The greatest challange and consideration is psychological integration - Moshe Ratson

Interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB) or relational neurobiology is an interdisciplinary framework associated with human development and functioning. It was developed in early 90s by Dr Allan Schore, Dr Lou Cozolino and Dr. Daniel Siegel who brought together a wide range of scientific modalities that suggest how the mind, brain, and relationships integrate to alter one another. In IPNB, the mind is viewed as a process that regulates the flow of both energy and information through its neurocircuitry, which is then shared and regulated between people through engagement, connection, and communication.

As clinical evidence supports the plasticity of the mind throughout the entire life, Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) serves as psychotherapy treatment for improving psychological well-being by stimulating the brain with powerful and positive persuasion, thoughts and actions. Through awareness, purpose, attention, meditation, positive attitude, constructive thoughts, healthy behaviors as well as skills building that clients are able to change their habits by influencing and physically changing the construction of their brains.

The foundation of Interpersonal Neurobiology ((IPNB) is based on the scientific evidence that the brain is constantly changing and rewiring itself based on our thoughts and activities. All experiences and relationships change the brain, but particularly are the intimate connections that advance us or regress us, altering brain circuits that shape the ourselves well as our psychological well being.

IPNB Framework

Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) framework proposes basic principles for conceptualizing the essential experiential components that facilitates the development of the mind, emotional well-being, and psychological resilience during its lifespan. At the core of these processes is a fundamental mechanism of integration which can be seen at a variety of levels, from the interpersonal to the neurological. Integration may be conceptualized as the basic process that secure attachments facilitate in promoting psychological well-being.

IPNB assists individuals in developing the integration of mind, brain, body and relational functioning. There are several key components regarding how IPNB describes the functions of the “mind” and crucial components of well-being; they include integration, attunement/attention/mindfulness, memory, and neuroplasticity.

Psychological Integration in IPNB

The concept of “integration” for IPNB is critical. Integration refers to a person’s use of all parts of the brain system (more specifically the entire interconnected brain and body neural system), rather than subsets such as the fight-flight-freeze subset. IPNB sees psychological integration as the core mechanism in the development of well-being. Accordingly, integration of the mind involves a linkage of separate aspects of mental processes to each other, such as thought with feeling, bodily sensation with logic. Integration in relationship entails each person’s being respected for his or her autonomy and differentiated self while at the same time being linked to others in empathic communication.

• • Integration is formally defined as “the overall process of linkage of differentiated elements within the mind or self. In the context of IPNB, integration is seen as the fundamental process in the development of personal and psychological well-being. The movement toward a fully integrated mind is one of the primary objectives of therapy.
  • Integration is described by Daniel Siegel as a metaphorical river where harmony and integration make up the center channel and the two banks or boundaries of the river represent rigidity and chaos. At any point in time one may move closer to the rigid boundary and feel immobilized (stuck) or toward the chaotic boundary and feel out of control; but when well and at ease, we are able to maintain a steady flow toward the center of the channel where a sense of harmony and balanced is reached and maintained.
• Attunement, Attention, and Mindfulness
  • The human brain does not exist in isolation and requires connection to fulfill its destiny. As we impact and are impacted by the biology and behavior of those around us, and depend on the scaffolding of others for our survival and sustained well-being, our “immature” brains is being thrived and developed through interpersonal interactions.
  • Attunement can be defined as a genuine feeling of connection, of “knowing” someone deeply or fully engaging with another person. The concept of attunement rests on the idea that a mind must be relax, open and free of expectations or assumptions in order to truly engage with another person and accept the experience of others.
  • A key component of attunement is focused attention, when the person directs his mental and physical thoughts and actions to what he wants to attend to. Our prefrontal cortex (rational mind) is responsible for our focused mechanisms. This mechanism makes synaptic connections and focuses the different elements of the brain that contribute to the process of concentration.
  • A mindful orientation has the capability of expanding tolerance for pain and fear and has the potential of changing the function and structure of the brain. As such, mindfulness practice in enhancing integrated functioning and increasing overall well-being.
    In addition, mindfulness practice was scientifically proven to have positive psychological, interpersonal, and neurobiological effects. Also, studies have shown that focused attention, which is affected by mindful practice, and increases the ability to attune, has a direct effect on the stimulation and growth of neurons, which is the foundation of neuroplasticity.
• Neuroplasticity
  • Neuroplasticity is the used to describe the flexibility of the brain and its ability to change based on the needs and functioning of its parts. As humans has the power to direct their own attention, and attention effect the brain firing patterns, human has the power to shape and reshape the architecture of the brain.
  • Daniel Siegel describes the neuronal firing and wiring as similar to muscle development. Similar to our ability to concentrate on the development of particular muscle groups through focused, intensive exercises, we also have the ability to stimulate neural firing in certain areas, hemispheres, etc. through the focused attention in ways that integrate neural circuits. Individuals must, therefore, increase their level of awareness, attention and focusing to intentionally change our habits otherwise the brain will rely on default responses.
  • The implementation of the practical applications of IPNB, which is based on the concepts of integration, attention/attunement/mindfulness, memory and neuroplasticity has the power to change the function and the structure of the brain and the nervous system. Accordingly, psychological interventions is built upon the concept of intentionally maintaining integrated connection in order to stimulate the generation of neurons and neural networks necessary for clients to integrate their minds and increase overall function both in their individual as well as interpersonal processes. Therapeutic intervention can be effective as long as intentional change and novel experiences are maintained over time.
  • Through psychological integration as the main component of well-being as well as healthy relationship, we can actively influence our brain and our partner’s brain to rewire to affect our internal and interpersonal lives toward integration. In this way we open new doors to healing and growth that results in kindness, resilience, and health.

Interpersonal Neurobiology and Effective Psychotherapy

Experiencing truly healthy relationships is a powerful catalyst for the transformations and at the heart of the healing process. As such psychotherapists and other mental health professionals involved in the IPNB focus their efforts on healing trauma by creating positive and secure relationship influences that create physical brain change as well as psychological healing.

An IPNB therapist familiar with the underlying principles of interpersonal neurobiology attempts to create emotional safety and security for the clients, demonstrate vulnerability through the transparent revelation of information, as well as help clients move beyond simply talking about experiences to taking part in an emotional exchange in the here and now.

The goal of therapy is to first create the emotional safety that is necessary for an individual’s defense mechanisms (assuming they are unhelpful) to become unnecessary. When this takes place, the client can feel safe enough to reveal to the therapist and to themselves the inner emotions and feelings that have been locked away since childhood.

As therapy progresses, further safety, trust, intimacy, as well as pleasant interactions lead clients to change their expectations for interpersonal interactions from failure, disappointment, and fear to closeness, confidence, joy, and personal satisfaction.

By recreating individuals’ concepts of relationships, both with others and with themselves, psychotherapy that incorporates IPNB techniques can provide individuals new emotional experiences that can lead to substantial, positive, and lasting healing and transformation.