of the literature with respect to mindfulness applications and cognitive (and emotional) clinical populations in addition to neuroimaging studies demonstrating the positive impacts of mindfulness on frontal lobe functioning. In addition to imaging support there are parallel improvements in high level attentional skills and executive functioning more broadly. Finally there is also literature suggesting somewhat of an inoculation effect of mindful-
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resources that offer inexpensive mindfulness courses will be presented as well as minimal/optimal mindfulness involvement IRUDFRJQLWLYHHQKDQFHPHQWEGHSUHVVLRQFDQ[LHW\DQGGJHQHUDOPDLQWHQDQFHRIPHQWDOFRJQLWLYHKHDOWK
Speaker: Dr. J. Douglas Salmon
12:00 – 1:00 Ms. Elli Weisbaum
1:00 – 2:30 Applying mindfulness to our personal & professional lives: A hands on introduction 7KLVSUHVHQWDWLRQZLOOSURYLGHSDUWLFLSDQWVZLWKKDQGVRQH[SHULHQFHRIVHYHUDOIRXQGDWLRQDOPLQGIXOQHVVDFWLYLWLHVV\QWKH-
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mindfulness activity as it applies to our everyday personal and professional lives. The presentation will focus on providing SDUWLFLSDQWVZLWKWRROVWKDWWKH\FDQDSSO\WRERWKWKHPVHOYHVDQGWKHLUZRUNSODFHHQYLURQPHQWV:HZLOODOVRH[SORUHKRZ
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regarding the implementation of mindfulness outside of the conference setting. Speaker: Ms. Elli Weisbaum
2:30 – 2:45 Ms. Sarah Carpentier
Register & pay
online @
www.kmtlearning.com
or call
Lunch
Break
2:45 – 4:15 “Neuroplasticity, musical training, and cognitive transfer” ,WKDVEHHQFODLPHGPDQ\WLPHVRYHUWKDWSUDFWLFHZLWKDFHUWDLQVSHFL¿FDQGXVXDOO\VKRUWWDVNZLOOPDNHXVVPDUWHURYHUDOO
However the research may not always provide a strong foundation for such suggestions. Though “The Mozart Effect” was KLJKO\FRQWURYHUVLDOLQLWVRULJLQDOIRUP\HDUVDJRRWKHUW\SHVRIPXVLFDOWUDLQLQJKDYHFRQWLQXHGWRVKRZFRQVLVWHQWµWUDQV-
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that the neuroplasticity associated with musical training demonstrates an important way the brain changes with experience to support cognition. Speaker: Ms. Sarah M. Carpentier
4:15 – 4:30 Dismissal
OTHER SPEAKERS MAY BE ADDED
1 844 829 4378
KMT The Learning Group • 1412 Eddie Shain Drive • Oakville, Ontario • L6J 7C6 • T: (905) 829-4378 • F: (866) 259-2058

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