What is trauma exactly? Or the ever-elusive concept known as the “flow state”? And why do some people just flat-out creep us out? It can all be explained by the autonomic nervous system — our body’s autopilot that keeps our heart beating, our lungs breathing, and our gut digesting; without us even thinking about it. The Polyvagal Theory is a new understanding of how our nervous system works, and explains everything from trauma, to the very essence of social behavior; while shedding light on possible treatments for autism and trauma. You’ll never think of your body and brain the same way again. The presenter, Seth Porges, appears on numerous TV shows on the Travel, Science, Discovery, History, and National Geographic channels. He also contributes to Bloomberg Business, Instyle, Forbes, New York mag, and Departures, amongst others. He holds the world record for most Nerd Nite talks ever given. Follow him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/sethporges Seth did another terrific Nerd Nite talk - 20 Stories of Unexpected Geniuses and Inventors in 20 Minutes. See it here: https://youtu.be/464wSjM-MiQ Nerd Nite is a monthly presentation series held in nearly 100 cities globally during which several folks give fun-yet-informative presentations across all disciplines... while the audience drinks beer! Find a Nerd Nite near you (or become a presenter!): https://nerdnite.com/ Like Nerd Nite on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerdnite Follow Nerd Nite on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nerdnite

Visit http://TED.com to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. Brené Brown studies human connection -- our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk at TEDxHouston, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share. The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You're welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know. Follow TED on Twitter: http://twitter.com/TEDTalks Like TED on Facebook: http://facebook.com/TED Subscribe to our channel: http://youtube.com/TED TED's videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (https://www.ted.com/about/our-organization/our-policies-terms/ted-talks-usage-policy). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com

What is the best way to ease someone's pain and suffering? In this beautifully animated RSA Short, Dr Brené Brown reminds us that we can only create a genuine empathic connection if we are brave enough to really get in touch with our own fragilities. Voice: Dr Brené Brown Animation: Katy Davis (AKA Gobblynne) www.gobblynne.com Production and Editing: Al Francis-Sears and Abi Stephenson Watch Dr Brené Brown's full talk 'The Power of Vulnerability' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXSjc-pbXk4 Dr Brené Brown is a research professor and best-selling author of "Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead" (Penguin Portfolio, 2013). She has spent the past decade studying vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame. Donate to the RSA: https://utm.guru/udy0u Find out more about the RSA: http://www.thersa.org Follow the RSA on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thersaorg Like the RSA on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thersaorg

Focusing our attention can change the physical structure of our brains. Dr. Daniel Siegel explains what is possible when we actively seek to change our brains, thus improving our relationships and stopping self-limiting patterns. http://www.psychalive.org/author/dr-daniel-siegel/

http://eomega.org/omega/faculty/viewProfile/d74eca79e0233178537b81d321349d56/ Dan Siegel, MD, is a Harvard-trained physician and codirector of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. He is clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, where he is also on the faculty of the Center for Culture, Brain, and Development. An award-winning educator, Siegel is executive director of the Mindsight Institute. He coined the term "mindsight" to describe our capacity for insight and empathy. The Mindsight Institute promotes insight, compassion, and empathy in individuals, families, and institutions by examining the interface of human relationships and basic biological processes. Dan Siegel received his medical degree from Harvard University and completed his postgraduate medical education at UCLA with training in pediatrics, as well as child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry. He also served as a National Institute of Mental Health Research Fellow at UCLA, studying family interactions with an emphasis on how attachment experiences influence emotions, behavior, autobiographical memory, and narrative. Siegel is author of Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation; The Mindful Brain: Reflection and Attunement in the Cultivation of Well-Being; The Developing Mind: Toward a Neurobiology of Interpersonal Experience; and (with Mary Hartzell) Parenting From the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive. He also serves as founding editor for the Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology.

Visit http://TED.com to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others. The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You're welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know. Follow TED on Twitter: http://twitter.com/TEDTalks Like TED on Facebook: http://facebook.com/TED Subscribe to our channel: http://youtube.com/TED TED's videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (https://www.ted.com/about/our-organization/our-policies-terms/ted-talks-usage-policy). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com