Optimizing Cortical Real Estate: The Power of Multisensory Integration in Healing & Learning
The Concept of Cortical Real Estate
When I was an undergraduate student at Temple University studying Cognitive Neuroscience, one of my favorite professors, Dr. Cynthia Gooch, often spoke about a fascinating concept she called “cortical real estate.” She described it as the precious mental property within our brain’s cortex that gets “claimed” every time we deeply engage in learning or experience something meaningful. The more sensory modalities and emotional relevance we bring into an experience, the more areas of the brain are activated—making that experience far more likely to be remembered, integrated, and valued.
That idea was a revelation for me. It sparked what would become a lifelong passion: exploring how multisensory experiences—through movement, touch, scent, sound, and color—can shape cognition, emotion, and ultimately, healing. I began to wonder: What if we could intentionally design therapeutic experiences that occupy as much cortical real estate as possible—not just for memory, but for resilience and transformation?
Movement, Touch, and the Power of Somatic Memory
My first exploration into multisensory integration began with movement and touch. During my college years, I was not only studying the brain—I was also powerlifting, one of only a few women on a team of sixty men. The energy was yang, intense, competitive, and driven. I found myself craving a counterbalance, a practice that honored stillness, softness, and restoration. That’s when I discovered yin yoga.
The moment I began practicing yin, I felt something shift. Through sustained poses and the gentle weight of gravity, I could feel my nervous system settling. Memories I thought were lost began to re-emerge, focus returned, and an unexpected sense of emotional resilience took root. As a brain cancer survivor who had undergone multiple surgeries, this rediscovery of mind-body connection was nothing short of profound.
The therapeutic potential of touch and compression became a new fascination. I began exploring myofascial release and later discovered the transformative effects of aerial yoga—a practice that combined decompression of the spine, lymphatic flow, and neurosensory stimulation. What began as physical recovery evolved into a deeper journey of interoception: the art of feeling and listening to the body’s subtle cues.
The Olfactory Gateway: Aromatics and Emotional Memory
After movement came scent. Anyone who has ever walked into a yoga studio knows that aroma plays an unspoken role in setting the energetic tone of a space—sometimes serene, sometimes overwhelming. My first encounter with essential oils, like many, was with patchouli—an aroma I affectionately call “the gateway to curiosity.” While the early exposure came through MLM culture, it was my scientific background and eventual mentorship under Amy Galper (AIA, Level 1 & 2 Aromatherapy) that helped me understand olfaction in both biological and artistic terms.
From a neuropsychological perspective, the olfactory system is unique. Aromatic molecules bypass the thalamic relay that other senses must pass through, traveling directly to the limbic system—the emotional core of the brain. This is why scent has the power to elicit vivid memories, emotions, and even shifts in mood before we consciously register it.
But under Amy’s guidance, I learned that olfaction is not just chemistry—it’s artistry. I discovered the language of top, middle, and base notes. Grapefruit’s bright top notes evaporate quickly, awakening energy and optimism, while vetiver’s deep, earthy base anchors the psyche, inviting grounding and stability. Blending essential oils became a poetic practice of balancing brain hemispheres—analytical precision meeting creative intuition.
It was here that neuroscience met sensory storytelling.
The Chromatic Brain: Color, Light, and Emotional Resonance
My next exploration was visual. As an aerial yoga teacher, I had always known intuitively that color mattered—students would describe feeling “lighter” under a turquoise silk or “safe” within a rose-colored cocoon—but I had never really thought about why.
That changed when my first aerial silk—a rainbow tie-dyed fabric that had accompanied me for years—finally tore. Determined to replace it, I learned the craft of acid dyeing nylon silks, fusing chemistry and creativity once again. This opened the door to chromotherapy—the therapeutic use of color to influence emotional and physiological states.
Authors like Karen Haller, who wrote The Little Book of Color, helped me reconnect the neuroscience of vision with the psychology of color perception. I revisited the fact that the visible spectrum ranges from long red wavelengths to short violet ones, and that these physical differences correspond to emotional and physiological responses. Red hues, long and bold, tend to activate the sympathetic nervous system—energizing and alerting—while blues and greens invite calm, introspection, and cognitive clarity.
By intentionally pairing color and scent in my aerial work—such as grounding earth tones with vetiver and sandalwood, or bright silks with citrus oils to inspire joy—I began crafting multisensory environments designed for transformation. Each silk became a personalized expression of healing: a tangible cocoon for the nervous system to reset and the mind to rewire.
Integrating the Five Senses: A Model for Intrapersonal Healing
As a yoga therapist and aromatherapist today, I now see Dr. Gooch’s “cortical real estate” as more than a metaphor—it’s a framework for holistic healing. Every sense we engage in a therapeutic experience deepens the brain’s participation in the process, inviting neural plasticity, emotional regulation, and embodied awareness.
When sight, sound, smell, touch, and movement converge, the brain shifts from isolated processing to whole-brain engagement. The result is a richer encoding of experience, greater emotional salience, and increased resilience in the face of stress or trauma.
In my practice, I weave this into sessions intentionally:
Sight (Color Therapy): Using light, hue, and tone to modulate mood and focus.
Smell (Aromatherapy): Activating emotional memory and limbic regulation.
Touch (Compression/Aerial Support): Facilitating safety, proprioception, and interoception.
Sound (Music & Vibration): Invoking rhythmic coherence between heart and brain.
Movement (Yoga Therapy): Integrating all systems through mindful embodiment.
This is not merely sensory stimulation—it’s sensory harmonization. When aligned with breath, intention, and compassionate awareness, these modalities transform the act of healing into an act of artistry. They reclaim cortical real estate not only for learning but for remembering who we are at our most integrated and whole.
Conclusion: Making Healing Memorable
The brain is a meaning-making, pattern-seeking organ. It prioritizes what is emotionally charged, multisensory, and personally significant. Healing, therefore, is not about erasing pain—it’s about creating experiences that are more memorable than the pain itself.
By intentionally engaging multiple sensory systems and cognitive domains, we invite the nervous system to re-pattern itself toward balance, joy, and resilience. We learn not only to survive our experiences but to savor them. In doing so, we optimize our cortical real estate for connection, creativity, and compassion—the true hallmarks of holistic wellbeing.
Suggested Readings & Citations
Battaglia, S. (2021). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy Vol III - Psyche & Subtle (3rd ed., Vol. III). Black Pepper Creative Pty Ltd.
Frawley, D., Summerfield Koazak, S., & Farmer, A. (2001). Yoga for your type: An ayurvedic approach to your asana practice. Lotus.
Galper, A., & Shutes, J. (2020). The Ultimate Guide to Aromatherapy: An illustrated guide to blending essential oils and crafting remedies for body, mind, and spirit. Fair Winds Press.
Haller, K. (2019). The little book of colour: How to use the psychology of colour to Transform your life. Penguin Life, an imprint of Penguin Books.
Niranjanananda Saraswati. (2016). Prana and pranayama. Yoga Publications Trust.
Sullivan, M., & Hyland Robertson, L. C. (2020). Understanding yoga therapy: Applied philosophy and science for health and well-being. Routledge.
