Healing the Brain
The first person I want to thank is my wife and frequent coauthor, Patricia Potter-Efron. It was Pat who gently but persistently encouraged me to write a book on the angry brain. Indeed, she suggested I do so about five years ago. It took three of those years for her to convince me it was something that should be done and that I could do it.
Louis Cozolino, PhD, has been my mentor and colleague throughout the process. He has reviewed every chapter and helped me avoid writing about possible brain pathways as if they were certainties. Because of Lou, I believe that everything in these pages reflects established brain science. He’s been a pleasure to work with.
I wish to express my appreciation to several well-known, highly respected, and undoubtedly very busy scientists and researchers who took the time to answer my e-mails and phone calls. These include Steven Stosny, who kindly allowed me to describe his method of healing resentments in detail in chapter 4; Robert Sapolsky of Stanford University (author of Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers and an expert on the linkages between fear, anger, and aggression); Allan Siegel, who has studied animal aggression for decades and has written the definitive work on the subject (The
Neurobiology of Aggression and Rage); and Sebern Fisher, whose writings and personal communications helped me understand how neurofeedback can lessen anger. Conversations with my friend James Peterson, PhD, an expert on neurofeedback, also helped me in this regard.
I also want to thank Jess O’Brien, my editor at New Harbinger Publications, as well the entire staff at New Harbinger and founder Matthew
McKay. This is my eighth book with that organization, and I continue to respect their professionalism and high standards. Thanks also to Jennifer
Berger, who drew the preliminary diagrams that led to those published in this book. It has also been a pleasure working with copyeditor Jasmine
Star, whose eye for both content and appearance has
Louis Cozolino, PhD, has been my mentor and colleague throughout the process. He has reviewed every chapter and helped me avoid writing about possible brain pathways as if they were certainties. Because of Lou, I believe that everything in these pages reflects established brain science. He’s been a pleasure to work with.
I wish to express my appreciation to several well-known, highly respected, and undoubtedly very busy scientists and researchers who took the time to answer my e-mails and phone calls. These include Steven Stosny, who kindly allowed me to describe his method of healing resentments in detail in chapter 4; Robert Sapolsky of Stanford University (author of Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers and an expert on the linkages between fear, anger, and aggression); Allan Siegel, who has studied animal aggression for decades and has written the definitive work on the subject (The
Neurobiology of Aggression and Rage); and Sebern Fisher, whose writings and personal communications helped me understand how neurofeedback can lessen anger. Conversations with my friend James Peterson, PhD, an expert on neurofeedback, also helped me in this regard.
I also want to thank Jess O’Brien, my editor at New Harbinger Publications, as well the entire staff at New Harbinger and founder Matthew
McKay. This is my eighth book with that organization, and I continue to respect their professionalism and high standards. Thanks also to Jennifer
Berger, who drew the preliminary diagrams that led to those published in this book. It has also been a pleasure working with copyeditor Jasmine
Star, whose eye for both content and appearance has