# The Unexpected Lesson from a Snake Encounter: A Neuroscience Perspective
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Chapter 1: The Spark of Inspiration
In this piece, I share a chance encounter that occurred at my local Tim Hortons, which has guided me to write 365 stories annually.
During a routine walk, I pondered my next topic. My recent studies on the neuroscience of mindfulness had yielded insights, yet I struggled to determine how to frame my upcoming narrative.
Upon arriving at Tim’s—home to over 4,300 locations across Canada, with 20 in Kingston where I reside—I was fortunate to engage with someone intriguing. Gary, an employee at a power plant, recounted a tale that resonated with my recent reflections.
While in the control room one night, he was accompanied only by a colleague on a walkie-talkie, patrolling the facility. Suddenly, an awful scream pierced the air. Bound by protocol, he initially hesitated, but instinct compelled him to investigate. His coworker had encountered a harmless garter snake, which incited sheer panic. Grabbing a metal pipe, he began frantically striking the snake, leaving deep marks in the concrete.
I frequently find parallels between my readings and unexpected stories, and Gary's tale aptly illustrates my studies on the amygdala.
The amygdala, though small, plays a crucial role in how we respond to real and perceived threats. Research on this intricate brain structure in infants is still evolving. While it is fully developed by the time a baby is in the womb, studying its functions in newborns poses significant challenges. Conducting MRI experiments on infants can be quite complex.
The prefrontal cortex, which regulates the amygdala, matures gradually and isn't fully developed until around the age of 25. There is promising evidence that various techniques can enhance our ability to manage life’s challenges and improve the interaction between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. This could be particularly beneficial for teenagers. One day, it may be as vital to teach mindfulness and meditation in schools as it is to teach reading and writing.
Looking ahead, individuals displaying behavior similar to that in Gary’s story—despite the potential controversy over labeling such phobias as childish—could learn to manage their responses through mindfulness practices.
Notably, there has been significant advancement in addressing phobias with mindfulness techniques, though these approaches are not yet universally adopted. There remains much progress to be made.
Jim McAulay? A malapropism walks into a bar, looking for all intensive purposes like a wolf in cheap clothing, muttering epitaphs and casting dispersions on his magnificent other, who takes him for granite.