MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
PROFESSOR ROB MACFADDEN,
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
INSPIRE TO REWIRE
Continuing Education
Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
University of Toronto
October 31st, November 1st, 2014
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Training Video on the Brain
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snO68a
JTOpM
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MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
NEUROSCIENCE AS A NEW PARADIGM
Demise of the mind-body split (Descarte’s Error)
Move towards integration (Mind/Body)
Biological/Psychological/Social Beings
Rise of nurture (e.g., environment, social, psychological, lifestyle)
Neuroplasticity and self-directed neuroplasticity
Mental health therapists as physical agents impacting the brain, body &
emotions of others
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NEUROSCIENCE AS A NEW PARADIGM
Characteristics of the brain have a big impact on how we function
Some of the problems we experience & work with are a function of the
structure & operation of the brain
Understanding the brain/body connection can reduce blame/sense of
personal failure (normalize) and engage the client in intervention (e.g., hand
puppet of the brain)
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An Introduction to the Brain
Some Brain Facts:
The brain is the most advanced and complex organ in our known universe.
1. The human brain has about 100,000,000,000 or 100 billion neurons. From the age
of 35 years about 7000 neurons are lost daily.
2. During early pregnancy the neurons in the fetus can multiply at a rate 250,000
neurons/minute.
3. Brain is composed of 75 to 80% water. Dehydration can affect proper functioning of
brain.
4. Brain consists of 60% White matter and 40% Grey matter. White is the supporting
matter and Grey is the thinking matter of the brain. If the brain was a computer the
grey matter would be the computer itself and the white matter its cables.
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Some Brain Facts (Cont’d):
5. Adult brain weighs about 3 pounds or 1300 to 1400 Grams. This is about
2% of the body weight if you weigh 150 pounds or 70 kgs.
6. Although the brain only accounts for 2 percent of our body weight but it
consumes 20% of the oxygen that we breathe and roughly 20 percent of
our daily calories.
7. 15-20% of all blood pumped out of the heart goes directly to the brain.
8. All the thinking in the brain is about electricity and chemicals. The brain
is more active and thinks more at night than during the day.
From: http://www.medindia.net/health_statistics/health_facts/brain-facts.htm
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There is so much stimuli coming into our senses. It is estimated that our five
senses are receiving more than 11 million pieces of information per second.
It is believed we can handle about 40 pieces of information per second
consciously (Wilson, 2002).
More of these stimuli are being processed by our unconscious but most of
the incoming stimuli are not attended to consciously or unconsciously. Thus
there is enormous competition for our attention. Items that are novel, or
which threaten our survival or present opportunities for survival or those
which elicit emotions are marked for attention and memory.
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MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
From Hanson, R. (2009). Buddha’s Brain.
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From Hanson, R. (2009). Buddha’s
Brain.
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Anatomy of a
neuron and a
synapse from
“Brain Facts” of
the Society for
Neuroscience,
http://www.brainfa
cts.org/AboutNeuroscience/Brai
n-Facts-book
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REAL TIME VISUALIZATION OF NEURONAL FIRING
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article2581184/The-dynamic-mind-Stunning-3D-glass-brainshows-neurons-firing-real-time.html
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDlfP1FBFk
“FLIPPING YOUR LID”
Dan Siegel’s Brain Hand Puppet from Siegel & Hartzell (2003),
Parenting from the inside out. P.173
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TRIUNE BRAIN
The brain has developed over millennia and this history influences who we are
today. The brain is an archeological record. (Triune Brain by Paul MacLean)
In general terms, the brain can be seen in terms of three evolutionary
components:
The reptilian brain was the first core to develop and is basic life sustaining,
controlling key functions such as respiration, circulation, the endocrine system,
reproduction, arousal & homeostasis. Much is reflexive and drive based- fear,
rage, eating, and mating which still retains a degree of control over our actions.
(Brainstem)
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TRIUNE BRAIN
The paleomammalian brain was added on and brought with it learning,
memory and emotion. (Limbic system)
The neomammalian brain was a third addition and brought enhanced
cognition, enhanced social connection and sense of self and selfawareness. Problem-solving was enhanced and an increased emphasis
on social connection enabled us to organize into larger communities, to
increasingly plan ahead and to learn more from experience. (Neocortex)
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TRIUNE BRAIN
Louis Cozolino describes psychotherapy in “It’s a Jungle in There”
(Psychotherapy Networker 2008 September/October) is like working with
an anachronistic menagerie- a human, a horse and a crocodile within the
same body.
Our skull shares its space with ancient brain equipment and our
functioning requires integrating and coordinating these highly specialized
and complex systems. These areas of our brain can vie for dominance
and experience conflict with each other without us being conscious of
this.
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Cozolino & Santos (2014, p.157) remark that,
Due to their very complexity, our brains are
extremely vulnerable to dysregulation,
dissociation and emotional distress.
Cozolino notes that the inherent weaknesses of our brain
provides helpers (like social workers) with a form of job
security.
The authors also note that
…adding a neuroscientific perspective to our
clinical thinking allows us to talk with clients
about the shortcomings of our brains instead of a
problem with theirs (p. 175).
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Bi-Lateral Integration (LEFT BRAIN AND RIGHT BRAIN)
The right mode of processing:
A.Holistic – things are perceived in the whole of their essence.
B.Visuospatial – the right side works well with seeing a picture and is not proficient at decoding the
meaning of words.
C.Non-verbal – eye contact, facial expression, tone of voice, posture, gestures, and timing and
intensity of response are the non-verbal components of communication that the right mode both
sends and perceives from others.
D.A wide range of functions, including the stress response, an integrated map of the whole body,
raw, spontaneous emotion, autobiographical memory, a dominance for the non-verbal aspects of
empathy. The right mode has no problem with ambiguity and is sometimes called “analogic”
meaning it perceives a wide spectrum of meaning, not just a digital restricted definition of
something.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPjhfUVgvOQ&feature=related
Siegel: Integrating the two hemispheres
Bi-Lateral Integration
(LEFT BRAIN AND RIGHT BRAIN)
The left mode of processing:
A.Linear – the left loves this sentence, one word following the next.
B.Logical – specifically syllogistic reasoning in which the left looks for cause-effect relationships in
the world.
C.Linguistic – these words are the left’s love.
D.Literal – the left takes things seriously. In addition, the left is sometimes considered the “digital”
side, with on-off, yes-no, right-wrong patterns of thinking.
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LOW ROAD & HIGH ROAD
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LOW ROAD & HIGH ROAD
Emotions are bodily responses that evolved to ensure our survival and they are at the
core of who we are and that they reflect “…prepackaged decisions of great complexity
(LeDoux, 1996)”. If something induces fear, for instance, the sympathetic nervous
system is activated and a cacophony of biochemical agents, and bodily changes
designed to “fight or flight” occur rapidly.
An emotional reaction can occur even before the person is consciously aware of the
threat. This immediate, “low road” to arousal has significant survival value. It is
extremely rapid and doesn’t require cognitive reflection and delay. Emotions use the
brain’s “superhighway” (Jensen, 2008a) to ensure that emotions get our priority.
Emotions can overpower cognition as we move from reflection to reaction.
A high state of arousal can be a form of “emotional hijacking” (Sprenger, 2007) and
make it difficult to remember and to think. Negative emotions, past a point, narrow our
scope of attention and thinking (Sousa, 2006).
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GAS PEDAL AND BRAKES
Emotional regulation is a critical process in maintaining well-being and mental health. Our
brain contains processes alternatively described as accelerators and brakes.
The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) (fight or flight) is an example of a systemic
accelerator that puts our mind and body on a war footing. Our blood pressure increases,
pupils dilate, muscles tense, our mental focus sharpens as the brain and body are dosed
in cortisol & other brain chemicals. This is the gas pedal.
The brake is our parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) which downshifts the SNS and
begins the relaxation process. Blood pressure decreases, our breathing becomes normal
and we are able to think and problem-solve more easily. Time-outs, medications, deepbreathing, meditation, self-hypnosis are examples of other brakes. Self-soothing &
soothing by others are other types of brakes.
Continual fear, anxiety and arousal initiates the SNS & soaks our system with cortisol
and leads to states of hyper vigilance with a hyperactive amygdala, an easily aroused
SNS. More “low road” processing occurs, & emotional regulation becomes very difficult.
Chronic cortisol exposure can shrink our hippocampus & make thinking & remembering
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Neural Circuitry: We’re all electricians.
Circuits are being formed, weakened, strengthened, and purged. Experience
is like a scalpel. Much happening unconsciously and may be consciously
driven.
Meditation is an act of circuit building- if you have an awareness of this, then
it’s a conscious act of circuit building.The ability to control and to direct your
attention is essential to well-being. It is the core of emotional regulation.
Secret to deliberate circuit building: paying attention. Intentional attention.
The ability to connect with, attune to, and help build new neural connections at
the heart of psychotherapy. We are all gardeners, helping each other manage
and grow our gardens.
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Reacting to Challenges: the Autonomic Nervous System:
Stephen Porges & the Polyvagal Theory
Excerpted from stephenporges.com
Neuroception describes how neural circuits distinguish whether
situations
Porges
believes our
nervous
system is in a
constant quest
for safety.
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Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory
Nervous System’s Quest for Safety
ENVIRONMENT
OUTSIDE THE BODY
INSIDE THE BODY
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NEUROCEPTION
SAFETY
DANGER
Spontaneously engages others
Eye contact, facial expression, prosody,
supports visceral homeostasis
LIFE THREAT
Defensive strategies
Death feigning, shutdown, immobilization
Social Engagement System
Defensive strategies
Fight/flight behaviors (mobilization)
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SEEKING SAFETY
This new vagal circuit also inhibits heart rate and arousal. It shares a
pathway that co-ordinates the nerves controlling the muscles in the face and
head. So people are literally showing their heart on their face. This circuit
impacts our voice and middle ear muscles.
To calm a person you need to smile and talk to them in a soothing (i.e.,
prosodic) way.
Clinicians need to appreciate the importance of creating safety in our work.
Avoid low frequency sounds (predators) such as ventilation systems and
traffic sounds. Explore what kind of seating feels safe or comfortable.
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Critical Discovery in Neuroscience?
Neuroplasticity and Neurogenesis
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganize by creating new neural
connections over the lifespan.
Neurogenesis is the process by which new neurons are generated.
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Definition: Non-judgmental attention to experiences in the present
moment (Kabat-Zinn, 1990). Involves attention on the experience of
thoughts, body sensations, emotions and observing them as they arise
and go away.
Two central components: (1 ) regulation of attention to keep it on the
immediate experience; (2) approaching experiences with curiosity,
openness, and acceptance, regardless of whether they are positive or
negative.
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THE POWER OF INTENTIONAL ATTENTION
Attention resembles a spotlight, illuminating what it rests upon (Hanson)
Consciousness may play a direct role in harnessing neural plasticity by altering
previously automatic modes of neural firing and enabling new patterns of
neural activation to occur. Attention directs change.
The basic steps linking consciousness with neural plasticity are as follows:
Where attention goes, neural firing occurs. And where neurons fire, new
connections can be made. Directing attention purposefully shapes the brain
and impacts one’s life.
Most neuroplasticity is incremental, not dramatic
Neuroplasticity is double-edged- can work for or against you.
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Video
• Stroke of Insight by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor on
TED.
•
http://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html
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Explicit & Implicit Mental Processing Systems
THE NEW UNCONSCIOUS
Two mental processing systems which involve: memory; perceptions;
learning; emotions; action control; motivation; emotional regulation &
interpersonal behaviour.
Explicit processing system is the conscious one which is that part of us
that we believe is who we are.
It involves us consciously perceiving things, remembering things like
facts, events, and being aware of how we feel and being conscious of
taking action. It provides the history for the development of our selfidentity.
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Implicit Mental Processing System
• Most fundamental & occurs outside our awareness;
• We are much more about unconscious processes, yet we view
ourselves mostly as conscious creatures;
• Our 5 senses are estimated at receiving more than 11 million pieces
of information per second. We don’t have enough conscious
processing power or capacity to manage this.
• Our unconscious allows us to manage fundamental processes (e.g.,
heart beat, walking, eating, drinking) without engaging our
consciousness. Life would be impossible without our unconscious
processing.
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Explicit & Implicit Mental Processing Systems
Adaptive Unconscious
Conscious
Multiple Systems, different areas of brain
Single system
Older
Younger
Less easily disrupted
Easily disrupted
Here and Now orientation
More future oriented
Faster
Slower, check and balance
Automatic
Non-automatic, deliberate
More rigid
Less rigid
Uncontrollable
Controllable
Categorization
Less categorization
Unintentional
Intentional
Great pattern detector
Less great pattern detector, slower
More sensitive to negative information
More sensitive to positive information
Slow to respond to contradictions
Responds faster to contradictions
Quick appraisals- sees things quickly
Slower appraisals
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Implicit Mental Processing System
Implicit memories occur from birth on & contain emotional memories,
learnings & knowledge that have accumulated over a lifetime.
Knowledge is marked through emotions with positive or negative
valences. We remember things that help us achieve goals and things
that do not or that threaten our survival.
Most of our knowledge is implicit & most of our decisions are made
beyond our awareness. Our implicit system has speedy ways of
analyzing & making decisions. These approach/avoid learnings help us
to work through the mass of problem-solving we do each day.
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Implicit Mental Processing System
• Not all the implicit knowledge is good or accurate. The valences are
like biases towards and away from knowledge, so biases are normal
and lifesaving. However some biases are incorrect and can promote
stereotyping & prejudice. Some of the learning can be faulty &
destructive. Because this knowledge is below our awareness, we
may act on these beliefs without knowing.
• Researchers from Harvard and the Universities of Virginia and
Washington have been exploring these implicit biases through the
Implicit Association Test (IAT) & developing ways to identify them.
Visit http://www.tolerance.org/activity/test-yourself-hidden-bias to
explore some of your own.
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Taken directly from “Why we need therapy- and why it works: A neuroscience
perspective”. L. Cozolino and E. Santos (2014, Smith College Studies in Social
Work, 84: 157-177)
The difference between the fast implicit system (10-50 ms) and the slower
explicit system (500-600 ms) is called the ‘vital half second’ and is an ‘eternity’
for neural connections. Ninety percent of the input to the cortex comes through
the fast, internal implicit system.
The half second difference gives our brains the opportunity to construct present
experience based on a template from the past. By the time we are aware of an
experience, our brain has processed it many times, activating complex patterns
of behaviours and activated memories. We feel we are living in the present
when we are living a half second behind.
This is a projective process that is meant to be helpful in predicting the present
and future from the past, but it can lead to misunderstandings and problems in
perceiving and evaluating things including relationships.
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Mindfulness Research
See Mindfulness Research Handout
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•
•
•
•
•
Physical Impact of Meditation
Enhances immune system
Reduces stress-related cortisol
Increases activation of left frontal regions
which lifts mood
Thickens & strengthens frontal cingulate
cortex & insula
Enhances attention, empathy &
compassion (Hanson, 2009)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8rRzTtP7Tc
Neuroscientist, Dr. Sara Lazar
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Mindful Brain by Daniel Siegel
(2007)
Mindfulness implies a healthy relationship with oneself. It involves intrapersonal
attunement (p.XIV). Attunement involves focusing attention on the internal world
of the other. In this case, it is focusing on your own internal world. Interpersonal
attunement allows two people to “feel felt” by each other. Attuned relationships
promote resilience and longevity.
Mindful awareness is a form of self-relationship and an internal form of selfattunement. It causes neuroplasticity or a change in neural circuits.
Paying attention to the present moment improves the functioning of the body,
brain and relationships. It harnesses the social circuitry of the brain to develop
an attuned relationship within our own mind.
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Mindful Brain by Daniel Siegel
(2007)
Similar outcomes in attachment process and in mindfulness meditation:
both associated with changes in pre-frontal cortex. Pre-frontal cortex is
integrative & contains long strings of neurons that reach out to many brain
centres. The functions below correlate with the activity of the middle areas of the
prefrontal cortex. Changes to the pre-frontal cortex through meditation aid in:
Regulation of body
Balancing emotions
Attunement to others
Modulation of fear
Responding flexibly
Exhibiting insight
Mindfulness aids in being in touch with intuition and morality.
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Mindful Brain by Daniel Siegel
(2007) mindful awareness helps to:
Developing
Regulate emotion & combat emotional dysfunction
Improve thinking
Reduce mindsets
Reduce stress
Enhance immune system and physical well-being
Improves the ability to perceive others’ emotions
Improves ability to sense world of others
Promotes capacity for intimate relationships, increased resilience & well
being.
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Mindful Brain by Daniel Siegel
(2007) promotes a shift of brain function to left frontal dominance in
Mindfulness
response to emotional triggers. Left frontal dominance is associated with
approach orientation and more positive emotion.
This shift correlated with improved immune system functioning. Increased
thickness of middle pre-frontal area, bilaterally and thickening of the insula,
particularly on the right side. Thickness correlated with time spent practicing
mindfulness. Compassion meditation seems to increase co-ordination of firing in
the pre-frontal area for both sides of the brain.
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SOCIAL BRAIN
There are no “single” brains.
Humans are social to the core; the mind is both embodied and relational.
Human development and maturation is the longest of all the mammals;
infant and parent are an inseparable dyad, parent-infant.
We need considerable “home assembly”. Brain maturation occurs into the
twenties. Brain development occurs throughout a lifetime.
Social relatedness is structured by neural networks of bonding and
attachment, play, predicting other’s behaviours and feeling the feelings of
others. At birth, baby set up to encourage social connections through
reflexes such as grasping, eye contact and following. It makes them cuddly
and attractive to kick start bonding and attachment.
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SOCIAL BRAIN
Attachment = Survival
Abandonment = Death
Infant and children use their parents’ prefrontal lobes as an external prosthetic
to help them regulate their emotions (Cozolino, 2006)
Attachment involves the creation of feelings and perceptions connected with
self and other and includes evaluation of the worth of self and other and
whether other people are predictable, safe and encouraging or unpredictable
and dangerous.
Baby is now being seen as an important agent (not just passive) in the
attachment resonance. Neurochemical cascade between parents and baby
including endorphins, dopamine which rise and fall with touch and separation.
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SOCIAL BRAIN
Infant looks at parent’s eyes and can see calm or anxiety. Parent’s
realities and unconscious experiences are transferred to child. Right
brain (parent) to right brain (mother) communication, much
unconscious, especially during the earliest years.
Dr. Ed Tronic’s “Still Face” Experiment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0
Biochemistry of Social Motivation (From Cozolino, 2006, p.121)
Androgen and estrogen
Testosterone
Dopamine
Norepinephrine & Serotonin
Oxytocin & vasopressin
Endorphins
Sex drive
Monogamy & paternal behaviour
Attraction
Well-being, reward prediction
Attachment, nest building, nursing, anxiety
reduction
Affiliation, maternal behaviour, sexual arousal,
social reward, play behaviour, down-regulates
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SOCIAL BRAIN
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9H1eEXzbPM&feature=related
Mirror Neuron System
Knowing you, knowing me, knowing you.
Considered the root of empathy. Allows us to map the mind of others. Mirror
neurons respond to acts with intention or purpose. Includes any act in others you
can predict (unconsciously) from experience.
Automatic. Hardwired to detect sequences and make maps in our brains of the
internal states of other people. Cross modal: operates on all sensory levels. A
sound, touch or smell can cue us to the internal state of another. Through
embedding the mind of another in our firing patterns, this forms the basis of our
mindsight maps.
Not only behavioural intentions of others but emotional states of others. We
come to resonate with the emotional states of others.
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A Neural circuit called the insula is the information superhighway between the
mirror neurons and the limbic system. The Insula processes pain, taste, sequences
speech movements and helps to translate unconscious emotions into
conscious feelings. It is is believed that we make maps of intentions through the
mirror neurons and then transfer this information downward to subcortical (e.g.,
limbic and brainstem) regions. These signals from our body, brainstem and limbic
areas then travel upwards to our middle prefrontal areas. Pathway: Mirror
neurons to subcortical areas to middle prefrontal areas. This is the pathway
that connects people to each other.
When received by the middle prefrontal cortex, a map is made of our internal world.
We feel others’ feelings by actually feeling our own. People who are more
aware of their own body feelings have been found to be more empathic. When we
can sense our own internal state the pathway for resonating with others is open as
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Mirror Neuron System
For example, the mirror neuron system is thought to be an essential aspect of the
neural basis for empathy. By perceiving the expressions of another individual, the brain
is able to create within its own body an internal state that is thought to “resonate” with
that of the other person. Resonance involves a change in physiologic, affective, and
intentional states within the observer that are determined by the perception of the
respective states of activation within the person being observed. One-to-one attuned
communication may find its sense of coherence within such resonating internal states.
The clinical implications of this work are profound and help therapists to understand not
only the inherently social nature of the brain but that their own bodily shifts may serve
as the gateway toward empathic insights into the state of another person. Mediated via
the insula, perceptions of another’s affective expressions may alter our own somatic
and limbic states and then be examined through a prefrontal process of interoception,
interpretation, and attribution to another’s states.
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Mirror Neuron System
Being open to our own bodily states as therapists is a crucial step in
establishing the interpersonal attunement and understanding that is at
the heart of interpersonal integration.
Such interactive experiences allow the patient to “feel felt” and
understood by the therapist, and they also may establish new neural
net firing patterns that can lead to neural plastic changes.
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Mirror Neuron System
Mirror neurons reveal the fundamental integration within the brain of the perceptual and motor systems
with limbic and somatic regulatory functions. The mirror neuron system also illuminates the profoundly
social nature of our brains. This social basis of neural function may offer new pathways for us to
understand how psychotherapy leads to the process of change.
When two minds feel connected, when they become integrated, the state of firing of each individual can be
proposed to become more coherent. Literally this may mean that the corresponding activations between
the body-proper, limbic areas and even cortical representations of intentional states between two
individuals enter a state of “resonance” in which he matches the profiles of the other.
The impairment of such shared states has been proposed to be a characteristic of forms of
psychopathology, including schizophrenia. Recent studies in individuals with autism spectrum disorder
reveal impairment in the capacity to perceive emotional expressions in others that is associated with
markedly diminished mirror neuron activation. With impaired mirror neuron system functioning, the social
brain is unable to share in the rapid social interactions that reflect modern life.
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Mirror Neuron System
In the process of psychotherapy involving a range of individuals with intact mirror neuron
systems, shared states with the therapist may be an essential component of the
therapeutic process.
As two individuals share the closely resonant reverberating interactions that their mirror
neuron systems make possible, what before may have been unbearable states of affective
and bodily activation within the client may now become tolerable with conscious
awareness.
Being empathic with patients may be more than just something that helps them “feel
better” – it may create a new state of neural activation with a coherence in the moment
that improves the capacity for self-regulation. What is at first a form of interpersonal
integration in the sharing of affective and cognitive states now evolves into a form of
internal integration in the patient. With the entry of previously warded-off states of being in
conscious awareness, the patient can now learn to develop enhanced self-regulatory
capacities that before were beyond his/her skill set. It may be that as interpersonal
attunement initiates a new form of awareness that makes intrapersonal attunement
possible, new self-regulatory capacities become available.
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NEUROSCIENCE & SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
Mirror Neuron System
If the mirror neuron system were to be focused on one’s own states of mind, we can
propose that a form of internal attunement would allow for new and more adaptive forms
of self-regulation to develop. The practice of focusing attention in the present moment on
one’s own intentions and somatic states, such as the breath, have been a mainstay of
mindful awareness practices over thousands of years.
A “Mirror Neuron-Mindfulness Hypothesis” can be offered that proposes that the focusing
of one’s non-judgmental attention on the internal state of intention, affect, thought and
bodily function may be one way in which the brain focuses inward to promote well-being.
As the therapist attempts to achieve such an open, receptive state of awareness toward
both internal state changes and for interpersonal signals sent by the patient, the patient’s
own mind may be offered the important social experiences to create a similar state. In
this way the mirror neuron system may serve a powerful role as the neural basis of
mental attunement within and between both patient and therapist.
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EMOTIONS
In neuroscience, emotion and feelings are related but different. Antonio
Damasio, a distinguished neuroscientist views emotions as playing out in
the theatre of the body. Emotions are bodily responses that evolved to
ensure our survival and they are at the core of who we are and that they
reflect prepackaged decisions of great complexity (LeDoux, 1996).
See DVD on emotions/feelings
Damasio views feelings as occurring in the theatre of the mind, after
emotional arousal begins. He believes that emotion, feeling and biological
regulation are all in the “loop” of high reason. Damasio (2003, p. 86)
describes a feeling as “…the perception of a certain state of the body
along with the perception of a certain mode of thinking and of thoughts with
certain themes.”
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MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
EMOTIONS
These feelings can occur unconsciously or consciously, although feelings
which are conscious have longer lasting impacts on the conscious mind.
Indeed, we may owe our fundamental sense of consciousness to our
ability to be aware of our feelings.
Damasio believes we know that we are experiencing an emotion when the
sense of a feeling is created in our minds resulting in the sense of a feeling
self (Damasio, 1999, p.279).
Emotions are central to integration (well-being). Emotion is an active
process that shifts our state of integration. Emotions link neural pathways
into a functioning whole or state of mind. (Siegel)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wup_K2WN0I&feature=related
Sharing affective states is a fundamental form of integration.
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MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
EMOTIONS
Recall again that Mindfulness is believed to help with reappraisal of a
stimulus which may short-circuit some of the stress response. All emotions
are welcomed and accepted which may help to reduce the negativity
pairing.
Mindfulness helps to increase positive mood, lower rumination.
With a more positive mood set, Mindfulness can help with emotional
regulation, pairing negative emotions with calm, positivity, leading to some
extinction and reconsolidation with a less toxic context to the emotion.
Mindfulness enhances awareness of bodily sensations associated with
emotion which is essential in experiencing feelings. Being more aware of
emotions and feelings can assist with emotional regulation. Siegel notes
that naming a feeling can help to tame the feeling. (Amygdala arousal is
frequently reduced when the left hemisphere names the feeling).
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MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
POSITIVE EMOTIONS
See handout, “Buddha’s Brain” by Rick Hanson (2009)
Brain has a negativity bias, it is important to balance with positive emotions
Note and savour positive experiences. Pay attention and collect them
Focus on your emotions and body sensations. Fill your body with these
positive emotions and marinate in the sensations
Positive emotions can be used to soothe and balance negative
experiences
Associating painful feelings with positive emotions can reduce the impact
of negative feelings. The painful feelings expressed within a caring and
loving relationship, for example, can reduce the pain and change the
intensity of the memory.
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MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
H-E-A-L PROCESS
Have- you have the positive experience – notice one or create one
Enrich. Increase duration, intensity, multimodality (bring into body,
sit up proudly), Novelty heightens learning and increase personal
relevance.
Absorb. Visualize it sinking in, sense it, build it.
Link. (optional). Hold positive feelings or thoughts or memories in
awareness and introduce some painful thoughts, feelings, etc. (natural
antidote).
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MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
The positive material will gradually associate with the negative
material, soothing, easing and eventually replacing it.
Have more episodes over the day, even 30 seconds at a time, half
dozen times a day. Dozen or so seconds each time. Will turn
activated states into traits eventually.
It is startling to realize how unwilling the mind is to give the
gift to oneself of a positive experience (Hanson).
See the new book by Rick Hanson (2013), “Hardwiring happiness:
The new brain science of contentment, calm and confidence”. NY:
Harmony Books.
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MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
Let us be grateful to people who make us
happy. They are the charming gardeners
who make our souls blossom.
Marcel Proust
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MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
Interpersonal Neurobiology: A Brain-Based Approach
The term “Interpersonal Neurobiology” coined by Daniel J. Siegel (1999) in his book, The
developing mind: How relationship and the brain interact to shape who we are. NY: Guilford
Press.
Scientific grounded paradigm of Neural Integration. Health and well-being defined as neural
integration. Individual well-being and supportive relationships come from brains that are more
integrated. An integrated mind reflects FACES: Flexible, Adaptable, Coherent, Energized
and Stable.
Triangle of Well-Being
Relationships (how we share energy & information)
Mind
Brain
(regulates flow of energy & information) (mechanisms by which energy & flow is regulated)
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MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
Well-Being
An interpersonal neurobiology (IPN) perspective of mental well-being views the mind as
achieving self-organization by balancing the opposing processes of differentiation and
linkage.
When separated areas of the brain are allowed to specialize in their function and then to
become linked together, the system is said to be integrated.
This coherent flow is bounded on one side by chaos and on the other by rigidity. In this
manner we can envision a flow or river of well-being, with the two banks being chaos on
the one side, rigidity on the other.
This flow of well-being can be seen to reveal the correlations among an empathic
relationship, a coherent mind, and an integrated brain as three points on a triangle
depicting well-being.
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Social Work Practice in the Time of Neuroscience
Siegel defines the mind as an embodied and relational process that
regulates the flow of energy and information. Regulation is central to
mental life, and helping others with this regulatory balance is fundamental
to understanding how the mind can change.
Goal is to promote mental health and well-being. Key is promoting flow (versus
chaos and rigidity) and integration (i.e., everything working together individually,
and in harmony). Triangle of well-being: Empathic relationships, healthy mind and
integrated brain.
An Integrated brain, coherent mind, empathic relationships
Daniel J. Siegel
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MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
Brain and Learning Findings
Implications for Therapy
Content needs to make sense to
learners
The therapist’s model has to make sense in explaining the client’s situation. This increases a
sense of bond and optimism.
Content has to be relevant
The goals have to be the clients’ goals. They have to be owned and important. Identifying and
working on relevant goals strengthens the therapist’s connections with clients. Working on a
problem should always involve an important approach goal. Relevance activates emotions.
Emotions drive attention & memory
Therapist needs to work with emotions of clients to engage motivation and to explore
underlying feelings and to develop attachment. Client needs to feel felt. A positive alliance is
built on positive emotions.
Action is important in learning
Doing things strengthens new & existing neural connections. Encourage clients to try things out,
homework, role playing, drawing, writing, etc.
Multi-sensory experiences improve
memory and utilization
When possible, engage clients in different sensory ways through use of
images, sound, video. The use of rich metaphors which activate thinking, imagination and
feelings use multi-sensory connections.
Learning optimized through relaxed
attention, avoiding excessive stress &
anxiety.
While some level of stress improves motivation, clients should also feel safe and secure to be
open and to share feelings & thoughts. This will improve both making & retrieving memories, &
thinking abilities. Encouraging Mindfulness Meditation, self-hypnosis & other ways to relax and
to regulate attention & emotion may be useful.
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MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
Brain and Learning Findings
Implications for Therapy
Build on existing learner’s knowledge &
beliefs.
Start where client is at. This involves understanding the client’s world view’s, beliefs & preferences &
building from there. Previous learnings, preferences are already part of the client’s understanding. New
learnings that connect with these pre-existing realities are easier to build on and will likely be accepted,
acted on, and prevail.
Foster positive emotions to aid in
thinking and remembering
While first acknowledging & listening to client’s problems, move quickly to generate positive emotions.
A strong, positive alliance, discussion of strengths and solution talk, positive life/relationship review,
relaxation training, positive imaging, increasing social support can improve the client’s experience of
positive emotions.
Work to develop learning at the
conscious and unconscious levels
Besides working consciously on challenging & refining client beliefs & ideas, consider exploring ways to
impact implicit knowledge such as use of metaphor, experiences without discussion (right brain to right
brain), vigorously interrogating unconscious beliefs and substituting positive conscious beliefs. Change in
psychotherapy can happen in at least two ways: working at the implicit level to promote change at the
explicit level of functioning (e.g., the attunement within a positive attachment relationship leads to a
conscious change in the client’s positive self-evaluation or a conscious CBT focus on self-worth leads to
unconscious changes in the self-worth schema within the right brain).
Encourage deep learning: memory &
retrieval, analysis, critique, action,
feedback and refinement
Clients need to process new learning. Explore it, try it out, refine it, continually use it. Have others support
it. Develop new stories that support the positive changes. This is deep processing of change that is more
like to promote and maintain desired changes.
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MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
SELECTED READINGS
Applegate, J., & Shapiro, J. (2005). Neurobiology for clinical social work: Theory and practice. NY: W.W.
Norton & Company.
Arden, John B., & Linford, Lloyd (2009). Brain-based therapy with adults: Evidence-based treatment for
everyday practice. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Badenoch, Bonnie (2008). Being a brain-wise therapist. NY: W.W. Norton & Company.
Cameron, N., & McDermott, F. (2007). Social work and the body. Hampshire, UK: Pagrave Macmillan
Cozolino, Louis (2010). The neuroscience of psychotherapy: Healing the social brain. Second Edition. NY:
W.W. Norton & Company.
Damasio, Antonio (1999). The feeling of what happens: Body and emotion in the making of consciousness.
San Diego: Harcourt, Inc.
Damasio, Antonio (2000). Descarte's error: Emotion, reason and the human brain. NY: Quill.
Damasio, Antonio (2003). Looking for Spinoza: Joy, sorrow and the feeling brain. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc.
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MINDFULNESS MEDITATION & NEUROSCIENCE
SELECTED READINGS
Goleman, Daniel (2006). Social intelligence: The revolutionary new science of human relationships.
NY: Bantam Books.
Grawe, Klaus (2007). Neropsychotherapy. NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.
Johnson, Harriette C. (2001). Neuroscience in social work practice and education. Journal of Social
Work Practice in the Addictions, 1(3), 81-102.
LeDoux, Joseph (1996). The emotional brain: The mysterious underpinnings of emotional life. NY:
Simon & Shuster Paperbacks.
LeDoux, Joseph (2002). Synaptic self: How our brains become who we are. NY: Penguin Books.
Saleebey, Dennis (1992). Biology's challenge to Social Work: Embodying the person-in-environment.
Social Work, 37(2), 112-118.
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SELECTED READINGS
Siegel, Daniel J. (2012). The developing mind: How relationships and the brain interact to shape who we
are. Second Edition. NY: Guilford Press.
Siegel, Daniel J. (2010). The mindful therapist: A clinician’s guide to mindsight and neural integration. NY:
W. W. Norton & Company.
Siegel, Daniel J. (2010). Mindsight: the new science of personal transformation. New York: Bantam
Books.
Siegel, Daniel J., & Hartzwell, Mary (2003). Parenting from the inside out: How a deeper selfunderstanding can help you raise children who thrive. NY: Penguin.
Siegel, Daniel (2007). The mindful brain: Reflection and attunement in the cultivation of well-being. NY:
W.W. Norton & Company.
Van der Kolk, Bessel. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma.
NY: Viking.
Wilson, Timothy D. (2002). Strangers to ourselves: Discovering the adaptive unconscious. Cambridge:
The Belnap Press of Harvard University Press.
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