Activating the somatosensory cortex might assist us hook up with our our bodies, develop our sensitivity, sensuality and capability to really feel pleasure. (Shutterstock)
Like a thick velvety headband, the somatosensory cortex arcs throughout the highest of mind from simply above one ear to the opposite.
I fell in love with the mind as an undergraduate pupil and pursued a profession in neuroscience, however for years I had largely ignored this construction, because it seemed to be concerned “solely” in processing of bodily sensations. In my thoughts, that meant it was not as fascinating as areas implicated in emotion or larger cognitive operate.
Nevertheless, over the previous decade, throughout my coaching in mindfulness-based interventions and dance motion remedy, I’ve come to appreciate {that a} well-functioning and developed somatosensory cortex might assist us expertise the world and ourselves extra deeply and utterly. It might enrich our emotional expertise and enhance our psychological well being.
For many years, the somatosensory cortex was thought-about to solely be chargeable for processing sensory data from numerous physique components. Nevertheless, not too long ago it grew to become obvious that this construction can be concerned in numerous phases of emotion processing, together with recognizing, producing and regulating feelings.
Furthermore, structural and practical modifications within the somatosensory cortex have been present in people recognized with melancholy, anxiousness and psychotic problems. These research counsel that the somatosensory cortex could also be a remedy goal for sure psychological well being issues, in addition to for preventive measures. Some researchers have even instructed neuromodulation of the somatosensory cortex with transcranial magnetic stimulation or deep mind stimulation.
Whereas coaching in mindfulness-based interventions and dance motion remedy, it grew to become clear {that a} well-functioning and developed somatosensory cortex might assist individuals expertise the world and themselves extra deeply.
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Nevertheless, earlier than we determine to make use of an invasive expertise, we might need to think about mindfulness-based interventions, dance motion remedy or different body-centred approaches to psychotherapy. These strategies use the complete physique to reinforce sensory, breath and motion consciousness. These components can improve total self-awareness, which contributes to enchancment of psychological well being by way of potential reorganization of the somatosensory cortex.
Purposeful significance of the somatosensory cortex
One of many superb qualities of the somatosensory cortex is its pronounced plasticity — the flexibility to reorganize and enlarge with observe (or atrophy with out observe). This plasticity is vital after we think about mindfulness-based interventions and dance motion remedy as a result of, as talked about above, by way of working straight with the physique sensations and motion, we will modify the somatosensory cortex.
One other essential facet is its quite a few connections with different areas of the mind. In different phrases, the somatosensory cortex has an influence to have an effect on different mind areas, which in flip have an effect on different areas, and so forth. The mind is closely interconnected and none of its components acts in isolation.
The somatosensory cortex receives data from the complete physique, such that the left a part of the cortex processes data from the suitable facet of the physique and vice versa. Nevertheless, the proportion of the cortex dedicated to a specific a part of the physique relies on its practical significance fairly than its bodily dimension.
For instance, a big proportion of the somatosensory cortex is dedicated to our palms, and so simply transferring and feeling our palms is perhaps an attention-grabbing possibility for dance remedy for these with restricted mobility.
The somatosensory cortex mediates exteroception (contact, strain, temperature, ache, and so on.), proprioception (postural and motion data) and interoception (sensations contained in the physique, typically associated to the physiological physique states, comparable to starvation and thirst), though its position within the interoceptive consciousness is barely partial.
The somatosensory cortex and emotion
A scent, a track or a picture can abruptly convey a deeply buried and forgotten occasion to thoughts. Equally, feeling a texture — like cashmere — towards our pores and skin, or transferring our physique in a sure approach (comparable to doing a backbend, or rocking backwards and forwards) can do the identical and extra. It could convey repressed reminiscences to the floor, provoke emotional reactions, and create state shifts. This is among the superpowers of mindfulness-based interventions and dance motion remedy.
This response is mediated by way of the somatosensory cortex, identical to emotional and cognitive reactions to a track are mediated by way of the auditory cortex, and reactions to scents are mediated by way of the olfactory cortex. Nonetheless, if the data stopped flowing at a purely sensory stage (what we really feel, hear, see, style and odor), then a good portion of the emotional and cognitive penalties could be misplaced.
Some proof comes from research of meditation and mindfulness-based interventions, which frequently contain the observe of physique scans and/or returning to bodily sensations as anchors in meditation.
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Dance/motion therapists and body-centered practitioners have identified about this connection between posture/motion and emotion/cognition because the inception of the sector. Neuroscientists have now delineated — nonetheless roughly — the implicated neural networks. For instance, analysis exhibits a relationship between growing our sensory sensitivity and emotion regulation.
Some proof comes from research of meditation and mindfulness-based interventions, which frequently contain the observe of physique scans (being attentive to components of the physique and bodily sensations in a gradual sequence, for instance from toes to move) and/or returning to bodily sensations as anchors in meditation.
General, the research present that individuals who practice in physique scans and/or develop sensory consciousness of the breath (feeling the breath travelling by way of the nostrils, throat, and so on.) are much less reactive and extra resilient. This impact is mediated, at the least partly, by way of the somatosensory cortex.
Scientific implications
Given the rising position of the somatosensory cortex in emotion and cognitive processing, it’s not shocking that alterations within the construction and performance of this mind area have been present in a number of psychological well being issues, together with melancholy, bipolar dysfunction and schizophrenia.
For instance, reductions within the cortical thickness and the grey matter quantity of the somatosensory cortex have been noticed in people with main depressive dysfunction (particularly these with early onset) and within the bipolar dysfunction. In schizophrenia, decrease ranges of exercise within the somatosensory cortex have been noticed, particularly in unmedicated sufferers.
Activating the somatosensory cortex might assist us hook up with our our bodies, develop our sensitivity, sensuality and capability to really feel pleasure. That’s how transferring mindfully, dancing consciously and meditating with the entire physique might assist individuals regulate their feelings and join with themselves and the world extra deeply and meaningfully.
Adrianna Mendrek doesn’t work for, seek the advice of, personal shares in or obtain funding from any firm or organisation that might profit from this text, and has disclosed no related affiliations past their educational appointment.
