a neuroscience model of compassion- stephanie brown
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Brown_Neuro.pptxTRANSCRIPT
A Neuroscience Model of COMPASSION
Animal model of maternal care (Numan, 2006) Neuroimaging studies of human parenting
responses Selective Investment Theory (Brown) Polyvagal Theory (Porges) Attachment Theory (Bowlby/Aimsworth) Social psychological literature on prosocial
behavior, empathy, self-efficacy, intrinsic versus extrinsic motives, close relationships
The Motivational Command Center for Parental Behavior
The Medial Preoptic Area of the Hypothalamus
(MPOA)
Functional Requirments (1)
Caregiving system responds to cues for need and distress in others
Responding to cues for need?
Subgenual area of ACC (need)
MPOAAmygdala(threat)
Functional Requirement (2)
Minimizes motivational conflictSuppression of reward-seeking motives
Suppression of reward-seeking?
MPOA VTA
NAcc VentralPallidum(reward-
seeking)
HELP
(Blocks Inhibitory Output to Motor Programs for Helping)
Functional Requirement (3)
Minimizes motivational conflictSuppression of reward-seeking motivesSuppression of avoidance/self-preservation
motivation
Suppressing self-preservation motivation?
MPOAAmygdala
Fight-or-Flight Stress ResponseAvoidance motivation
Functional Requirement (4)
Contingent on Availability of Resources to InvestSensitive to organism’s level of self-efficacy
Sensitive to organism’s level of self-efficacy ?
MPOA VTA
Habenula
(hopelessness)
Functional Requirement (5)
Contingent on Availability of Resources to InvestSensitive to organism’s level of self-efficacySensitive to potential drain on one’s own resources
with mechanisms to desensitize one’s self to another’s needs when output is high or ineffective
Sensitive to drain on resources?
Subgenual area of ACC
MPOA
(Need/DEPRESSION)
Functional Requirement (6)
Sensitive to cues for exploitationTargeted investment to bonded partners
Targeted investment to bonded partners ?
MPOA
Orbital frontal cortex (bimodal cells, socialbehavior)
Functional Requirement (7)
Sensitive to cues for exploitationTargeted investment to bonded partnersResist forming with bad investment targets (e.g.,
stigma)
Resists forming with stigmatized partners?
MPOA
Orbital frontal cortexlateral
(Social aversion)
Neuro-affective Model of Compassion
Relationship Variables self/other overlap, closeness
Situational Variables (e.g., maternal experience, other
forms of interdependence)
Cues for Helping (e.g., baby crying, need)
Caregiving Motivation (e.g., compassion, empathy)
Stress Regulation (e.g.,cardiovascular, hormonal recovery)
Helping Behavior
Individual Differences Variables efficacy, safety attachment style
Extrinisc Motivation(e.g., Self-serving, coerced, obligation)