A Path to Healing: Understanding your Brain, Body and Trauma
In our exploration of the brain, we'll delve into the concept of the triune brain, a model proposed by American physician and neuroscientist Paul MacLean. This framework divides the brain into three distinct parts: the reptilian brain, the mammalian brain, and the neocortex. Each layer plays a unique role in how we experience the world, process emotions, and respond to trauma.
The Structure of the Triune Brain
1. Reptilian Brain: The oldest part, located in the brainstem, governs basic survival functions like breathing, sleeping, and waste elimination. It operates largely outside of our conscious awareness, focusing on instinctual responses.
2. Mammalian Brain: Sitting atop the reptilian brain, this area is primarily associated with the limbic system, which manages our emotional processing, motivation, and memory. The mammalian brain is more complex than just the limbic system, as it interacts with the neocortex, allowing us to connect abstract thoughts and imagination with our emotional experiences.
3. Neocortex: The most recent evolutionary development, the neocortex is often referred to as the rational brain. It processes external stimuli, assigns meaning to our experiences, and helps us plan and envision future scenarios.
Understanding these layers is crucial for researchers and clinicians alike, particularly when it comes to processing traumatic experiences and their impact on our nervous system, emotional regulation, and behavior.
What Happens When We Experience Trauma?
While trauma is complex and varies for each individual, psychologists Pierre Janet and Sigmund Freud describe it as an event (or series of events) that disrupts memory on both conscious and unconscious levels. When trauma occurs, our brain enters survival mode: the reptilian brain takes over, shutting down higher functions, which affect memory, emotion, and reasoning. Healing from trauma requires restoring balance to these systems.
When the reptilian brain is activated, our response may manifest as fight, flight, or freeze. The mammalian brain interprets the emotional weight of the trauma, releasing hormones to protect against perceived threats. Over time, repeated trauma can desensitize or heighten the brain's response to stress, altering the functionality of the mammalian brain. This impacts the prefrontal cortex—part of the neocortex—limiting our ability to filter information, understand others, and maintain impulse control.
Paths to Healing
Trauma can significantly disrupt an individual’s ability to regulate emotions and impulses, leading to a sense of lost control. Symptoms such as rapid breathing, increased heart rate, sleep disturbances, and gastrointestinal issues may arise, complicating the individual's ability to articulate their feelings.
One effective approach to healing is art therapy. This modality enables individuals to engage with their symptoms non-verbally, providing a means to navigate the complexities of trauma without relying solely on language. Art therapy facilitates the integration of motor, emotional, and cognitive processing, promoting neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt and change. Studies show that creative expression can foster positive changes by incorporating mindfulness techniques that help shift the brain towards more regulated emotional states.
Understanding the triune brain provides valuable insights into how trauma affects us on multiple levels. By exploring innovative treatment approaches like art therapy, we can create pathways for healing that engage the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. In the journey toward recovery, recognizing the interconnectedness of our brain's structures is essential for fostering resilience and promoting emotional well-being.
Written by Sarah Barakat