SubPsyche

Have you met a sociopath? What about a psychopath? Are you either? Because by now, you would most likely have a tiny awareness of your differences from the majority of the human population in regards to emotion…

If you didn’t already know, psychopaths and sociopaths are similar, but different. It can be denoted that psychopaths are “born” into the world in which they are simply different than their “neurotypical” (“normal person”) counterparts; and that sociopaths are “made” as a result of environmental triggers. Both psychopaths and sociopaths display similar, but not identical symptoms. For example, both are notorious for their charm, apathy, manipulation, narcissism, low stress responses, and lack of empathy. However, in psychopaths especially, these symptoms can be heavily more innate than in that of sociopaths. This is because research showed that there are literally structural differences in the brains’ of psychopaths when compared to that of a neurotypical counterparts. These structural brain differences make the symptoms displayed in psychopaths more innate than in sociopaths in that psychopaths can have little to no empathy whereas sociopaths never have no empathy, but always a little (on the spectrum). Similarly, this applies to every symptom that both may display in that psychopaths have even more of that inability to act in what is considered “humane.” But the biggest misunderstanding is that they will automatically be bad people or criminals – which isn’t always necessarily the case for both psychopaths and sociopaths.

Psychopaths are incredibly fascinating to me. They are born into the world completely without the certain psychological components that code for emotion. As a result, they can only ever understand emotion at a cognitive level. This is what makes them such amazing actors, manipulators, and charmers. They grow up observing the people around them and will mimic them and their emotional tendencies in order to be perceived as normal (for a certain purpose; to get ahead in life, or to fulfill their narcissistic tendencies). As a result of their compensative and chronic life efforts of conforming into societal norms because of their neurological “abnormalities”, they will master their acting; and because they will do it relatively or virtually unphased by the common human obstacles that involve anxiety and depression, they will be the most charming, communicative, and charismatic individuals you have ever met. This also applies to sociopaths in that they will do the same, but will have a tiny bit more of a response to stress stimuli simply because they were not born with their apathetic attributes. Instead, they are made the way they are (similar to that of a psychopath) because of environmental factors during their development that can involve trauma, betrayal, abandonment, abuse, etc. In order for these types of environmental triggers to be expressed, individuals must have the genetic capacity for becoming a full-fledged sociopath.

With this, a person who does not have the genetic capacity to become a sociopath will never become one; regardless of whatever that individual has gone through. But if they do, one negative childhood trigger can completely change them forever. Their brain chemistry is forever altered and I like to think that they essentially psychologically lose trust in humanity. Some sociopaths might recognize their differences, but even then, they will say that everybody is weird; that everybody else is the problem and not them. This is because sociopath/psychopath is narcissistic to a degree. Without the general modes of emotion, the ability of perspective, and the clear-cut perception of consequence, they are especially prone to impulsivity and top-tier selfish acts. This is why a lot of psychopaths and especially sociopaths (who have been done wrong by the world) are prone to sadistic, malignant, and criminal behaviors. Psychopaths don’t feel as far as we know (although might feel something), and sociopaths are next up in line as they definitely do feel more than psychopaths. Sociopaths harbor an expressed resentment for the world while psychopaths are just straight up like that.

Nevertheless, there are many psychopaths and sociopaths who don’t stray into criminal acts. It needs to be noted that there are many types of sociopaths and psychopaths; ones that have the capacity to live normal lives, and some that are simply too far deterred from the “norms” to do so. But even in these cases, they all just need guidance and a motivation to live life as decently. For example, a psychopath or sociopath might hold back on his/her malignant tendencies because they may not want to go to jail. But not because they are particularly scared, but because going to jail would be a hindrance to their freedom; something that they don’t find necessarily find happiness in, but gravitate towards because of what it can offer for them.

VITALITY:

If you are experiencing symptoms in any form whether mental or physical, try changing your diet. Now I am not saying to go vegan or anything, but processed foods are key to disease and disorder. Eating whole foods, like buying literal ingredients (vegetables, fruits, legumes, seafood, organic meats, etc.) instead of prepackaged foods (filled with chemicals for appearance, taste, and preservation), will change your life regardless of your current state; I know it changed mine! There is a gut-brain connection! You actually are what you eat. 

COGNITION:

Ever thought about raising your IQ? Learn a new instrument or language. Learning these concepts have been scientifically proven to excite neuroplasticity in that new neurons and synapses are created upon the gradual comprehension of new languages and instrumental knowledge. “Hidden” areas of the brain (and especially the frontal lobe – critical thinking/logic/deductive reasoning/decision-making/etc.) have also been speculated to be especially activated when learning these concepts. The reason learning these subjects are so beneficial is because you can not learn them (and you are not supposed to). Instead, it will take time, and as your mind gradually grasps a new way of speaking or the techniques in instrumental play, you are undergoing many changes that are required to occur in order for you to solidify comprehension of these concepts. If you’re interested, I recommend starting to play the ukulele (easier than the guitar) or starting to learn Spanish. When regarding games, chess rules! Chess requires patience, strategy, tactic, method, and attention. I find this game superior to other games when thinking of the amount of cognition needed just to keep up! It forces you to be present, and to win, you must think ahead.

CREATIVITY:

Remember Albert Einstein’s old sayings?  “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” Or this saying… “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” Well did you know that the simple task of drawing has been proven to change your brain like no other? This was surprising to me. You think of all the other practices that may seem more impactful, but drawing has been reported to change people’s lives. It strengthens memory and hones creativity while providing as an effective coping mechanism (or outlet). People project their emotions in the form of drawing and essentially release  endorphins and dopamine which mitigates stress, anxiety, and depression. It draws on the latent creativity from within you as you! Which in turn, makes you become a more divergent thinker! Also, projecting your inner emotions in the form of drawing has been proven to be an effective coping mechanism (outlet). 

STRESS:

Are you stressed? Is college life wearing down on you in that the workload may be extensive, you miss your family, or that maybe finances are getting slim? I urge you to meditate on these feelings. You have probably heard of meditation at some point in your life, tried it, and said no. Believe me, when you find a way to anchor yourself, you see the significance of meditating and hold it highly. It is not only a practice, but a tool; our brains are made to run rampant, but when you learn to wind down (and some are better at this than others), nothing will get you down. Mindful meditation is popular, but to me that’s only a start. Also, try to weave in visualization, mantras, or affirmations. Staring at a lit candle has sparked significant moments of insight for me. 

 

Ever heard of high fructose corn syrup? How about fructose? Corn syrup? Fructose syrup? Glucose syrup? “Natural” corn syrup?

Guess what, they are all the same…

 

And they are all contributors to some of our most prevalent health problems. Also, do you know about cane sugar? Yeah, that’s a drug…literally you might be eating and drinking drugs right now and I’ve always hated this topic because when I tell you that I used to be the biggest foodie! However, college came around (this year) and I had no choice but to change. Now I am on a diet consisting of whole foods (vegetables, fruits, nuts, low-mercury containing seafoods, and very few organic meats. But yeah sugar is a drug and I’ll tell you why. Cane sugar, white sugar, or refined sugar (all the same stuff) all come from the sugar cane or sugar beet plants. The way the process works is that only the active ingredients are extracted from these plants for the creation of white sugar. This process is first and foremost unnatural and chemically derived. Second, any time only active ingredients are extracted from a plant, the product of such is considered a drug. Like when you extract the active ingredients of cocoa leaves? Yeah, cocaine is made. Or when you extract the active ingredients of the seed pod of poppy plants to make heroin? Yes, these are natural substances, but it becomes unnatural when ingredients are artificially segregated for a desired effect. Sugar is a drug, literally…and the reason I wanted to bring this up is because it ties into psychology quite a bit.

You eat something sweet – probably filled with sugar, preservatives, gluten, etc. It tastes really good, so you keep eating it. Sugar cravings, if you have ever craved something sweet, it’s always because sugar has that same narcotic affect as more penetrative drugs; but just minimized and more temporary. That’s why if you have ever brought a big bag of anything sweet, you were probably inclined to keep on eating. This is because just like any drug, the consumption of white sugar triggers the release of dopamine; usually to a point beyond the food just “tasting good.” Similarly, high fructose corn syrup is also a drug/chemical as the active ingredient of fructose has been extracted from various fruits (corn) to be implemented, artificially, into your favorite cereals.

Now people handle the consumption of these chemicals in a variety of ways. For example, when I eat processed sugars, I get muscle fatigue and my symptoms of “ADHD” increase! When I eat gluten (another big big problem), I get an excess of mucus (which is not good for my cardiovascular health)/(and also a lot of fatigue). But in the long run, I function at a poor mental and physical state. When I started college this year, I had no choice but to change my diet. I could not be pacing back and forth in my room; talking to myself while I have twelve assignments due the next day. Sugar is good, but it really is not worth it. An overconsumption can especially lead to an even bigger problem when it becomes all that you ever eat in comparison to whole (natural) foods as well as natural sugars (directly from fruits & not extracted). If you find that you function okay even with eating a lot of sugar, then just imagine what you could do when eating less sugar. There is a gut-brain connection. Ever had that butterfly feeling when excited or anxious? What you eat will affect your state of mind. Unfortunately, a lot of alternative sweeteners also aren’t all that great, but some of my recommendations for natural or less detrimental sweetness include Stevia, Monkfruit, Organic agave, and date sugar, and coconut sugar.

I didn’t really feel like researching, but I thought that sharing a life-changing activity of mine would be even more beneficial to anyone who might read this.

To start off, I am diagnosed with ADHD. This disorder has ruined many aspects of my life. People will talk about how we should embrace it, but yeah…no. This disorder has only ever been a hindrance. Regardless, I am a person who will not resort to man-made medicine as I hold the purpose of my future career highly to it. I was tempted though; there were days when my thoughts and emotions would eat me alive. I thought of how one pill (Adderall) could possibly take it all away. But then I thought about a time when I might forget to take it…how ADHD would re-emerge – how I would essentially be psychologically dependent on a pill to help me cope with moving letters and loud thoughts. I dismissed pharmaceuticals and essentially kept to what would be my purpose later in life as a neuropsychologist. I found meditation…

Meditation is an activity that I have engraved into the crevices of my cerebral cortex! If I do not meditate, I simply can not operate at even a decent cognitive caliber (focus, concentration, memory, communication, etc.). And this is because even with being diagnosed with such an annoying neurodevelopmental disorder, meditation does something that is almost magical. After repeated sessions, it literally begins to restore both the mind and the body. Let me put it this way, meditation forces the mind to empty and expand; and because of the mind-body connection, our physical state is especially affected. Have you ever heard of being “infinite?” I like to think of meditation as being the ultimate tool of experiencing true freedom. If you have heard of mediation you probably think about it being mostly about breathing techniques. And yes, although breathing techniques are incredibly integral parts of meditation, focusing on the breath is not the only important factor of meditation. This is because people like me; who struggle with focusing, concentrating, staying on task, and being motivated to partake in most activities, can’t just sit down and meditate (even with guided sessions). So how am I doing it? Through the power of visualization.

It is unfortunate that this is a strategy that you probably won’t get from the internet when in reference to learning meditation, but lets just say I had to find a way around the obstacles that came my way when first attempting to meditate. Even for an atypical person, meditation might be a very difficult activity to engage in. The biggest questions entails the phrase “am I doing it right?” Nonetheless, I thought of an extra step to be taken when I simply could not bring my mind to a common ground enough to truly meditate. Instead, I would just sit their wasting my time by ruminating about the day’s contents and suspensefully anticipating tomorrows. In essence, I learned that the more interested I was in anything, the more easier it was to focus. So I closed my eyes and set the scene…literally. I closed my eyes and weaved a world around me (imaginatively of course).

Whether I was in a tropical forest during nightfall to a Buddhist Temple at sunrise, it is indeed amazing how critically our environments affect us or in my case, “environment.” Ultimately, that was the key! Visualizing was more of a motivating factor than meditating of course, but it was after “setting the scene, mood, and atmosphere” that I found myself beginning to focus during sessions. It was almost as if these self-formulated environments that I was weaving were calling me to meditate. Imagine trying to meditate at home versus a calm night forest with a campfire in front of you or even a temple so high in the mountains that you can see the clouds! In a way, I kinda found something in addition to the cognitive and physiological effects of meditation…but also an escape. A getaway, a coping mechanism, and what would essentially be my own nirvana.

Whenever you have time, try to meditate…If you find it difficult, try to visualize… if you find that difficult put some music on (only instrumentals and not too loud), open a window…Go outside if you have to! Or even formulate your own methods of concentration when meditating. Happy or depressed – I promise you won’t regret it.

“Let go of your earthly tether; empty and become wind”

   -Zaheer from The Legend of Korra

When delving into the neurological aspect of psychology, neuroscience, I have come to understand that not all people find it’s concepts as compelling and exciting as I do… As a result, I want to try and exploit the following topic in a less complex way. With that being said, have you ever heard about the four lobes of the brain?

Elaborately, these lobes, or sections of the brain essentially code for different neurological functions and in which each section houses certain structures. In this, these structures are ultimately what make up the lobe; when looked at cohesively. In essence, the four lobes of the brain entail the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, and the occipital lobe.

Lets start with the frontal lobe or what I like to refer to as the lobe in “front” of the other lobes. This is because this particular lobe of the brain plays the biggest role in our intellectual prowess. It is located in the forefront of our craniums (foreheads) and it involves critical thinking skills,  decision-making, deductive reasoning, and many other properties that make humans such cognitive and abstract beings. This lobe also governs our caliber of speech (Broca’s Area) as well as voluntary movement (motor cortex)! The frontal lobe is definitely the powerhouse in our cognitive efficiency.

Now lets talk about the temporal lobe. If you ever anticipate a hit to your temples – DODGE. Especially if you want to remember what happened afterwards or probably anything at all. The temporal lobe is known for auditory comprehension and memory (hippocampus). So if you were hit hard enough on either side of your head (where your temporal lobes are located)-(near the ears), then you can potentially afflict your memory which could lead to a host of other problems (i.e. no past/new memories, no face recognition, etc.). More markedly, this lobe is also why we are able to hear and identify sonic energy (noise) via the auditory cortex in each temporal lobe.

Furthermore, the lobe that follows the frontal lobe is the parietal lobe. This lobe is probably the hardest to understand out of all of the lobes, but it is also probably the most interesting as well. It is located at the very top of our heads (behind the frontal lobe) and is basically in control of our tactile sensations as well as spatial distribution. Simplistically, this lobe is why were are able to touch; feel texture, pain, pressure, and temperature. In regards to spatial distribution, this lobe governs our innate understanding of how far things are in conjunction with one another as well as ourselves – (our understanding of distance). This  is why we are not going to “reach” for a book that is 10 feet away from us… We automatically know that it is farther away because we are naturally aware of how much space is distributed between us.

Lastly, the lobe in the very back of our brains is the occipital lobe and this lobe is pretty much primarily responsible for our vision. With this being said, if this lobe was damaged, it would could cripple our sense of visual comprehension or even ability of sight overall. A brief breakdown would probably fill in some space on this lobe.

Specifically, electromagnetic energy (light) pours into our pupil, the black dot that is enclosed in our iris’, and essentially reflects off of the lens (eye structure) where it is then projected onto the retina. The retina houses rods and cones (detail/sharpness and color). It is basically the key structure that allows us to notice color and detail expressed by light energy; but not just yet! – Because afterwards, the impulse from light energy is transmitted to the visual cortex (home base)  via the optic nerve (train station) where we then interpret what we are seeing – “the wall is orange.” So visual interpretation specifically occurs in the visual cortex in the occipital lobe like how auditory comprehension directly occurs in the auditory cortex of the temporal lobe.

The most exciting thing about this process as well as the processes of all lobes is that it happens in not even a matter of a second, but more rapidly.

 

 

“Ignorance is bliss”

~Thomas Gray

 

 

Well? What do you think? Do you think that ignorance is bliss?

Let’s put it this way. Imagine that your mind is your world. After all, regardless of where you are, who you’re with, and what situation your in, the brain’s ability to perceive is what essentially dictates your thoughts, emotions, and perspectives of “the” world. Thus, metaphorically speaking, creating your own “world.” One may say that we see through a specialized lens that is unique to each and every one of us. But how clear is your lens? How blurry? Now imagine residing in a world you know nothing of. You live day by day, unaware of forbidden secrets and wicked realities. You live on cloud 9 because you lack contemplation, you naturally dismiss truth, and you simply fail to foresee consequence. Instead, you see rainbows. Ignorance is indeed blissful…

I have always somewhat admired people who could embody such a state of ignorance; and this trait isn’t always a negative one despite the stigma. Granted, it may be difficult for some people to fathom such a notion, do believe that often the least we know, the better. Now of course as an over-thinker, a pessimist, a Capricorn, and someone who has typically been through many negative experiences, I could never obtain such a state even if I wanted to. Some people in the world, because of many factors ranging from nature to nurture, could just never acquire a state of oblivion. For example, when we tell ourselves that it will be okay, it probably doesn’t work because we know it won’t (if the odds are stacked against us). One may be so grounded into the roots of this earth that they see the world with naked eyes, and they become frightened as a result of it; too vividly understanding that reality shows mercy to no one and that tomorrow is never promised. And as a result, while one falls into a pool of foam blocks another falls into depression. Suddenly, our minds become our worst enemies and we essentially end up weaving our own darkened world as a result of it.

Nevertheless, I have always had a knowledge of how much happier I might be if I completely severed my cognitive ties and essentially worked to rewire my mental framework. But even so, I could still never see myself giving up my sense of reality. Whether I am just too stubborn or too curious, I guess I am more willing to endure the darkening depths of my mind than to give up seeing clearly; or perhaps what I think seeing clearly is. Maybe I, as similar people might, fear the thought of succumbing to delusion or “triviality.” Maybe it is something that many of us would not relate to which is why are the way we are in the first place.

Regardless, ignorance and practicality both have their positives and negatives. There may even often be cases where ignorance strives for truth and practicality strives relief. Perhaps I would wish only for one day a place to see the rainbows…

 

But despite all of my cultivated wisdom, would I ever really want to leave?

How bliss is ignorance exactly?

 

Although a lot of people may not believe in what the signs of the zodiac stand for, I certainly do!

I have always considered that I may just be overly-imaginative in this sense because of how interested I am in astrology. However, patterns don’t lie. I see a resemblance in nearly every person I meet with regards to their respective zodiac sign! And I have even ruled out the possibility of me just possibly exhibiting a confirmation bias. Even though astrology is more than its “theoretically-devised” signs of which correspond to the arrangement of celestial bodies, the zodiac signs are indeed still a notion that I like to particularly focus on. Especially the psychology present within them!

After this brief post, you might make connections and receive insights that entail to whether each of the signs at least somewhat pertain to you or your friends and family. With this being said, let’s first talk about the four elements of the Zodiac: Air, earth, fire, and water. Among each of these elements, comprise three particular signs that have their own general commonalities in contrast to the other elemental signs. For example,

Air signs:

This element consist of Aquarius, Libra, and Gemini. In essence, these signs are usually incredibly sociable and productive. They have an incredible sense of creativity, optimism; and it seems as if they always have something going on. They are very much probably the most “present” and “adaptable” signs as they tend to flow like their element.  Libras are especially known for their productive attitudes. They are relentless and have extremely open minds which often contribute to their marked indecisiveness. Geminis are –

particularly known for their dualistic personalities of which render them one of the most adaptable signs! They have changing perspectives and are also one of the most creative signs due to the varying spectrums of their personality. Aquarius is statistically one of the most intelligent signs of the Zodiac. They are also known for their rebellious natures and ability to see beyond the general thresholds of thinking.

 

Fire signs:

These signs include Aries, Sagittarius, and Leo. All of these signs resemble their element, fire. They are ambitious and love to take initiative. They are dominant and wild signs, but not always to a fault. Aries is known to be one of the most courageous signs. Although they may be impulsive at times because of their grit and bravery, they have this sense of wisdom that will surprise you every time. Speaking of wisdom, Sagittarius is big on this. A lot of Sagittarius can come off harsh, but it is because they live in a different world. With this being said, they are extremely philosophical and will probably always be telling you about their theories. These are the icons (Taylor swift, Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, etc). They are also one of the most optimistic signs. Likewise, Leos can also be extremely optimistic. These signs are marked as leaders because of their superior sense of confidence! This can go very south however if their confidence is skewed to cockiness, but they are usually very generous and caring signs!

Water signs:

These signs include Scorpio, Cancer, and Pisces. All of these signs have an unmatched level intuition. There is definitely something magical about these signs. Scorpios are like sparkling water. This is because they have the most intense energy out of all of the zodiac. They are extremely quick-minded and could burn with their words. However, there level of forgiveness is probably beyond any other sign’s. Like Geminis, they could be your best friend or worst enemy. However, Cancers and Pisces are different from their rigid-minded counterpart. They are marked as the most sensitive and emotional signs. But this does not mean that they are weak. In fact, being sensitive in such an unwavering world will either make or break you. And a lot of these signs end up having a cultivated strength in them. This is why Cancers have extremely high emotional intelligences. They also have this rawness too them that makes them incredibly honest and strong-hearted signs. Elaborately, Pisces are the most wisest signs of the Zodiac. They are the dreamers, the artists, and the psychics. They have “old souls” and this is what makes them such cryptic signs.

Earth signs:

These signs include Virgo, Taurus, and Capricorn. These signs are the most practical and logical in comparison to their elemental counterparts. One could say that these signs are extremely grounded into the earth as their superior sense of reality makes them least prone to delusional behavior. This is why Virgos are considered the most “accurate” signs. Their demand for order and stability make them incredibly sound signs! They are known as the “try-hards” and I honestly don’t see anything wrong with this.. They will perfect everything that they do to the point of obsession. Speaking of obsession, Capricorns are also extremely high-achieving. In fact, this sign is known as the most successful sign of the Zodiac because of their relentless sense of priority and discipline. They are the workaholics and competitors of the Zodiac. And lastly, Taurus. This sign is known as the most powerful sign of the Zodiac because of their high capacity of resistance. These extremely cordial and patient signs can withstand just about any struggle or conflict. But once they do reach a breaking point, they go on the offensive and usually end up dominating.

 

It was unfortunately more recently in my life than I would have liked that I fully began to grasp the power that creativity holds. We all have a relative intelligence, but it is what we do with it that determines our cognitive and emotional efficiency in the long run. Now of course there are people in the world who are born with extremely high mental capacities partially due to genetics. In fact, one might conclude that the inherited traits from a family gene pool can more specifically code for a particularly unique way of thinking, encoding, processing, retaining, and reasoning. However, it doesn’t end there. Humans are the most intellectually superior species on the earth and as a result of our dominating cognitive prowess, we are constantly changing and progressing. Throughout your lifetime, you may acquire an efficiency that you didn’t know you were capable of. It is important that we hone our creativity in all of its glory since it is how you work your intelligence that determines your intellectual capabilities in all areas. As Einstein said, “Knowledge is limited, but imagination encircles the world.”

 

When I contemplate and further try to understand the prism of creativity, I often think of left-handed people. Every left-handed person that I have ever encountered displayed a unique way of thinking in one area or another. This is likely because during their entire life, they have experienced closer connections with the functions of their right brain, the area of the brain that is in control of the left side of the body. This side of the brain is widely known to code for creative and abstract thinking. In contrast, the left side of the brain, the area in control of the right side of the body (right-handed people) is known to correlate with with logic and more methodical thinking. All people utilize both hemispheres of the brain, but there is definitely a dominant side that each of us have more of a connection with and this is can be virtually determined by how much we utilize either side of the body. Now this isn’t always the case since every individual is different and can overly express associations to either hemisphere despite their whatever their dominant hand might be.

 

In relevance, left-handed people account for approximately 12% of the human population and still account for a higher estimated ratio of members in MENSA than with right-handed people, who make up the majority. Many “geniuses” are often left-handed and this points to an interesting distinction between logic and creativity, how they might interact, and which could prove to be more effective in the long run. Regardless, everyone is creative in their own way. Nobody is completely identical and therefore, every individual will always have something to bring to the table. I am right-handed, traumatic, diagnosed with anxiety and ADHD, am distinctively unimaginative, and got left back in the first grade. However, after finding an outlet, learning new instruments and languages, cutting contact with pharmaceuticals, directly working to expand and broaden my horizons, and manifesting serenity, I have essentially created a base. I have created a way to work with what I have in a way that is inclusive to me. I went from being delayed academically, to top 6% of my senior class in high school and now enrolled at Penn State University in the Paterno’s Fellowship Program as an aspiring neuropsychologist. It is absolutely no secret that I am not predisposed to special talents, but I have my discipline and dedication to account for it. I will continue to hone and embrace my creativity in new ways, so that I can create a higher affinity for creative thinking and thus, an even higher caliber of cognitive efficiency. Do not believe that intelligence is crystalline. Instead, it is important to realize your potential. Creativity is the basis of intelligence. It is in everyone, but you must find it and embrace it. Keep on being great and keep reaching.

If you were to live in a world of utter darkness and oblivion how do you think you would fare? This question can be akin to Norman Nordstrom, the blind antagonist of the film, Don’t Breathe, released in 2016 by Fede Alvarez. This character was played by the actor, Stephen Lang. Ultimately, this film both embodied and emphasized the unfathomable capabilities that the blind or visually impaired can develop. In the movie, this was portrayed by the utilization of Norman Nordstrom’s other body senses; particularly hearing, smell, and touch. Theoretically, these particular senses may be described as “enhanced” in those who are visually deterred due to their perpetual dependency on these senses.

Relevantly, research done in Harvard Medical University and Boston University have concluded that this prolonged dependency is what causes neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself in order to function normally and efficiently. As a result, this would create a relatively heightened connection with the active sensory information in order to re-compensate for the lack of visual information present in blind people according to novelist and author, Maureen Duffy. Accordingly, it can be concluded that the blind antagonist in the film, Norman Nordstrom, possessed an acute sense of hearing and smell due to his blindness. 

Furthermore, there is a multitude of research confirming the various changes indicated in the brain’s of those who have profound vision loss. For instance, images from magnetic resonance imaging (or MRI scanners) conducted on participants who have profound blindness and those who possess normal vision have been shown to reveal significant contrasts in the brain when compared according to Maureen Duffy. Magnetic resonance images show high-quality images of the nervous system (or other body systems) through the use of powerful radio waves and magnetic fields. With this being said, the participants with profound visual loss or impairment were revealed to possess structural, functional, and anatomical neuroplastic connectivity changes in their nervous systems according to lead author and investigator, Corinna M. Bauer, Ph.D. Conclusively, in the brain’s of people with profound blindness, these neurological changes of which were areas associated with smell, touch, and hearing, were more widespread than in the brain’s of people with normal sight when shown on the MRI results.

Nevertheless, this breakthrough is highly and especially relative to those who have profound and prolonged blindness like Norman Nordstrom did in the film in which many years were underwent void of visual information; giving nothing but time for the brain to adapt and create new neural pathways and synapses (in an attempt to cope). However, with training in touch and language along with the autonomic enhancing of the other senses, especially hearing, the likelihood of adaptation in anyone who has profound blindness or develops it is exceptionally high according to senior author, Lotfi Merabet, Ph.D. In relevancy, this is heavily depicted in multiple parts throughout the film that essentially exaggerate Norman’s sense of hearing and smell. Examples include when he was able to pick up on the scent of a distant pair of shoes that was left behind by one of the intruders that had broken into his home. Also parts of the film that emphasized his extremely keen and sensitive hearing. In the image above, you can also see how he uses his sense of touch to pursue his target.