Two Years, Three Brains: Celebrating A Resource for Emotional Regulation

Two years! Has it really been two years this week since we launched our psychoeducational resource The Three Brains at The Gathering in Glasgow? Two members of our team who were meant to be presenting the session that day came down with Covid, meaning our Caroline had to step in at the last minute to host the session, doing a fantastic job.

So much has changed in those two years, but conflict within families remains a constant – which is where The Three Brains comes in. A digital development that aims to educate young people about the role the mind-body connection plays in emotional regulation, The Three Brains follows in the footsteps of our previous award-winning resources. It combines music, science, film, and illustrations to offer a quirky and entertaining perspective on emotional regulation and wellbeing. The resource explores how our head, heart, and gut – referred to as our ‘three brains’ – work together to process and react to the world around us.

Understanding ‘The Three Brains’

You might be wondering: the heart and gut aren’t actual brains, so what’s the deal? While it’s true that our body houses only one brain, when we talk about the ‘three brains’, we are referencing the neural networks within our brain, heart, and gut. These regions contain specialized cells called neurons that communicate via electrical signals and neurotransmitters. This intricate communication happens along the vagus nerve, connecting the gut, heart, and brain.

The heart and gut don't ‘think’ or possess consciousness like our brain does, but their neural networks play a significant role in our emotional and physical health. A robust mind-body connection can enhance emotional regulation, leading to better management of relationships and a reduction in conflict, particularly at home.

A Rock Band Metaphor

To bring this concept to life, we personified each ‘brain’ as members of a rock band: the ‘actual brain’ as the lead guitarist, the ‘heart’ as the drummer, and the ‘gut’ as the bass player. This metaphor highlights how, like a band, the three parts of the mind-body connection need to be in sync to function optimally. Even when our mind-body connection is strong, it requires continuous ‘practice’ to maintain harmony, much like musicians perfecting their craft.

Interactive Learning and Expert Collaboration

The Three Brains resource on the SCCR website includes an interactive quiz and an exploration of the science behind the mind-body connection. The quiz uses music-related scenarios to prompt young people to think about their reactions in various situations, fostering self-awareness and emotional regulation skills. In one question we ask how you’d react if the stage you were playing on was invaded; in another, whether or not to cancel an important gig to support a grieving bandmate.

Additionally, the resource features a short film by British Academy Scottish Awards-winning director Felipe Bustos Sierra (Nae Pasaran!). This five-minute film distils the project’s key learnings into an engaging format.

Our collaboration with Professor Judith Pratt of Strathclyde University ensured the scientific accuracy and depth of The Three Brains, providing a solid foundation for this educational tool.

Bringing The Three Brains to Your Toolkit

If you work with young people and seek a fun, engaging way to discuss emotional regulation, The Three Brains is an invaluable resource. It goes beyond traditional methods by empowering young people to understand and regulate their mood, potentially reducing conflict and improving relationships at home.

So, join us in celebrating two years of The Three Brains by exploring the resource on our website. Discover how this tool can make a difference in the lives of young people, fostering better emotional health and wellbeing.

You can find and try The Three Brains here.