Visual Stimulation in Your Accelerated Learning Environment

When considering visual stimulation, I believe what we take in through our eyes to be the most influential of all our senses. Our brain takes in and stores all the conscious and subconscious, subtle and overt nuances of all we see. These "imprints" can have a positive or negative influence on our ability to outpicture our natural genius abilities.

For example, the picture below of a waterfall streaming down a mountain side in a tropical forest imprints our consciousness much differently than the picture of burning cars in war-torn Iraq.

Which of these two images provides the best type of visual stimulation for relaxed learning?

When we see these two images, one invokes peace, love and uplifting states of mind. The other invokes downward stressful feelings. Science shows we learn better when we feel at peace. Allowing our young children to see destructive images does not activate the parts the brain congruent with accelerated learning power. In stead, it actually blocks the types of learning we're discussing throughout this site.

Images and Distractions

So, to help move ourselves or our children into the most receptive state of mind for learning and help keep us focused on our learning tasks, we need positive visual stimulation such as images of nature that help us feel peace, love and harmony. Also, a neat and tidy room can help in improving concentration and focus. Having movies or games running on the computer in our room while studying, even if only in our periphery vision, can also be distracting and move our focus away from learning tasks. Remember, less is better - less distractions and less negative stimulus. If we look at the dwellings of yogis or monks, you'll find very little distractive elements in their environment. This allows for greater concentration and focus on their tasks, goals and aspirations.

Also, consider the bombardment of visual and audio imagery coming from our TVs. These go into our subconscious mind and influence our thoughts and concentration. Think how many times a day scenes from a movie or TV show you saw last night pop up in your mind. It's difficult to keep all these mental distractions out but it can be done in two ways:

1. Don't watch TV. If you do, try limiting your viewing to uplifting, positive topics - those related to your highest aspirations and goals.
2. Learn how to release those subconscious images and emotions projected by the negative imagery through TV. Meditation is an excellent way to do this and it helps you focus and become aligned with your higher mind, which is where your true genius dwells!

Color Visual Stimulation in Our Accelerated Learning Environment

Colors can also play an important role in learning. Pastel colors are more soothing and relaxing than strong bright ones. Below is a chart showing what some experts say are the "positive expressions of color". There are lots of color variations so I just listed the ones below that invoke positive inner expressions. You may find this interesting!

You may have noticed that some of these colors tie directly into the right brain senses I mentioned in the introduction to this topic. If you paint the room your children study in one of these colors, it can help them - at a conscious and/or subconscious level - enter a state of mind best suited for accelerated learning.

The colors not recommended for wide-spread use (such as on our walls) are: Reds (hatred, terror), black (human and spiritual pride), grays, brown (decay), lime or muddy green (envy, jealousy), bright orange hues (imperil, extreme fear) and hot pink (lust). Consciously or subconsciously, these colors can pull your energies downward into negative thought patterns and are not recommended for your accelerated learning environment.

Symbols and Thoughtforms Used for Visual Stimulation

In addition, some have found that certain visual stimulation symbols and thoughtforms can play an important role in helping the mind focus in higher states of consciousness. Some mothers place images of finely cut gems or perfect geometric shapes on the walls of their children's study area. Or, they may place images such as beautiful chalices, pictures of five- and six-pointed stars (turned correctly), the fleur-de-lis, angels, to name a few of the correct types of visual stimulation.

All these types of imagery have a positive "thoughform" associated with them. For example, finely cut gems carry a powerful geometry and some say an inherently powerful "energy". Some suggest that meditating on gems can build strong minds or even heal the ills in the body. Another example would be if your child shows interest in music, we would suggest placing posters on their wall of finely crafted musical instruments.

Distorted Visual Stimulation

Finally, let's discuss distorted visuals. The types of distorted visual stimulation found in most cartoons, some movies and pictures form the same distorted imprints on the conscious and subconscious minds of young children. Babies and young children take in everything at face value and cannot distinguish reality from unreality.

Although ugly to our innate programming, the emu above builds accurate memory patterns of what a large bird looks like. Accurate renderings of natural objects are highly preferred in your accelerated learning environment.

For example: Big Bird, a huge, cute, bright yellow talking bird from the popular Sesame Street children's show, is imprinted in the conscious and subconscious mind of babies and young children as reality, and improper brain connections are created about what a bird looks like and how birds communicate with us.

For this reason it's best to show only undistorted real-life imagery to young children and babies so that the proper brain connections (based on what's natural and realistic) can be formed in the early stages of the child's development and learning.

A Great Exercises to Stimulate and Strengthen Your Baby's Visual Brain Pathways

A great way to give your baby's brain the types of visual stimulation that builds strong synapse connections. Here's what you can do:

• When your baby is in your room with the lights on, turn the lights off so the room is dark and say, "Lights off". Wait a few seconds, turn the lights on and say, "Lights on". Do this a few times.
• Make some accurate shapes out of magenta colored construction paper and paste them on 11 x 11" white card stock. They can be geometric shapes, shapes of trees, motor vehicles, animals, cooking utensils - almost anything. (make sure they are accurate silhouettes). Write the name of what they are on the card backs. When your baby is happy and receptive, sit in front of him/her and hold the stack of cards about a foot away from the baby at eye level with the images facing him/her. Put the one from the back to the front of the stack so the baby sees it and tell him/her what it is. Put the next one from the back to the front and say what that is, etc. until about 10 cards have been shown. Stop for now and do it again later in the day with 10 different objects. If your baby shows disinterest or discomfort, stop the lesson. This only takes about 15 seconds per lesson but it's so important!
• You can also do the exercise above with small (undistorted) objects found around the house that you can keep handy in a box. A spoon, ball, Christmas card, pen, glasses, etc. It's endless!
• Another exercise you can do with your baby is point out and name everything you can as you move throughout your immediate environment. If you're all sitting at the table for dinner, point to the chair and say, "This is a chair". Hold up your fork and say, "This is a fork," etc. If you're walking through a shopping area, try to point out and name as many things as you can. It's fun!
• A great way to strengthen your baby's eye muscles is standing in front of your baby and moving your face from side to side and up and down. Your baby will usually follow you with their eyes. You can also try using a fun object that draws their interest. Move it from side to side, up and down, and diagonally from upper right to lower left, lower right to upper left and so forth. This exercise helps strengthen their eye muscles.

These will give you a good start with your baby. I'm sure you'll think of many more!

In Conclusion

The quality and quantity of visual stimulation changes the neural networks of the brain and changes the quality of output from the left brain as it develops. As your child grows, these subconscious patterns come into play and can affect their learning aptitude. The more realistic and life-like images and stimulation you can present to your child, the better they can have realistic and balanced thought patterns and outlook on life.

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