PRENATAL AND PERINATAL EDUCATION SERIES - ARTICLE 4
NEUROSCIENCE AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO PRENATAL
AND PERINATAL PSYCHOLOGY
-Shivakumar Belavadi, PPNE,
Bangalore, India
TOPIC - Working with the chapter of the nervous system by John Chitty, compare
and contrast the Old and New Views of the Nervous system and why it is
important for PPN educator.
OLD VIEW : The older view of the
nervous system in human beings was of a reciprocal system which had two
branches viz. Parasympathetic and Sympathetic. The parasympathetic branch had
the Rest & Rebuild functions
associated with it while the sympathetic branch had the Fight & Flight functions associated with it. In this view, the
two branches functioned to mutual exclusion so that when the fight and flight
response operated, it would cause the cessation of Rest & Rebuild mechanism,
and vice versa.
NEW VIEW: In the new view, which was
pioneered by Stephen Porges through the Polyvagal theory, there are three
branches of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) viz. Social, Sympathetic and
Parasympathetic. The new inclusion is the Social branch. The new view of the
ANS is of a phylogenically progressive system in which the three branches of
the ANS function sequentially. The social system is the superior and newest system
which has come about in the evolved species viz. mammals and human beings.
COMPARE / CONTRAST AND IMPORTANCE
TO A PPNE
John Chitty compares the Old and New views of the Autonomic Nervous systems
in a tabular form as given below. I have taken the liberty of putting in my
thoughts on the importance to a PPN educator alongside each of the comparative
aspect of the chart.
ASPECT
|
OLD VIEW
|
NEW VIEW
|
IMPORTANCE
TO A PPNE – MY THOUGHTS/ COMMENTS
|
Importance
|
Under-appreciated
|
Supreme Importance
|
The
value and relevance of the new view comes from the fact that it is “life
empowering”. Once a PPNE appreciates the linkages
between the three branches and how they function, it can be used to empower
babies, parents and caregivers.
In fact, society at large will benefit from such universal and
empowering facts about how we function in the voluntary and involuntary
domains.
|
Action
|
Reciprocal (Sym-
and Parasym are
seesaw, on/off)
|
Sequential based
on phylogeny
(evolutionarily newer vs. older
|
By
appreciating the sequential nature in the functioning of the branches, one
can notice that the Social Branch has the potential to cause a cascading
impact on to the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic parts. Hence if the Social Nervous
System is addressed and tapped by a PPNE or parent, it can empower a child
for a lifetime since the patterns made at the early stages get imprinted into a baby and can be referenced
at any stage in the rest of life – at
any age !
|
How many parts?
|
Two (Sym-, Parasym-)
|
Three (Social, Sym-, Parasym-)
|
The
three branches of ANS operate as a flow in continuum and not in a reciprocal
manner. The first and natural recourse for a baby in the neuroception process
is the Social branch. If this is dysfunctional for any reason, it then
progresses downwards towards Sympathetic and Parasympathetic branches. The
clear messaging is that a PPNE can tap into the contimuum at any point,
recognize the potential and cause bonding, attachment, self-care and other
triggers to operate.
|
ANS Categorization
of Vagus Nerve
|
All Parasympathetic
|
Mixed (Ventral
branch of Vagus is
not Parasympathetic)
|
The
Ventral Branch of the Vagus (Cranial Nerve X) gives a new dimension to human
life. It is autonomic and yet transcending the traditional Sympathetic and
Parasympathetic paradigms. This
is the social dimension of human beings, which makes prenatal bonding, secure attachment, care giving,
empathy, safety and such other concepts a bigger purpose through human
interactions. The ventral part of the Vagus nerve is myelinated and accesses
heart, facial muscles, throat and voice thus opening human communication to
higher possibilities. Thus
it will be a rich source for a PPNE who can tap into this potential right at
the early phases of a baby’s life through maternal bonding, social
cooperation and also counsel parents / care givers to a better and
interactive life to a baby/child.
|
Therapy goal
|
Parasympathetic relaxation
|
Re-establish newer branches
|
With
the new understanding of the ANS through the Polyvagal theory, the goal of
therapeutic effort is to use the full flow or continuum in the sequential
matrix of the three branches viz . Social è
Sympatheticè Parasympathetic. At
each level, a PPNE would recognise opportunities for both Normal Functions OR
Stress Responses. Hence we can use techniques like touch, contact,
authenticity, communication, safety
and the like to foster a quicker social interaction with a Child/baby and
make use of the higher opportunities which the Social branch provides.
In fact, John Chitty states that ‘When in doubt, operate through the Social
Branch , which will set off a cascading impact through the other branches ‘.
He has also given clear examples though “Rescue Hug, Roots of Empathy and
Reading Dogs” which have created newer opportunities and therapies. A
great learning for a PPNE is that ‘Secure attachment does to the ANS, what
Immunization would do for the body.’
|
Babies
|
Feel no pain and have no
memory
|
ANS is hyper-sensitive & records
experiences, particularly betrayals
|
Many
of the aspects of dealing with a baby have undergone a sea change with the
new understanding. If subjected to physical abuse or damage through pulling,
slapping, holding baby by the leg or circumcision without anaesthesia, a baby
could regress into a Parasympathetic state and thus cause regressive
immobilization or even permanent damage. Hence we need to be “Nice” to babies and
not welcome them with betrayals. On the contrary, the new paradigm is to
recognize that babies are super-sentient, treat them well and create
resilience and adaptability in them.
|
Popular
characterization
|
Parasympathetic “Rest & Rebuild”
Sympathetic “Fight-or-Flight”
|
Differentiate “normal functions”
from “stress responses
|
We
first recognize that a baby hitchhikes on the mother’s nervous system in the
course of pregnancy. The “normal and
stress” functions both happen as a part of the sequential flow over the
matrix. Hence a PPNE would clearly
understand this flow across the matrix of branches and work to create
appropriate interventions at each stage – either to minimize the regression
towards Parasympathetic state OR maximize the progression towards Social
Interaction stage. If we
recognize the possibilities and calibrate the engagements of the PPNE/
Parent/Care-giver to meet a baby’s expectations created through pregnancy and
pre-birth states, the child will flourish and progress throughout life, based
on the first imprints created. If not there could be triggers of stress
response which in turn could have limiting or damaging consequences for the
baby, family and society at large.
|
