The vision and methodology of Mental Growth Academy are grounded in consistent findings from neuroscience, stress physiology, and performance psychology:

• Stress and performance
  Under pressure, the brain automatically shifts into survival mode, temporarily inhibiting executive functions in the prefrontal cortex.
  (Stress response & executive inhibition — Joseph LeDoux, Amy Arnsten)

• Autonomic nervous system
  Regulation of tension occurs primarily via the brainstem and the autonomic nervous system, before cognitive control becomes possible.
  (Polyvagal framework, autonomic regulation — Stephen Porges)

• Bottom-up before top-down
  Physiological regulation (breathing, movement, sensory input) is the fastest and most reliable pathway back to regulation. Cognitive control follows only once the system is back online.
  (Bottom-up vs. top-down processing — Stephen Porges, Dan Siegel)

• Regulate – Relate – Reason
  Sustainable behavioural change requires regulation first, then safety and connection, and only afterwards reflection and learning.
  (Sequential Engagement Theory — Bruce Perry)

• Window of Tolerance
  Learning, performance, and self-regulation are only possible within a regulated physiological bandwidth.
  (Window of Tolerance — Dan Siegel)

• Self-awareness under pressure
  Meta-awareness and self-monitoring decrease precisely as stress increases, making explicit training essential.
  (Stress-induced loss of metacognition — Amy Arnsten, Roy Baumeister)

• Trainability
  Regulation, recovery, and resilience are not personality traits, but neurologically trainable skills.
  (Neuroplasticity — Norman Doidge, Bryan Kolb & Ian Whishaw)