Neurobiology applied to mediation

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Train the trainers session February 9 th, 2011 6 th Mediation Competition

1 Train the trainers session February 9 th, th Mediation Competition Neurobiology applied to mediation François Bogacz Jeremy Lack Birgit Sambeth Glasner 1

2 Agenda 1. Why this session? 2. A quick overview of the emotional and social brain 3. The Ten Neuro-Commandments 4. The Five Coordinates for mediators: SCARF as a compass 5. Applications of SCARF to the mediation process 6. Discussion 2

3 Why this session? All individuals can benefit from understanding how the brain works during conflict and its consequences on their behavior and wellbeing Understanding this helps in mediation! Our brain is a complex, living and outdated evolved system We must learn when to trust it or not A 3-month learning study (including 14 experienced mediators, 6 online sessions x 1h30) helped them to gain new perspectives on mediation and gain new tools. (Source: F. Bogacz post-graduate research project (in publication)) 3 We love our respective moral senses. They are as much a part of us as anything. But if we are to live together in the world we have created for ourselves, so unlike the one in which our ancestors evolved, we must know when to trust our moral senses and when to ignore them. Joshua Greene, Princeton University, 2002

4 1 A quick overview of the brain as an emotional and social regulator 4

5 Pop quiz Is there a key area of the brain that primarily manages emotions? There is no single area, but assemblies of at least 15 regions 5

Last year s oversimplification Level 3. The Neocortex: High-order thinking & cognition The Amygdala, a central connection zone Level 1. The Reptilian Brain: Survival Level 2.

6 Last year s oversimplification Level 3. The Neocortex: High-order thinking & cognition The Amygdala, a central connection zone Level 1. The Reptilian Brain: Survival Level 2. The Limbic System: Emotions Source: The cortex comprises 33% of the human brain. It is the center of all «logical» and high-order cognitive appreciation/thinking 6

7 Forget about regionalization: the limbic vs. cortical system The amygdala is connected to all but 8 cortical areas. We have to think in terms of neural networks across the brain. Source: Pessoa, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 02/08 7

8 A current model of the emotional brain (until further notice) Source: Pessoa, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 02/08 8

9 Pop quiz What makes us so special, from a neurobiological perspective, compared to all other animals? The disproportionate size of our Pre-Frontal Cortex (PFC) and its relation to our social nature. 9

10 To manage our relationships, we have developed a bigger cortex 10 Mean clique size (# individuals) Prosimians Anthropoids Homo Sapiens 22nd Century Homo Internetus 1 Neocortex ratio 10 We are hard-wired to function as gregarious animals. Our cortex adapts accordingly. Source: Dunbar, Evolutionary Anthropology,

A current model of the social brain (until further notice) mpfc ACC PCC IFG IPS TPJ psts Amygdala AI 11 Key areas of the social are located in the cortex Medial prefrontal cortex (mpfc) interpersonal

11 A current model of the social brain (until further notice) mpfc ACC PCC IFG IPS TPJ psts Amygdala AI 11 Key areas of the social are located in the cortex Medial prefrontal cortex (mpfc) interpersonal norms and scripts, Theory of Mind, in group/out group, similarity Posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) self-referential processing, first impression Anterior insular cortex (AI) consistently involved in empathy, compassion, and interpersonal phenomena such as fairness and cooperation Source: Blakemore, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 04/08

Decreasing amygdala activation regulates emotional & social networks Thinking specifically about your own emotions causes a decrease in activation of the amygdala compared to general selfreflection

12 Decreasing amygdala activation regulates emotional & social networks Thinking specifically about your own emotions causes a decrease in activation of the amygdala compared to general selfreflection or doing nothing The simple act of being aware of your emotions helps to combat amygdala arousal This helps to explain why discussing emotions helps in mediation 3 groups & questions: 1/ feel yourself, be aware about your current emotions and bodily feeling 2/ think about yourself, reflect who you are, about your goals, etc. 3/ do nothing specific, just await the neutral picture 12 Source: Herwig et al, Neuroimage (2010)

13 This explains why conscious reappraisal is an excellent strategy We have limited resources in the brain e.g. O2 and glucose that have to be used effectively The PFC and amygdala compete for those resources Each plotted point represents a single Type subject s tagline activity here RVLPFC and the amygdala while labeling a facial expression More glucose/oxygen is later available for PFC/high-order cognitive appreciation Importance for mediation? Correlation between right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (RVLPFC) and amygdala activity. 13 Source: Lieberman et al, Psychological Science (2007)

14 Summary: PFC and amygdala compete for resources O2 & Glucose 14

15 2 The 10 Neuro- Commandments 15

16 Thou shalt avoid pain and seek reward Our biologic survival mechanisms, governed by memories of stimuli, make us behave unconsciously (i.e., automatically/reflexively): Avoid pain and danger = the Away reflex Seek rewards and pleasure = the Toward reflex 16

17 Danger/Fear shall be more dominant than reward Threat/ Pain Reward Faster acting Stronger Longer lasting Adversarial capacities up Cognitive capacities slowed down More likely Slower acting Milder Shorter Cognitive capacities up (i.e., pre-frontal cortex decision making) Less likely 17

18 Thou shalt always predict (unconsciously & consciously) I cnduo't bvleiee taht I culod aulaclty uesdtannrd waht I was rdnaieg. Unisg the icndeblire pweor of the hmuan mnid, aocdcrnig to rseecrah, it dseno't Type mttaer tagline in here waht oderr the lterets in a wrod are, the olny irpoamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rhgit pclae. Source: D. Radecki Neuroleadership Institute 18

19 to have a sense of Certainty The brain is a prediction machine & rapid screening/relevance detector Uncertain Pain is stronger than Certain reward It requires much glucose/oxygen & is resource-intensive Information is key: Risk (informed decision) is less threatening than ambiguity (missing information) (Hsu et al. 2005) Our brain tends to categorize quickly E.g., friend vs. foe = to avoid danger Meeting someone unknown (e.g., a mediator) may generate an automatic fear response based on autobiographical memories or primal reflexes 19

Thou shalt regulate your emotions (consciously & by

toward ) Emotion Thinking & Feeling Selfregulation

(Cognitive) 20 20 Time 0ms 100ms 200ms 300ms 400ms

20 Thou shalt regulate your emotions (consciously & by habits) Minimize danger ( away ) & Maximize reward ( toward ) Emotion Thinking & Feeling Selfregulation Significant stimulus Automatic Self-generated (Cognitive) Time 0ms 100ms 200ms 300ms 400ms 500ms s min. h Plasticity Source: Evans, NeuroLeadership Journal

21 Thy Social stimuli shall be as powerful as thy Physical ones Sources: Lieberman and Eisenberger, Takahashi et al. Science

22 Thou shalt seek comfortable Status positions Binary: We unconsciously and automatically compute our status using similar circuits as for processing numbers (Xiao, 2003) Resource-intensive: The brain s preoccupation with our status in relation to others affects cognitive processes (Zink, 2008) Powerful: An increase in status is similar in strength and impact to a financial windfall (Izuma et al, 2008) 22

23 Thou shalt Relate to others Empathy is natural (it is limited but can be stimulated) Mirror neurons help non-verbal communication Oxytocin amplifies our toward/away reflexes. It is not a magical bonding ingredient. more trustworthiness and generosity in positive contexts (Kosfeld at al, 2005) more envy and Schadenfreude in competitive contexts (Shamay-Tsoory, 2009) Perceived similarities help cooperation Thinking consciously about another person as similar engages a region of the PFC that is used for selfperception, whereas thinking about another person as dissimilar engages a different sub-region of the brain (Mitchell, 2006) It s rewarding to see others win if they are similar to ourselves and likeable (Mobbs, 2009) 23

24 Thou shalt prefer Fair behavior If Fairness is a reward, Unfairness is like acute pain Fairness affects Relatedness Empathic neural responses are modulated by the perceived fairness of others (Singer et al., 2006) Looking at faces of cooperators activate reward centers and particularly for those introduced as intentional agents (Singer at al., 2004) Rewarding cooperation leads to more cooperation The more the cooperation is rewarding, the higher the probability of cooperation again (Rilling et al., 2002) Once I m satisfied, satisfying somebody else is rewarding (Tricomi et al., 2010) 24

25 Thou shalt seek to retain your Autonomy Autonomy is the perception of having the capacity of selfgovernance Freedom stimulates toward reflexes Intrinsic motivation is a form of optimal experience that leads to flow (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990) Greater autonomy for being in a relationship is associated with greater satisfaction, relationship stability, and well-being for both partners (Knee et al., 2006) When a stressor is controllable, the mpfcv inhibits the stress-induced activation of the brainstem and its behavioral consequences (Amat et al., 2005) Restrictions stimulate away reflexes Controlling contexts yield negative effects on wellness, whereas those that are supporting autonomy enhance it (Ryan & Deci, 2001) Autonomy choice but Having too many choices can be overwhelming (Iyengar & Lepper, 1999 & 2000) Autonomy Certainty The brain likes to be able to predict and have a say in the future 25

Thou shalt operate cognitively in 2 gears Two socio-cognitive systems coexist to screen new behavioural data and assess the other person X-System = 1 st gear (default) Reflexive, in charge of

26 Thou shalt operate cognitively in 2 gears Two socio-cognitive systems coexist to screen new behavioural data and assess the other person X-System = 1 st gear (default) Reflexive, in charge of conscious perception Performs rapid pattern-matching operations on data to check if consistent with beliefs/autobiographical memory Basic thinking C-System = 2 nd gear (high-order) Reflective, in charge of abstract thought Uses intentional memory Complex thinking 26 We tend to coast along using only our X-system Based on Lieberman, 2010

27 (Thou canst activate thy 2 nd gear) 27 1 st Gear: Default mode by X-System the groove Low Dissonance Cognitive capacity Insignificant High 2 nd Gear: C-System is invoked to cognitively resolve the incoherence and regulates the X-system NB: The C system regulates the X system Significant Too much pre-existing cortical load reduces the capacity to deal with dissonances with the C- system In a toward mode, the C-system does a much better job in regulating the X-system It helps to recognize/ reinforce good behavioral surprises to activate the C-system (increases significance) Mindfulness provides time/space for the cortex to have high potential capacity Based on Lieberman, 2010

28 2 Translating the 10 Commandments into 5 Coordinates: SCARF (a compass for mediators) 28

29 The mediator s main goals from a neurobiological perspective Minimize perceptions of danger Allow cognitive appreciation of emotions (e.g., verbalizing them) Recognize mediation as part of a social process (allow time for animals or cliques to build relations) Allow optimal decision-making and cognitive assessments of possible rewards (perspective taking v. empathy) Help parties work in 2 nd gear: enhance reflective v. reflexive appreciation (including rest, breaks, food, etc.) 29

30 Summary of the 10 Neuro-Commandments 1. Thou shalt avoid pain and seek reward 2. Thou shalt be sensitive more to Danger/Fear than Reward 3. Thou shalt always predict to have a sense of Certainty 4. Thou shalt regulate your emotions (consciously & by habits) 5. Thy Social stimuli shall be as powerful as thy Physical ones 6. Thou shalt seek comfortable Status positions 7. Thou shalt Relate to others 8. Thou shalt prefer Fair behavior 9. Thou shalt retain your Autonomy 10. Thou shalt operate cognitively in 2 gears 30

31 The SCARF model By leveraging the following 5 key drivers of social behavior, you will maximize the chances of success in your mediations Threat Status Certainty Autonomy Relatedness Fairness = SCARF Reward 31 Source: David Rock, Neuroleadership Institute, 2008

32 3 Applications of SCARF to mediation: Discussion 32

33 Debate Divide yourself in 5 groups, each one of them in charge of one factor: S, C, A, R, or F The letter you have received indicates your workgroup Each group appoints a speaker Each workgroup discusses during 15mn how SCARF has been or could have been used for BABLO s LIZARD case before, during or after one of the sessions they attended. Think from the perspective of: Mediator The Parties Their Lawyers/Advisors Each speaker reports his/her group s conclusions during 3mn Ideas Issues Questions Comments Etc. General discussion 33

34 34 Thank you!

TRANFORMING SAFETY WITH NEUROSCIENCE. Because the brain is a powerful tool

TRANFORMING SAFETY WITH NEUROSCIENCE. Because the brain is a powerful tool WELCOME WHAT IS NEUROSCIENCE? The scientific study of the nervous system Traditionally seen as a branch of biology Currently an