Connect The Synapses

Connect The Synapses
By Brad “Scarnecky” Gordon

One of my favorite things to do is jot down little facts in my journal that are very compelling, followed up with many “what if” imagination triggers.  The subjects found in this article just so happens to be one among the very first entered in my journals.

I would like to create an interesting connection or bridge between two very interesting subjects: Modern-Day Science and Magic/Mentalism.  I strongly feel that it is important to shed light on a subject which some people may consider to be sort of far out there.

We see many people discussing NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) on magic forums and within much of the modern day mentalism literature.  Some of us have also watched magicians use NLP in their television specials, as either an explanation for how the magic is happening or genuinely use it to enhance their performance.

I’ve been thinking a great deal about this, and I get the feeling that there just may be a large amount of people who continue to steer clear of this subject.  For those who might be a little bit skeptical or reluctant, I would like to respectfully present a reason to take a closer look at another powerful tool to enlist in your personal arsenal. I will be taking a closer look at two subjects: NLP and LTP.  Let’s get to it ASAP, sorry I couldn’t resist.

First allow me to address the meaning of L T P.  As an acronym for Long Term Potentiation, Wikipedia defines it thus:

In neuroscience, long-term potentiation (LTP) is the long-lasting improvement in communication between two neurons that results from stimulating them simultaneously.  Since neurons communicate via chemical synapses, and because memories are believed to be stored within these synapses, LTP is widely considered one of the major cellular mechanisms that underlies learning and memory.

To Quote Cynthia Kuhn, Ph.D.,  Scott Swartzwelder, Ph.D.,  and Wilkie Wilson, Ph.d., of the Duke University Medical Center.

“We think memory is built one synapse at a time: some synapses that are stimulated repeatedly change how they function (learn) and maintain that change for a long time.  There is an electrical manifestation of this learning that scientists call long-term potentiation (LTP).  It is a long-lasting strengthening (potentiation) of the electrical signal between two neurons that occurs when the synapse between them is stimulated.”

As I was delving further into the world of LTP I was immediately reminded of the dynamic practice of anchoring which is, of course, used in NLP and hypnosis.  For the sake of clarity within this article let us momentarily assume that NLP and Hypnosis are generally accepted professional practices (as they are). Personally not only do I solidly believe, but I also use their benefits every single day of my life.

This subject, to me, is a powerful reinforcement for the reasons behind WHY we should strive as magical performers to create maximum emotional connections between the mystery, the presenter and the audience.

Let’s switch gears a bit, shall we. Anchoring defined by Robert Dilts:  Anchor: “Stimuli that will consistently produce the same internal data in an individual. Anchors occur naturally. Bandler and Grinder discovered old modeling that you can deliberately set-up a stimulus with a gesture or a touch or a sound to hold a state stable. Where an external stimulus is paired with an internal state.”

One might be inclined to ask what exactly a hypnotic anchor is.  Simply put, an anchor is an association to any life memory. “Hypnotic anchors” are composed by using all of our senses including that of sound, sight, smell, taste, touch and even what some may call energy. When applying an “anchor,” the greater number of senses used, the more powerful it becomes.

Without continuing on into the scientific range of these subjects, I would simply like to lay them side by side for you, the reader, to take a look at.  I am sure that it is very easy to see how both of these subjects (NLP hypnotic anchoring and LTP Long Term Potentiation) could be powerful allies in your magical performances.  In my eyes they are, in and of themselves, the very same thing.

If one is so inclined to do more research or study huge books on the subject of NLP, I would say go and do because you will learn a great deal about so many other aspects of that wonderful subject.  However if you’d like to simply take into account these modern day studies of the human brain, it would be safe to assume that by focusing on the basic definition of LTP you can instantly add power to your magic.

A rehearsed touch at the right time, creating laughter, purposefully using a specific scent tying your performance points together, perfectly timed music, a soft kind voice, genuine smiles and eye contact- all of these things used and planned as part of your everyday performing seems to me to be “things” that are just as important as scripting or the very effects we choose.

As a presentational hook, one might be motivated to incorporate this subject matter into the actual scripting.  So instead of using NLP and/or psychology as the reason why the magic is happening, this would be something a little bit different and fresh to bring to the magical dinner table.  “Has anyone here ever heard of LTP?” The rest of your scripting placed here.  Even if this is only used as the initial hook and nothing more, there is something very interesting about the topic.

Upon further study of LTP, I have continually run into new studies and products for pharmaceutical advances which specifically target the human brain’s LTP.  There are even drugs currently on the market which may help the elderly and other individuals who may have a challenging time remembering things.

I wish to again quote: Cynthia Kuhn, Ph.D.,  Scott Swartzwelder, Ph.D.,  and Wilkie Wilson, Ph.d., of the Duke University Medical Center.

What does this teach us?  We all know that we tend to learn what interests us, and we know that we remember emotional events.  Now we know why.  The adrenergic system apparently delivers signals to the brain that facilitate learning and remembering the environment associated with an emotionally powerful event.

This is probably a very important characteristic for both humans and other animals to have, because it tends to help us remember events and places that were either wonderful or threatening, and thus adjust our future behavior accordingly.  So, now it is a little more clear why a smell or a face or a place might make you feel good or bad, even if you cannot immediately recall why.  It’s the brain recalling an emotional experience.

As a whole this solidifies our responsibility as performers to create wonderful memories in our spectators and other onlookers, and I would hope that this little bit of information will get you excited about strengthening your effects, routines and entire acts.

It is so very challenging for me to stress enough how important our spectators are and how completely vital this incredibly special art form of ours really is.

In Great thanks,

Brad “Scarnecky” Gordon

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