PORGES PDF

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.


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


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.”


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)


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.


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.


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.


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)


Phylogenetic Organization of the ANS: The Polyvagal Theory

head

viscera limbs

trunk



head

viscera limbs

trunk

“old” vagus


Immobilization With Fear:

Vasovagal Syncope


head

viscera limbs

trunk



head

viscera limbs

trunk

Sympathetic Nervous System

Corticospinal Pathways


Mobilization: Flight Behaviors

Mobilization: Fight Behaviors


head

viscera limbs

trunk



head

viscera limbs

trunk

“new” vagus Corticobulbar pathways


©  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


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


Immobilization Without Fear




Immobilization: Without Fear




A Neural Love Code: Phase II The importance of physical contact while

immobilizing without fear


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.


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.


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