RE~CONNECTION
RESEARCH
PSYCHOSOMATICS
The human body is a unique instrument for living in this world. By using our bodies, we have the opportunity to feel, receive information from the world in the form of sensations, and act according to this information, evolving through the process of life.
The body is controlled by a virtual system of the psyche, which is installed on the hardware of the nervous system. A vast number of operations performed by this system are autonomous and occur without our conscious awareness. Otherwise, it would be impossible to simply maintain internal bodily processes, like breathing, or to quickly respond to changes in the external environment.
The way the brain perceives external information and launches the bodily responses to it is shaped by experience. From birth, we inherit the collective experiences of previous generations and build upon this foundation with our own life experiences.
How those responses are launched? We perceive the surroundings through our five senses, and the information is sent to processing systems. The resulting 'image' is then compared with those stored in memory, with the sole task of determining whether there is any danger or not. This 'image' consists of hundreds of parameters recorded in memory through visual, olfactory, tactile, taste, and auditory inputs. If the system detects a threat, it triggers a response, typically categorized into 'fight, flight, or freeze,' which is mediated by the sympathetic nervous system that extends throughout all organs and tissues. This process occurs in fractions of a second, with signals from the brain's control centers transmitted to the body.
The system operates with specific neurotransmitters and initiates the production of certain hormones. In ancient humans, this response was triggered occasionally, such as when escaping from predators, while the rest of the time the body could remain in the parasympathetic 'rest and digest' mode. However, for modern humans, this reactive state can be active from morning until evening. Throughout the day, there is a constant need to 'run' somewhere, 'achieve' something urgently, 'fight' someone, or 'hide' from others. In the mental models of the brain, there is a continuous loop of safety checks against a metaphorical predator, represented by parents, children, colleagues, and numerous obligations.
The body may not withstand such stress, and eventually, something breaks down. Accumulated tension manifests as recurring symptoms, which can develop into a chronic condition or a severe illness. Biology provides a detailed description of the signaling pathways involved in the onset and maintenance of disease.
However, the psycho processes governing the responses function as a virtual operating system that extends beyond the biology area of competence. Currently, one can identify a high-level causal link, such as 'nervousness leading to illness' or 'intense stress resulting in disease.' What is particularly intriguing is the reverse process: 'releasing stress and restoring calmness promote health.'
However, modern science has not yet clearly defined the mechanisms behind this process of gaining health through reinstalling the calm state. Meanwhile, psychotherapists specializing in psychosomatics effectively help individuals achieve a state of calm regarding various life challenges. As a natural outcome of this appeasement state, the body transitions into a state of health.
The human body is a unique instrument for living in this world. By using our bodies, we have the opportunity to feel, receive information from the world in the form of sensations, and act according to this information, evolving through the process of life.
The body is controlled by a virtual system of the psyche, which is installed on the hardware of the nervous system. A vast number of operations performed by this system are autonomous and occur without our conscious awareness. Otherwise, it would be impossible to simply maintain internal bodily processes, like breathing, or to quickly respond to changes in the external environment.
The way the brain perceives external information and launches the bodily responses to it is shaped by experience. From birth, we inherit the collective experiences of previous generations and build upon this foundation with our own life experiences.
How those responses are launched? We perceive the surroundings through our five senses, and the information is sent to processing systems. The resulting 'image' is then compared with those stored in memory, with the sole task of determining whether there is any danger or not. This 'image' consists of hundreds of parameters recorded in memory through visual, olfactory, tactile, taste, and auditory inputs. If the system detects a threat, it triggers a response, typically categorized into 'fight, flight, or freeze,' which is mediated by the sympathetic nervous system that extends throughout all organs and tissues. This process occurs in fractions of a second, with signals from the brain's control centers transmitted to the body.
The system operates with specific neurotransmitters and initiates the production of certain hormones. In ancient humans, this response was triggered occasionally, such as when escaping from predators, while the rest of the time the body could remain in the parasympathetic 'rest and digest' mode. However, for modern humans, this reactive state can be active from morning until evening. Throughout the day, there is a constant need to 'run' somewhere, 'achieve' something urgently, 'fight' someone, or 'hide' from others. In the mental models of the brain, there is a continuous loop of safety checks against a metaphorical predator, represented by parents, children, colleagues, and numerous obligations.
The body may not withstand such stress, and eventually, something breaks down. Accumulated tension manifests as recurring symptoms, which can develop into a chronic condition or a severe illness. Biology provides a detailed description of the signaling pathways involved in the onset and maintenance of disease.
However, the psycho processes governing the responses function as a virtual operating system that extends beyond the biology area of competence. Currently, one can identify a high-level causal link, such as 'nervousness leading to illness' or 'intense stress resulting in disease.' What is particularly intriguing is the reverse process: 'releasing stress and restoring calmness promote health.'
However, modern science has not yet clearly defined the mechanisms behind this process of gaining health through reinstalling the calm state. Meanwhile, psychotherapists specializing in psychosomatics effectively help individuals achieve a state of calm regarding various life challenges. As a natural outcome of this appeasement state, the body transitions into a state of health.
The main focus of research is on the mechanisms of interaction between the mind and body that drive responses. Understanding the mechanisms of the connection between psycho-neuro-biological systems will enhance the application of psychotherapeutic methods for restoring human health.
SOPHROLOGY
In collaboration with the Institute of Neuroscience, of the University of Paris-Saclay, Decision Making Group: Prof. Sylvie Granon
Preliminary research on the relationship between stress levels and Sophrology was conducted with a group of students, using their subjective assessments of stress levels as measurable variables. This is the first study of Sophrology in healthy individuals without pathologies, serving as an initial step before neurological and biochemical studies of Sophrology.
THE RESEARCH IN MORE DETAIL
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