The second part of Physiological Awareness and Modulation is the ability to modulate internal physiological states on a conscious level. This is not a particularly easy thing to do because of the way the brain is wired. Though we can control our breathing, we can't do the same thing with our heart rate, our digestive system or our skin temperature with the same ease. This is due, in part, to the way the brain has been built-- in three partially connected layers. This post will be more theoretical than practical, but I want to touch on the theory briefly and direct you to more in depth resources if you're interested.
Simply put, the "Three Part Brain" hypothesis argues that as we have evolved as a species, we have needed to develop a more complicated brain to deal with our environment. This appears to have occurred in three distinct stages, corresponding to discreet brain regions and relating to specific physiological and social capacities:
| Name | What structures | Physiological Functions | Social Functions |
| Reptilian Brain | Brain-stem, Thalamus, Hypothalamus | Autonomic system (breathing, heart rate, etc.), Endocrine functions, Homeostasis | Territoriality, Sexual competition, "Fight or Flight" |
| Mammalian Brain | "Limbic system:" Amygdala, Hippocampus, Cingulate cortex | Implicit and explicit memory, emotional production and regulation, Allostasis | Maternal nurturing behaviors, Group cohesion and exclusion, Social hierarchy, Attachment, "Tend and Befriend" |
| Primate Brain | Pre-frontal cortex (PFC) (Ventromedial, Orbito-frontal), Mirror Neuron System | Working memory, Logic, "Somatic Marker" | Mentalization, Empathy, Problem solving, "Theory of Mind" |
These three brain regions don't communicate seamlessly with one another, and in fact, operate somewhat independently from one another. This arrangement is abundantly obvious to us as it is part of the cause of many human problems. You have experienced this break down if you've ever found yourself unable to identify what you're feeling when you know you're feeling something, found yourself making poor decisions when you're angry or sad, or discovered that your body feels out of control -- heart racing and palms sweating -- in a socially difficult situation (giving a speech or meeting an attractive person).
There is hope! There are connections between and among these three brains region that, if encouraged to grow, give a person the ability to feel more in control of themselves, and (as is my point in including them in this blog) support the development of resilience. The next blog will cover three specific techniques for encouraging this inter-connectivity -- Exercise, Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Biofeedback.
Here are some pictures and videos to illustrate the concepts above a little better:
Reptilian Brain:
Mammalian Brain:
Primate Brain:
For more information, please refer to:
http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/301notes2b.html
http://bungelab.berkeley.edu/kidscorner/kidscorner/glossary.html
