A Simple Visual to Understand Your Brain
At Healthy Within, a leading neurofeedback and integrative mental health clinic in San Diego, we use simple, evidence-based tools to help patients understand their own brain. One of our favorites is the Hand Model of the Brain, a powerful teaching aid developed by Dr. Dan Siegel.
This model uses your hand to represent key brain regions and how they interact. It’s especially helpful for explaining anxiety, trauma, emotional dysregulation, ADHD, and more—whether to adults, teens, or parents of young children.
What Each Part of Your Hand Represents
Prefrontal Cortex (your fingertips folded over)
What it does:
This is the brain’s “CEO.” It’s in charge of decision-making, planning, focusing, empathy, and impulse control.
Why it matters:
This part helps you think before reacting, manage emotions, and navigate social situations. It’s essential for emotional regulation and executive function.
Cerebral Cortex (the top of the hand)
What it does:
The cerebral cortex is the “thinking cap”—the outer layer that processes your senses, movement, language, and conscious thought.
Why it matters:
It lets you understand the world around you, speak, think critically, and move with purpose.
Limbic Regions (your thumb folded inside the palm)
What it does:
This emotional hub includes the amygdala (which detects threats) and hippocampus (which stores memories).
Why it matters:
It’s where emotional responses live—like fear, anger, and joy. It’s also where trauma, anxiety, and emotional memory are processed.
Brain Stem (base of your palm)
What it does:
The brain stem controls survival functions—breathing, heart rate, and sleep. It also initiates the fight-or-flight response.
Why it matters:
It’s the foundation of your nervous system. If dysregulated, it can cause sleep issues, panic symptoms, or chronic stress.
Spinal Cord (your wrist)
What it does:
The spinal cord sends messages between your brain and body, acting as the communication highway.
Why it matters:
It controls reflexes and rapid responses—like pulling your hand away from a hot stove. It’s critical for movement, pain processing, and instant body reactions.
Why Use the Hand Model?
This model is a fantastic educational tool used by our team of psychologists and neurofeedback specialists. We use it to help:
- Children and teens better understand emotional outbursts
- Parents learn how to support emotional regulation
- Adults make sense of stress and trauma responses
- Clients visualize how neurofeedback can retrain and rebalance the brain
By understanding how the brain works, patients feel more empowered in their healing journey.
Want to Learn More About Brain-Based Healing?
Healthy Within offers brain mapping, neurofeedback, psychotherapy, and integrative care in San Diego. If you or your child are struggling with anxiety, focus, trauma, or emotional regulation, we can help you get back in sync.
Contact us today at 858-622-0221
Email DrKakaiya@HealthyWithin.com
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