Transcript introduction to Compassion

Practice & Neuroscience
of
Mindfulness & Compassion
The Buddha -
Underlying assumptions
Mind and Brain
• William James
• 1) Brain produces thoughts ( ie like an
electrical current produces light)
• 2) Brain permits/ releases mental events
• 3) Brain transmits thoughts ( like light
hitting prism )
Emotional regulation
There are three types of emotion
regulation
1. Those that focus on threat and selfprotection
2. Those that focus on doing and achieving
3. Those that focus on contentment and feeling
safe
Attachment –affiliative emotion
Caring as “looking
after”.
Seeking closeness rather than
dispersion. Individuals obtain
protection, food, and care when
ill. Key also is soothing-calming
and physiological regulation.
Affection and kindness
Threat system
Threat system + self reflective awareness =
suffering
Why do we need Compassion?
Life is Hard
Compassion stimulating
Sexual
ShamingBullying
Meal
Meal
Sex
Kind, warm
and caring
Shaming
Compassion
Limbic system
Soothed
Safe
Stomach acid
Saliva
Arousal
Fearful
Depressed
Types of Affect Regulator
Systems
Content, safe, connected
Drive, excite, vitality
Non-wanting/
Affiliative focused
Incentive/resourcefocused
Safeness-kindness
Wanting, pursuing,
achieving, consuming
Soothing
Activating
Threat-focused
Protection and
Safety-seeking
Activating/inhibiting
Anger, anxiety, disgust
Reciprocal inhibition
Three major questions
• 1. Reciprocal inhibition
• 2. Underlying neurophysiological substrate
• 3. Clinical utility (Can attachment be
healed)
fmri studies
• Lutz et al (Wisconsin )
• Stanford group
• Zurich study
Neural correlates of self criticism
and self reassurance • Subjects presented with two scenarios –
self criticism & self reassurance
• Self criticism assoc lateral prefrontal and
ant cingulate activation
• Self reassurance assoc left temporal and
insula activation
fMRI Study (Aston University)
STUDY Olivia Longe, Gina Rippon, Paul Gilbert & Frankie
Maratos
SelfCriticize
SelfReassure
SelfCriticize
SelfReassure
“A third job rejection
letter in a row arrives
in the post”
Emotion Scenario(-)
“The second free local
newspaper in a row
arrives in the post”.
Neutral Scenario
• 2X2 Factorial: 2 X Statement Scenarios, 2 X Imagery Perspectives
•
Statements pre-tested (n=12), for imagability (i.e. ease of imagining self-critical or
self-reassuring thoughts), 1-7 Likert Scale.
Self-Criticism during Emotional Scenarios vs. Neutral
Axial slices displaying left lateral PFC (BA 47, 45,9) and right
lateral PFC (BA 46) activation
Self-Reassurance during Emotional Scenarios vs.
Neutral
Whole brain and axial slices displaying left temporal pole
(BA 38) and insula activation
Regulation of Neural circuitry by
compassion mediation – Lutz et al
• Examined fmri activity during affective
processing – experienced & novice
meditators
• Greater activation in R temporal, insula
,ant cingulate in experienced meditators
• Activation of empathy circuitries
Neuroplasticity
• Santiago Ramon Cajal 1910
• “ The fully mature brain lacks the intrinsic
mechanisms needed to replenish neurons
and re- establish networks “ 2002
Billy – the Silver Spring Monkey
The Knowledge London Cabbies
Musicians
What drives neuroplasticity
• “neurons that fire together wire together”
• “ Passive, unattended, or little attended
exercises are of limited value for driving
neuroplasticity”
• Directed attention is key driver to
neuroplasticity
Conclusion
• Physical changes in the brain depend on
non- physical state of mind – focused
attention
Effects of compassion meditation on neuroendocrine and
immune and behavioral response to stress
(Stanford group )
• Randomized 60 people to either health
discussion group or 6 wk training program
• Response to stress test ( TSST)
• Measures HPA axis , interleukin il6 & cortisol
• Found no group difference but increased
practice assoc with decreased cortisol & IL6
Zurich study
• Identify neural activity underlying
compassion in expert meditator
–30% 60% 90%
intensity
•Area of interest right Insula.
Left ventral striatum
Training of compassion
• Real time fmri neurofeedback
• Participants all receive compassion
training and then randomized to with and
without Rt fmri neurofeedback
YOU CAN
RE-WIRE
YOUR BRAIN
“My Religion is kindness “
HH Dalai Lama
Thank you
Jon Kabbat Zinn June 20 Glasgow university