4 Core Principles for Interpersonal Neurobiology
Relational neuroscience, technically known as interpersonal neurobiology, is a field that forms the basis of my Professional Certificate in Brain Health. Here are four tenants to the framework.
Explanation of Relational Neuroscience (Interpersonal Neurobiology) Basics
- Health = Integration
What this means is that we are looking to promote integration (differentiating and linking, see #2,) in order to make ourselves and clients healthier and happier. My program looks at all the ways you’re already integrating and integrated, then how to increase it.
2. The definition of integration is high differentiation and high linkage. It’s also referred to as linking together highly differentiated parts. In relationships this looks like honoring differences (that’s the differentiation) while maintaining caring connections (that’s the linkage). The below chart shows this as the “sweet spot” (yellow blob below the downward arrow) where there’s not too much differentiation (apathy,) and not too much linkage (codependence):
In the beginning when someone hears “integration equals high differentiation and high linkage” it usually sounds like a bunch of words strung together without clear purpose. Let me give an example, if you want to become more integrated in your left and right hemisphere, the above “sweet spot” of integration looks like the following:
A. First you would isolate each hemisphere’s functionality and increase effectiveness, (this is the high differentiation, differentiating from the total brain working together). Examples for the left hemisphere would be making a list, writing the alphabet or counting numbers from 1 to 30.
Examples for the right hemisphere would watching the TV with the sound off, paying attention to peripheral vision and facial expressions, or playing without a set goal with clay or playdough.
B. Then you would promote connectedness between the two hemispheres which grows integrative fibers in the corpus callosum – the part of the brain that bridges these two very different modes of processing, (doing this step is the high linkage aspect). Journaling highly integrates the two hemispheres. The research behind it is so robust it’s called the Pennebaker Paradigm.
C. Once you’ve differentiated and linked the two hemispheres there is a greater quality of well-being. People palpably feel this when it has happened. It causes what’s called “affect regulation,” that is it a method to produce greater feelings of calm (integrating the hemispheres through A. B. C.)
3. We all exist on a spectrum from low integration to high integration—visualize this as a River of Brain Integration where the destination (high integration) is achieving the 9 Skills of the Wizard Brain and 9 Levels of Integration. Moving “down the spectrum” leads to an increase in either rigidity, chaos, or both.
How do I know how “integrated” I am (from low levels to high levels)? If a person is stuck in modes of rigid or chaotic thinking that usually indicates lower levels. Higher levels mean being able to feel strong emotions and also make clear decisions with your wizard brain, referred to as executive function or the prefrontal cortex.
4. Integration involves bringing together different and competing functions which help create a coherent mind, an integrated brain, and empathic relationships.
