how does change happen? new ideas from neuroscience

Building Relationships:

Neurobiology of change

Rainer Schwing . www.praxis-institut.de

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How does change happen?

New ideas from

Neuroscience

Sydney, July 28/29th, 2010

Rainer Schwing

Diplom-Psychologe




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1. Neuroscience:

a quarry and lots of visitors

2. Biology of change

! Neurobiological suggestions for change work

! Charming triads:

Systemic therapy, Marte Meo, and Neurobiology




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Neurobiological research:





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Early experiences

(e.g. traumatical ones)

are resistant to change

Amygdala Roth (2005)




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conditioning

Integration

of synchronised activation patterns

„Cells that fire together wire together“

(Hebb 1949)




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Ice cream

activates structures of

orbitofrontal cortex and the

reward system (left PFC),

! positive mood.

……. Stronger than chocolateBauer, University Vienna (2006)

study was financed by Unilever: Eskimo




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Pepsi activates the

Left ventromedial prefrontalen Cortex

stronger than Coca Cola. (McClure u.a. 2004)

As long as you don‘t know

what you‘re drinking




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Add some neurobiological explanations

that will impress your listeners

and help over some weak spots of your story. (Weisberg u.a. 2008, Yale University)

But: we can use this positively!

First practical hint

If you have to tell or sell something ......




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Historical example: emergence of mechanistic models

Industrial revolution

Mass production




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Machine fascination

coined mechanistic models of human individuals & organizations




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reminder:

Some neurobiologists

„out of too much hermeneutical tenderness,

too much love to their research area“

make somewhat daring conclusions. (Krüger 2007)

A useful systemic stance:

you can fall in love with your hypothesis,

take her out for dinner,

but never marry her!




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1. Neuroscience:


2. Biology of change

! Neurobiological suggestions for change work

! Charming triads:

Systemic therapy, Marte Meo, and Neurobiology




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Wisdom of the Talmud: neuro plasticity

Watch your thoughts, they will be your words.

Watch your words; they will be your actions.

Watch your actions; they will be your habits.

Watch your habits: they will shape your destiny.




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Long term potentiation

Repetetive synaptic activation(sec – min)

! Stabilizes synaptic connection (NMDA-receptors)

! Enhanced reactivity (post-synaptic)

! Enhanced transmitter production(pre-synaptic)

! After one or more minutes: growth of additional synapses

learning and change:

Neuroplasticity




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! Responsiveness of Synapses: long term potentiation

! new synapses

! new dendrites

! new neuronsadult neurogenesis e.g. in hippocampus

! neuronal circuits


Neuroplasticity




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! Experience:

" Lady that goes blind

" taxi driver in London

" kids and their thumbs

! Time:

" 5 days: practicing pianofinger area in motor cortex grows (2-3X)

" 5 days: blindfolded volunteers learning Braillevisual cortex processes tactile and auditory input (Alvaro Pascual Leone)

" 6 months: a brain region changes


Neuroplasticity




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Stop old patterns

Make new experiences

Repeat them often

Facilitating change

Attentionacetylcholine

Emotione.g. dopamine,

norepinephrine

Autonomy




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! Attention: Merzenichs monkeys tapping (Michael Merzenich, Univ. of Cal. 1996)

! Autonomy: Gage‘s mice running (Fred Gage, Salk Institute, La Jolla 2004)

! Emotion: Meaney‘s rats licking (Michael Meaney, McGill Univ. Montreal, 1989 -2006)

" Less stress reactions, better learners more cortisole receptorschange in gene expression (DNA: transcription factors)

" Offspring: better parenting (oxytocin, vasopressin)

! The best predictor of child growth:Mother‘s yes to „Did you want this child?“


Neuroplasticity




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Jaak Panksepp:

emotional systems

! SEEKING curiosity / exploration

! PLAY rough and tumble play/ joy

! FEAR anxiety/ anticipate and deal with threats

! RAGE dominance / assertion

! LUST lust, sexuality

! CARE love / bonding

! PANIC /GRIEF separation distress




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! FEAR

Ledoux 1996

High road – low road




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! LOVE / CARE




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/)%-")*+0"-'"&(%)*+,&"%-.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++0-"$-12)324%)*+5"-67)8&9"-88$(:+;+!.6%&<$(+:+=-<-9%&"8

Bartels & Zeki 2003University College of London

! LOVE / CARE




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Loving care

influences

body

functions

Hofer 1996:

Rat puppies

Seperated from

their mothers

Love is a biological need




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1. Holding Hands attenuates neural responses to threat and

arousal (Coan et.al. 2006)

especially if received from spouses with good relationship

• Talking to the mother reduces stress (cortisol, increased oxytocin)

(Seltzer 2010)

•

(Seltzer 2010 University of Wisconsin-Madison)


no contact

Phone talkPhysical contact




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That holds also true for employees: managerial support and

encouragement reduces burnout, diseases and sickleave (Hanebuth u.a. 2010, Bertelsmann Stiftung)

back to couples: those who feel loved by their spouses

• have less coronary heart disease - symptoms

• develop only 1/3 of duodenal ulcers

• survive mammal carcinoma better (up to 50%)

• have less infections, stomach / intestinal diseases, less

pain problems, and: flesh wounds healed twice as fast!





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Men:

smoking, hypertension and stress? No problem!

Don‘t worry, if your wife loves you (and you notice it!)

Women:

Don‘t worry, if your man loves you

(and can show it, and you know it!)

You‘ll stay healthier; and if serious illness should get you,

you‘ll survive much more likely





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play

!Link to Jaak Panksepp’s movie about play:

!http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=3KanfLqKXYg




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! „profound desire of animals to interact with each other in

energetic, playful ways.....

! ......rough-and-tumble play as the foundational process for many

other social skills“ (Panksepp 2005)

! Yet little research; subcortical: thalamic nuclei, PAG, cerebellum

strong projections into cortex

! play– tickle– laugh: animals do this, too

! Positive-joyful emotions enhance concentration and creativity

(e.g. Isen 2000, Cornell University)

! PLAY / JOYrough and tumble play




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! SEEKING curious, foraging, exploring




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Ventral tegmental area

Prefrontal cortex

Nucleus accumbens

(Aus Spitzer 2007)

! SEEKING curious, foraging, exploring




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! Activating these three systemsenhances therapeutic effect

! CAREbonding, trustful relationship

! stabilizing, prerequisite for change

! SEEKINGcuriosity, novelty, exploring

! motivational priming, seeking solutions

! PLAYjoy , humour

! creativity, acivates new circuits

how does change happen? new ideas from neuroscience

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