what peace-builders should maybe know about brain my neurobiological approach to transcending trauma...

What Peace-builders What Peace-builders should should maybe maybe know about know about

brainbrainMY MY neurobiological approach to transcending neurobiological approach to transcending

traumatrauma

Cheryl Talley, Ph.D.Cheryl Talley, Ph.D.

Eastern Mennonite UniversityEastern Mennonite UniversityJune, 2006June, 2006

Neuroscience is the study of…

How information about what’s “out there” gets “in here” and then is acted upon

Neuroscience is the study of…

How information about what’s “out there” (types of energy) gets “in here” (turned into a code brain

understands)and then is acted upon (behavior)

Different Levels of AnalysesDifferent Levels of Analyses

PhysicsBiochemistryAnatomy & PhysiologyPsychology, Cognition & BehaviorPhilosophy

Different questions & Different questions & methodsmethods

NeuroscienceNeuroscience BiopsychologyBiopsychology PsychobiologyPsychobiology Physiological PsychologyPhysiological Psychology Cognitive NeuroscienceCognitive Neuroscience Cognitive PsychologyCognitive Psychology NeuropsychologyNeuropsychology

Types of Physical EnergyTypes of Physical Energy

Visible light range of Electromagnetic Visible light range of Electromagnetic spectrumspectrum

Mechanical movement Mechanical movement Air & FluidAir & Fluid On skin or visceraOn skin or viscera

Chemical Chemical OlfactionOlfaction TasteTaste

Route of physical energyRoute of physical energy Energy Stimulus of receptive

mechanism Transduction Sensation Perception Cognition Behavior

Physical pain vs Emotional Physical pain vs Emotional PainPain

Energy (force) Stimulus of

receptive mechanism (sensory nerves)

Transduction Sensation Perception Cognition Behavior

Energy (memory) Stimulus of a

receptive mechanism Transduction (not

necessary after initial learning)

Sensation Perception Cognition Behavior









USUALLY REQUIRES ANOTHER

DOES NOT REQUIRE ANOTHER









USUALLY REQUIRES ANOTHER

WILL EVENTUALLY HEAL

DOES NOT REQUIRE ANOTHER

WILL OR WILL NOT HEAL

Aggression

Act of “justified aggression” in the

name of self defense

Physiological changesTrauma: shock, injury,

pain, denial

Realization of loss - panic

Anger – why me?Shame, humiliation,

survivor’s guilt

Suppression of grief, fears

Loss of meaning (Learned) helplessness

Desire for justice and vindication

Fantasies of revenge

Development of Good versus Evil narrative/

Dehumanization of the enemy

MournExpress griefAccept Loss

Name/confront fears

Commitment to take risks

“Why them?”Understanding root causes

Rehumanizing the aggressor/ enemyFacing own / group shortcomings*

Engaging offender or society (if offender

not available.)

Choosing to forgive

Establishing justice:Reviewing History: Reconstructing a

meaningful narrative together Negotiating solutions

Joint Planning

Establishing justiceAdmitting guiltPublic apology

Restitution“Creative Justice”

Possibility of reconciliation

Integrating trauma into new self/group identity

Trauma Healing Journey: Breaking the Cycles©EMU, Conflict Transformation Program, 2002, Adapted from model by Olga Botcharova

ToleranceCoexistence

Interconnectedness

*This does not apply in all cases, for example, child sexual abuse.

Breaking Free(See other side)

Breaking Free

Memorializing

AggressionC

hoos

ing

to L

ive

Memorializing

Breaking Free*

Aggression

Breaking Free requiresBreaking Free requires “a NEW thought” “a NEW thought”

*Choosing to THINK differently in order to BEHAVE differently

The “OLD thoughts” are The “OLD thoughts” are easyeasy

Reaction to trauma or aggression Reaction to trauma or aggression doesn’t require thinking, Why?doesn’t require thinking, Why? Neopallium (New Brain)Neopallium (New Brain) Palliopallium (Limbic System)Palliopallium (Limbic System)

Archipallium (Lizard Brain)Archipallium (Lizard Brain) Function of Lizard Brain is protectionFunction of Lizard Brain is protection Includes structures necessary for fear, Includes structures necessary for fear,

breathing, and smellbreathing, and smell Feel emotion first then thinkFeel emotion first then think

Memorializing

Breaking Free

Aggression


Choosing to Live

Sourced by Lizard Brain Reactions

Sourced by “Higher “ Brain Regions

Memorializing

Breaking Free

Aggression


Choosing to Live

Sourced by Lizard Brain Reactions

Sourced by “Higher “ Brain Regions

The NEW THOUGHT

Creating “New Thought” is Creating “New Thought” is notnot easy.easy.

New Thinking is recognizing Current New Thinking is recognizing Current thinking as not necessarily the “truth”thinking as not necessarily the “truth” Distinguish true vs. truthDistinguish true vs. truth

New Thinking is “unlearning” habitual New Thinking is “unlearning” habitual thoughtsthoughts Changing a simple behavioral habit requires at Changing a simple behavioral habit requires at

least 6 weeks (synaptic plasticity)least 6 weeks (synaptic plasticity) New Thinking requires action not re-action.New Thinking requires action not re-action.

Recall: “OLD thoughts” are Recall: “OLD thoughts” are easyeasy

Archipallium (Lizard Brain)Archipallium (Lizard Brain) Function of Lizard Brain is protectionFunction of Lizard Brain is protection Includes structures necessary for fear, Includes structures necessary for fear,

breathing, and smellbreathing, and smell FEEL FIRST AND THEN THINKFEEL FIRST AND THEN THINK

Recall: “NEW thoughts” are not Recall: “NEW thoughts” are not easy…they require actioneasy…they require action

Neopallium (New Brain)Neopallium (New Brain) Generator of ideasGenerator of ideas Calculations, abstract thought and symbolsCalculations, abstract thought and symbols Sense of selfSense of self THINK FIRST AND THEN FEELTHINK FIRST AND THEN FEEL

““New Thought” actionsNew Thought” actions

AcceptingAccepting loss loss ConfrontingConfronting Fears Fears UnderstandingUnderstanding root root

causescauses ToleranceTolerance//

CoexistenceCoexistence EngagingEngaging Offender Offender ChoosingChoosing to forgive to forgive EstablishingEstablishing justice justice

ALL HIGHER ALL HIGHER BRAIN BRAIN FUNCTIONS of the FUNCTIONS of the NEOCORTEX NEOCORTEX

including the including the Medial Pre-frontal Medial Pre-frontal CortexCortex

Ways to engage NEW brainWays to engage NEW brain

OlfactionOlfaction VisionVision AuditionAudition SensationSensation TastingTasting

USE ALL OF THE USE ALL OF THE BRAIN TO HELP BRAIN TO HELP


OlfactionOlfaction VisionVision AuditionAudition SensationSensation TastingTasting

ImaginationImagination Creative ArtsCreative Arts RitualRitual VisualizationVisualization MeditationMeditation Appreciative Appreciative

InterviewingInterviewing Things I haven’t Things I haven’t

thought of.thought of.


ImaginationImagination Creative ArtsCreative Arts RitualRitual VisualizationVisualization MeditationMeditation Appreciative Appreciative

InterviewingInterviewing

PATIENCE & REPITITION PATIENCE & REPITITION (UNLEARNING IS (UNLEARNING IS HARDER THAN HARDER THAN LEARNING)LEARNING)

COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY (EMPATHY (EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING AND UNDERSTANDING AID RELEARNING)AID RELEARNING)

NO 1 SIZENO 1 SIZE (EVERY (EVERY BRAIN IS DIFFERENT SO BRAIN IS DIFFERENT SO LEARNING/UNLEARNING LEARNING/UNLEARNING IS DIFFERENT)IS DIFFERENT)

ConclusionConclusion

Brain can change and this is learning.Brain can change and this is learning. Unlearning behavior is difficultUnlearning behavior is difficult Use the brain to change the brainUse the brain to change the brain *We didn’t even talk about *We didn’t even talk about

Spirituality, Faith or the source of Spirituality, Faith or the source of consciousnessconsciousness

*THAT IS ANOTHER PRESENTATION!!!!!!!!*THAT IS ANOTHER PRESENTATION!!!!!!!!

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