MacLean (1985) described the concept of the triune brain, according to the author our brain can be divided into three levels: the "reptilian brain", the "paleomammalian brain" or "limbic system" and the "neocortex" or "brain cognitive".
The reptilian brain was the first to develop and is deputy to survival in an intuitive way; produces innate behavioral knowledge, i.e. the tendency to perform instinctive actions with the aim of responding to primitive survival needs, such as exploration, the search for food, the dominance of rank and sexuality.
The LIMBIC or EMOTIONAL BRAIN is present in all mammals and controls memory, emotions, and some social and learning behaviors. It is therefore linked to affective knowledge, i.e., subjective feelings, emotional reactions, and social emotions such as separation anxiety, play, and maternal attention.
The NEOCORTEX or COGNITIVE BRAIN is the most "modern" brain, it carries out activities such as solving problems, making decisions, reflecting, allowing us to concentrate, putting self-control into practice, and regulating social behavior. It is the seat of learning, language, and memory functions. It can also be referred to as the "rational" brain.
But the three levels of the brain don't always work well together. In the aftermath of trauma, the integration of information processing at the cognitive, emotional, and sensorimotor (instinctive) levels is often impaired. For example, a person who has been attacked may experience an increase in heart rate, perspiration, and an instinct to flee at the mere sight of an individual physically similar to their aggressor, interpreting these sensorimotor reactions as a sign of insecurity. The mere perception of danger, then, could increase the heart rate, create tension in the legs and tremors and generate another thought "I have to flee, I'm in danger!", fueling the emotions of fear and terror.
The therapeutic elaboration process, using sensorimotor or trauma processing techniques such as EMDR, allows for a better dialogue between these three levels.
What is the brain for?
The functions of the brain are many and varied. By integrating the signals perceived through the five senses, it associates a meaning with what is happening in the surrounding world, but not only. The brain controls thoughts, memory and speech, arm and leg movements, and the functioning of all organs in the body. Finally, regulating breathing and heart rate determines reactions to stressful events that can occur in daily life.
In particular, the left hemisphere is responsible for functions associated with language, while the right is responsible for the interpretation of visual information and spatial processing.
The brain stem, on the other hand, functions as a station through which messages to and from the brain pass and is responsible for controlling basic body functions such as sleep and breathing. More specifically, the part called the midbrain is important for eye movement, while the pons coordinates eye and face movements and controls the sensations perceived by the face, hearing, and balance. The medulla oblongata controls breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, and swallowing. Finally, together with part of the thalamus, the brain stem controls wakefulness levels, allows you to pay attention to the surrounding environment, and is involved in the control of sleep rhythms. Ten of the 12 cranial nerves originate from the brainstem.
The cerebellum, on the other hand, is the part responsible for coordination and balance, while the cortex – also known as “grey matter” – is the area where thoughts and voluntary movements are born. Different lobes also correspond to different functions. The frontals are responsible for problem-solving, judgment, and motor functions, while the parietal lobes control sensation, handwriting, and body position. The temporal lobes participate in memory and hearing, while the system capable of processing images is impaired in the occipital lobe.
The hypothalamus is also located inside the brain, a structure that manages information from the autonomic nervous system and contributes to the regulation of functions such as nutrition, sexual behavior, rest, body temperature control, hormones and movement. It is part, together with the amygdala (responsible for aggressive behavior) and the hippocampus (essential for acquiring new information), of the limbic system, the one that controls emotions.
Finally, the epiphysis and pituitary are present in the brain. The former performs a function that is not yet fully clarified but seems to be involved, for example, in sexual maturation. The pituitary gland, on the other hand, is well known for its function as a regulator of hormone production, through which it controls the growth, development, and function of various organs and glands.
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