The Spirit
of Ma’at Vol 1, No 10
by Gabriella Boehmer
An
impressive collaborative study conducted by the Institute of HeartMath(r) (IHM)
and the Minneapolis Public School District (MPSD) has proved that academic
performance can be enhanced by teaching students to manage their emotions by
maintaining healthier heart rhythms.
MPSD
curriculum specialist Stephanie Thurik and clinical psychologist Pam Aasen
participated with IHM in this three-week program, which involved 20 high school
seniors who needed help with the state-required Basic Standards Test in reading
and math. Passing these tests is a prerequisite for graduation.
Many of
the students were worried about passing the tests, particularly in cases where
they had already failed. ''The students had the knowledge,'' Dr. Aasen said,
''but were unable to perform on the test because of anxiety and stress.''
HeartMath techniques were brought in to help ease the grip of this test-taking
anxiety, and to arm the students with the confidence they needed to feel
prepared mentally and emotionally, and not just academically.
Dr.
Rollin McCraty, director of research for IHM explains, ''As we experience
emotional reactions like anger, frustration, anxiety and insecurity, heart
rhythms become incoherent or more jagged, which interferes with the two-way
communication between the heart and brain. When this communication is
compromised, it affects important aspects of cognitive function. Our reaction
speeds are slower, our reasoning and decision-making skills are hindered, and
our ability to access previously- learned information is impaired.''
IHM's
published research demonstrates that when we experience heart-felt emotions
like love, caring, appreciation, and compassion, the heart produces coherent or
smooth rhythms that enhance communication between the heart and brain. During
the three-week period, students focused on the standard academic portion of the
program and learned HeartMath techniques for managing stress and anxiety. The
hypothesis was that their test scores would be improved if this stress were
reduced and their confidence level enhanced. Scores from previous years would
be used for comparison purposes.
The
basic study tool was a new interactive software program called the
Freeze-Framer(tm). Using this software, students regularly practiced two
HeartMath techniques[*] designed to help them self-generate the coherent heart
rhythms which are associated with improved emotional balance, mental clarity,
and improved cognitive performance.
A
motivating feature of the Freeze-Framer program is that it allows users to see
in real time how their heart rhythms shift on their computer screen while
they're applying the HeartMath techniques. It also includes three fun
interactive games that are activated as you maintain smooth heart rhythms.
Study
investigators noted that for those students using the program, the average gain
in reading scores was nearly double the improvement that the average student
could have expected to achieve over one year's time with standard preparation.
The increase in students' math scores was even more notable due to the fact
that, districtwide, there hadn't been a substantial improvement in average
performance on the Math test in the prior three years.
Of the
20 students involved in this program, 13 passed one or both of the tests. Of
those students taking the math test, 64% passed, while 55% passed in reading.
''The students made gains that were significant,'' Thurik said, ''gains that
represent one to two years' growth in reading or math - with only one month of
preparation. This clearly shows that by teaching students how to use HeartMath
tools, we can help them more accurately to 'show us what they know.'''
Based
on the success of this program, the school district has acquired over thirty
Freeze-Framer programs for classroom use, and plans to initiate a study with a
larger group to determine districtwide effects of HeartMath programs on
test-taking performance.
Of
course, students are not alone when it comes to performance anxiety. The
Freeze-Framer program also is being used for similar anxieties related to work
and sports performance. Sports enthusiasts, for example, use it to help them
get into what they call the ''Zone'' - a state of mental and emotional balance,
extreme focus, and precise reactions. The software is also currently being used
in major corporations, hospitals, and even in police patrol cars.
Doc
Childre, founder of the Institute of HeartMath(r) (IHM), a nonprofit research
organization in Boulder Creek, California, designed the HeartMath system, which
provides tools for effectively dealing with life's stressful situations. With
every beat of the heart, intricate messages are being sent to the brain as well
as the entire body. These messages can positively or negatively affect our
health and our ability to perform based on whether we're stressed or feeling
good. According to researchers at IHM, we can learn to influence our heart
rhythms to our advantage, to enhance health and increase performance.
Since
1991, HeartMath programs have been implemented in a broad spectrum of environments,
from organizational programs in corporations, schools and hospitals to public
workshops delivered nationwide. Now, with the Freeze-Framer(tm), individuals
can learn two basic HeartMath techniques from their computer. These
stress-management techniques allow the heart and brain to communicate better by
helping individuals to smooth out their stressful heart rhythms.
The
Freeze-Framer software program is now on display at the San Jose Tech Museum in
the Life Tech Gallery. For more information go to freezeframer.com or call
800-450-9111.
Gabriella
''Gaby'' Boehmer is director of public relations for IHM.
* The
Freeze-Frame(tm) and the Heart-Lock-In(tm)