Crammed with Heaven: RAS — the gatekeeper of our brains

A monthly column in which Jenni Pretorius Hill shares stories of hope which bring Heaven’s perspective to Earth

The reticular activation system (RAS) is a part of the brain that is located at the stem, above our spinal column. It’s a bundle of nerves responsible for filtering information that the subconscious mind receives from external stimuli. Our senses direct all perception to this place, but the gatekeeping function of the RAS keeps our conscious minds from becoming overwhelmed by data.

The RAS determines what gets through to us and what doesn’t, what is important and what is not. For example, if confronted by a lion while hiking through the Kruger National Park, you are not likely to hear the unusual bird-call ringing through the bush. Your brain will approve only the scream to “RUN”.

Depending on the mood, I can either amuse or frustrate my family when I am writing. If I am engrossed in a thought, my husband could be tap-dancing on my desk, and I would not hear him. But if I was a dancer, and less of a writer, my RAS would motivate for me to join him. The RAS is remarkable in the way it is unique to each one of us; it will block what is not important to you. A car screeching down the road in the middle of the night might disturb you, but it may not interrupt the sleep of the new parents next door, whose brains are telling them that the only important sound is the cry of their baby. 

I am intrigued by the operation of the RAS and the implications it has for our thought life and general wellbeing. From what I can understand, the RAS provides information to reinforce and confirm existing beliefs. If my baby is the most important thing, the RAS will block all other stimuli that competes for my attention. In this case, it’s a good thing because a mother’s attention needs to be on her baby for the child’s survival.

But what if what we believe, is a lie? If I believe I am ugly and that looks are everything, my brain will search for evidence to reinforce that belief. When I thumb through a magazine for example, my eyes will send all the data to the RAS, but the only image that will get through to my conscious mind, will be the perfect form of the swimsuit model. And if I examine myself in the mirror? My brain will dismiss the rich waves of my locks and tell me about the stain on my front tooth, meaning that I will literally fail to see my hair, but the stain will be a great big blight on my face. 

The RAS is undeniably powerful. When we understand it’s potential to shape our perspective of the world, we can begin to partner with it for our wellbeing. Think about the most difficult challenge you are facing currently. If you believe that there really is no solution, your brain will filter out all evidence to the contrary. Your belief will become your reality because you will be unable to see the solution even if it stands in front of you flashing lights. Your brain will respond to the “block” command. But what if you believe in endless possibility? Your brain will begin to highlight options; it will partner with you in the hunt for solutions. 

As South Africans, we can choose to have hope for our country or not. The remarkable thing is whatever my stance, I can produce evidence to support it, simply because my RAS is reinforcing my belief. The question is, however, just because my brain is providing me with a strong case for my argument, is it true? It may feel, and look very true, but rather than being truth it may just be a case of biased data offered up by our brains. 

A friend once told me about an encounter she had with two women who observed the same situation from which they drew different conclusions, neither of which were true. This friend is a black woman who is married to a white American. They live in South Africa. One afternoon, after a morning of rain, she took her son outside to splash in puddles. She was heavily pregnant at the time and expressed how she had no energy to try keep him from getting wet. Together they wandered through the neighbourhood, her son happily splattering himself with mud and water whenever he chanced upon a puddle. Now the little boy does not look much like his mother in skin tone; he is very fair and the difference in their colour attracted the attention of two women who passed them at different times during the afternoon stroll. The first lady was white, and she pulled up alongside them in her car and opened the window. “How lovely!” She said. “It’s so good to see children playing and having fun. Making a mess and getting dirty is very healthy. Your employer is lucky to have you take care of her child. I hope she knows that.”

The woman was so well-meaning, that my friend didn’t have the heart to correct her, knowing how embarrassed the lady would be. She just acknowledged her with a smile and the lady drove on. A little later, another car slowed down alongside them but this time a black woman put her head out of the window. “Yoh Sisi!” She exclaimed. “This is not right! Look at you! So pregnant and your employer makes you walk with her child. You need to tell her you can’t do this!” The woman was so indignant that I’m not sure my friend had a moment to correct her before she drove off.

I don’t know how much the women’s perspective was skewered by brain chemistry, but the story serves to illustrate how powerful our beliefs are. The possibility that their perspective of the situation could be wrong, did not occur to either of them. Both had beliefs about social-hierarchy, child-rearing and race-relations that directed their brains to acknowledge certain things and ignore others. Conviction is not always a good gauge for truth. 

So, what is? Jesus: The infallible Word of God made flesh and offered to us as a standard against which we measure every thought, belief, opinion and idea. When we start to believe what He says rather than the evidence that our brains present, we begin to redirect our brains toward truth. If we say it enough, declare it enough, our brains will follow suit. It’s only then that we can start to trust what we see, hear and feel because the gatekeeper to our minds is Truth Himself. 

As you are reading this, you may not be aware of the Presence of an all-loving God right there with you. Your past hurt and disappointment may have told your brain to block all evidence of Him. 

But that doesn’t mean He’s not there. 

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