Brain States

Brain State Related to Threat • Threat may be real or perceived stress.

• Emotional, metabolic or physical stress.• Greater threat = faster, more primitive brain area

dominant.• State-specific memory favors access to salient

circuits.

5 Emotional Brain States

Brain Primary/Secondary AreaState

1 Neocortex/Subcortex

2 Subcortex/Limbic

3 Limbic/Midbrain

4 Midbrain/Brainstem

5 Brainstem*Mitrovic, I, et al (2011) Rewiring the Stress Response: A New Paradigm in Health Care Hypothesis.** Perry, BD (2006) Traumatized Youth, Child Welfare, The Guildford Press.

Homeostatic Brain States (1-3)

• HomeostasisFrom Greek “homeo” meaning same and “stasis” meaning stable.

Physiological processing in brain states in which vagal brake is engaged.

• Eudonic RewardProsocial rewards, which are effective in activating positive emotions in short-term and long term.

Promote the emotional and social development that supports survival of the species.

Allostatic Brain States (4-5)

• AllostasisFrom Greek “allo” meaning change and “stasis” meaning stable.

Physiological processing in brain states in which vagal brake is disengaged.

• Hedonic RewardEgo-based rewards, which are effective in activating positive emotions in short-term and negative emotions in the long term.

Fails to promote or blocks the emotional and social development that supports survival of the species.