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The Origins of Compassion: A Phylogenetic Perspective
Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D. Translational Research in
Neural Medicine Research Triangle Institute
(RTI) International
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
1. The neural origin for compassion is uniquely mammalian and dependent on the phylogenetic changes in the ANS from reptiles to mammals.
2. Compassion is “neurophysiologically” incompatible with judgmental, evaluative, and defensive behaviors and feelings that recruit phylogenetically older neural circuits regulating autonomic function.
3. The effectiveness of mediation, listening, chant, posture, and breath on fostering mental states and health is due to a common phylogenetic change in the neural regulation of the ANS.
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Theme
1. Diaphragm – separates the heart and lungs from sub-diaphragmatic organs
2. Two vagal circuits 1. Ancient unmyelinated vagus regulates gut and sub-
diaphragmatic organs 2. Mammalian myelinated vagus regulates supra-
diaphragmatic organs (lung and heart). 3. Myelinated baroreceptors 4. Detached middle ear bones 5. Adrenal with separate blood supply from the kidney 6. Adrenocortical cells clustered as a cortex of the adrenal 7. Oxytocin and vasopressin as separate neuropeptides with
specialized receptors
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Unique Mammalian Modifications
Bi-directional interactions among brainstem source nuclei of the myelinated vagus and several cranial nerves that regulate the striated muscles of the face and head result in a “face-heart” connection with “portals” that regulate “state.”
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Unique Mammalian Modifications
Face – heart connection • Voice – heart connection (chants) • Listening – heart connection (music)
• Breath – heart connection (pranayama)
Posture-heart connection (Dance and other movements)
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Emergent Portals
Compassion requires turning off defenses
• How we feel determines whether we become friends, lovers, or enemies.
• Our feelings are dependent on our physiological state (autonomic nervous system).
• Defense turns off the mammalian “innovations” of the ANS and the face-heart connection.
• Compassion requires turning off biobehavioral defense systems in the “dyad” to enable both the “compassionate” individual the other to feel safe to be proximal, and to enable physical contact.
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Polyvagal Theory The Polyvagal Theory explains the functional relevance of the mammalian modifications of the ANS and emphasizes the adaptive consequences of detecting risk (i.e., safety, danger, or life threat) on physiological state, social behavior, psychological experience (including compassion), and health.
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
The Polyvagal Theory 1. Evolution provides an organizing principle to
understand neural regulation of the human autonomic nervous system as an enabler of “positive” social behavior.
2. Three neural circuits form a phylogenetically-ordered response hierarchy that regulate behavioral and physiological adaptation to safe, dangerous, and life threatening environments.
3. “Neuroception” of danger or safety or life threat trigger these adaptive neural circuits.
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
The Quest for Safety: Emergent Properties of Physiological State
Environment outside the body inside the body
Nervous System
Safety Danger
Neuroception
Spontaneously engages others eye contact, facial expression, prosody supports visceral homeostasis
Defensive strategies fight/flight behaviors (mobilization)
Life threat
Defensive strategies death feigning/shutdown (immobilization)
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Phylogenetic Organization of the ANS: The Polyvagal Theory
head
viscera limbs
trunk
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Phylogenetic Organization of the ANS: The Polyvagal Theory
head
viscera limbs
trunk
“old” vagus
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Immobilization With Fear:
Vasovagal Syncope
Phylogenetic Organization of the ANS: The Polyvagal Theory
head
viscera limbs
trunk
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Phylogenetic Organization of the ANS: The Polyvagal Theory
head
viscera limbs
trunk
Sympathetic Nervous System
Corticospinal Pathways
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Mobilization: Flight Behaviors
Mobilization: Fight Behaviors
Phylogenetic Organization of the ANS: The Polyvagal Theory
head
viscera limbs
trunk
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Phylogenetic Organization of the ANS: The Polyvagal Theory
head
viscera limbs
trunk
“new” vagus Corticobulbar pathways
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
© Jeff Hunter/ The Image Bank
Social Engagement
A Neural Love Code: The Role of Social Engagement
People Need People: A Biological Basis for Social Behavior
Regulators of physiology are “embedded” in relationships
Myron Hofer, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Mammalian Interactions: Regulators of physiology are “embedded” in relationships
Mammalian Interactions: Regulators of physiology are “embedded” in relationships
A Neural Love Code: Phase I The importance of face-to-face
interactions
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Deconstructing the “Mammalian” Social Engagement System
Cranial Nerves V,VII,IX,X,XI
Muscles of Mastication
Middle Ear Muscles
Facial Muscles
Larynx Heart
Head Turning
Bronchi
Pharynx
cortex
brainstem
environment Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Immobilization Without Fear
Immobilization Without Fear
Immobilization Without Fear
Immobilization Without Fear
Immobilization: Without Fear
Immobilization Without Fear
Immobilization Without Fear
Immobilization Without Fear
A Neural Love Code: Phase II The importance of physical contact while
immobilizing without fear
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Immobilization without fear, can only occur following the establishment of “safety” via the social engagement system. Without feeling safe, immobilization triggers “life threat” experiences.
Social engagement and immobilization without fear are features of compassion and compassionate behaviors.
Bodily feelings influence our awareness of others and either potentiate spontaneous social engagement behaviors and feelings of compassion or displace spontaneous social behaviors and feelings of compassion with defensive reactions and judgmental feelings.
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
Summary
Compassion is a manifestation of our biological need to engage and to bond with others. Compassion is a component of our biological quest for “safety” in proximity of another.
Copyright © 2012 Stephen W. Porges
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