Contemplative Intelligence (CQ) has a profound and direct impact on brain chemistry, functioning as a neurobiologically grounded program that can alter your brain chemistry. It effectively rewires your neurochemistry.

Here’s how CQ impacts brain chemistry:

• Shifting Brain Function from Limbic System to Prefrontal Cortex: CQ gently guides individuals beyond the limitations of the limbic system, which is the brain’s center for survival instincts and often referred to as the “lizard brain”. It reroutes brain activity into the higher realms of the prefrontal cortex, where true potential, creativity, and wisdom reside. This shift moves the brain from a state of constriction to one of expansive openness, unlocking a limitless reservoir of possibilities. Daily cognitive centering practices facilitate this change in brain function.

• Activating Creativity and Higher Intelligence: The prefrontal cortex, where CQ operates, is the region where creative thinking and critical thinking occur. It’s also associated with emotional intelligence and contributes to performance, feelings, and behaviors. This part of the brain is intrinsically positive by nature and allows for the development of imagination, vision, and creativity.

• Rewiring Neural Networks: CQ practices that effect your Contemplative Intelligence (CQ) and your brain chemistry involve mental exercises, often called “MindYoga,” that can rewire neural networks. Within as little as six weeks, modern research shows visible changes to the grey matter in the brain, moving function from the “survival mind” (back and bottom of the brain) to the higher-functioning mind (top and front). This process decreases grey matter in the limbic system and increases it in areas associated with positivity, inspiration, and creativity.

• Regulating Stress Hormones and Neurotransmitters:

    ◦ Calm States and Neuroplasticity: CQ practices, including deep breathing and relaxation techniques, activate neuroplasticity for lasting growth and change. When the brain is in a restful state, away from urgency or stress, neuroplasticity is triggered, allowing for new neural connections.

    ◦ Acetylcholine Release: A “second thought,” which is a deliberate process facilitated by CQ, can disrupt automatic reactions. Brain scans show that acetylcholine is released in this moment, literally making peace a chemical reality and enabling change and new thinking. This neurochemical is released when thinking with intense CQ focus.

    ◦ Dopamine and Serotonin Release: Moments of inspiration, a key aspect of CQ, can trigger the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine (associated with motivation and reward) and serotonin (linked to well-being). This creates a positive feedback loop, fostering growth-oriented activities.

    ◦ Norepinephrine Reduction: MindYoga micro-recoveries, such as dilating the eyes and stopping thinking, can turn off brainstem circuits and reduce norepinephrine, the stress hormone, thereby conserving energy. Clinical studies indicate that turning off stress can take mere seconds.

• Reversing Physical Impact of Stress: Contemplative Intelligence has been shown to reverse the physical impact of stress on the brain, such as the shrinking of the hippocampus. This means individuals are capable of changing the size and shape of their brain and how it functions.

• Balancing Brainwaves: CQ practice helps balance alpha and beta brain waves. Alpha waves preserve energy, while beta waves use it. This balance, which the Buddha also spoke about, keeps both the right and left, and back and front parts of the brain engaged and connected in harmony.

• Activating the Pineal Gland/Third Eye: When individuals engage in the work of connecting to their pineal gland (or “third eye” / prefrontal cortex), it begins to transduce information into new brain chemistry. This process is activated by qualities like empathy.

In essence, CQ acts as a catalyst for neurochemical transformation, moving the brain beyond primal survival responses to states of creativity, wisdom, peace, and overall well-being by consciously altering its structure and chemical activity. It’s like upgrading your brain’s operating system, allowing it to move from “autopilot” to a state of conscious and intentional engagement with reality. Contemplative Intelligence (CQ) and your brain chemistry provide new understandings to how we move past thousands of years of thinking that have produced shocking devastating results. Today, out there in the world it is no different – teams of “brilliant people” make terrible decisions for cabinets, corporate’s and candidates when the dualistic mind, infested with egoic biases and defences gets to call the shots. Contemplation will be the end of the dualistic mind, the end of racism, bias and prejudice. Contemplation is the end of two, and you need CQ to understand that reality.