The Neurobiological Correlates

To correlate neurobiologically, the neural process that underscore the linkage of differentiated and complimentary physical, mental, and relational action and thus that which underscores contextual coherence in action, might be associated to the neural processes that create the circumstantial frequency-lock synchronisation of differentiated oscillatory systems (McCraty, 2015).  As differentiated oscillatory systems of the mind-body attune and reciprocally stream together in circumstantial synchrony, an enhanced efficient exchange of electro-chemical energy and information occurs – that is, there is enhanced neural transmission and more efficient communication between the physical, mental, and relational processes of the nervous system (McCraty, 2015; Seigel, 2012).  With greater synchrony this enhanced exchange promotes a consistent adaptability and fluidity throughout processes, this naturally moving systems toward greater recursive complexity.  More specifically, such neural processes reflect a scaffolding of modulated and modified afferent input (sensory input) and efferent output (motor output) that autonomously oscillates the Self’s systems toward homeostasis and the innate activation of the enigmatic regenerative processes that organically drive health and wellness.

To differentiate these oscillatory systems with more specificity, thus highlighting those that are modulated and modified in contextual coherence, the primary processes between the Self’s afferent input and efferent output can be extrapolated.  Relaying sensory input from the peripheral nervous system, the afferent (upward bound) nerves take energy from the external and internal senses to the spinal cord, up through the brainstem and into the skull encased brain (central nervous system) where autonomous processes begin, and the somatic regulation of efferent response quickly follows.  As energy quickly flows up through the brainstem and through the midbrain (primordial/primary emotive-motion or intentions-in-action), it simultaneously moves through the thalamus (sensation hub), hypothalamus (regulation and coordination of basic life functions), and the lower limbic areas (secondary emotive-motion) – including the amygdala (meaning appraisal, social signals and emotional reaction), hippocampus (memory consolidation and retrieval), the anterior cingulate (coordination of physical input to attentional states), and the basal ganglia (movement, habit, learning) (Badenoch, 2018; Panksepp, 2010; Siegel, 2012; The Science of Psychotherapy, 2016; The University of Queensland, 2019) – where subcortical perception processes begin.  As these processes of retrieving, registering, blending, and encoding work they implicitly mediate a raising sense of knowingness to the flow of energy – specific patterning is becoming readied into information; as the flow of energy then moves to higher cortical regions, these processes will soon allow this knowingness to become a known sense of perceptive awareness – energetic information that allows for interpretation and action.  That is, a mediated flow of perceptive patterned energy flows through the right cortex (viscerally mediated contextual connotation – more than the sum of the parts) and through the left cortex (logical, literal, categorical, with focussed detail differentiation – reconstructed in abstraction from context) in a hemispheric dance of interpretation formation (Badenoch, 2018; McGilchrist, 2009; Siegel, 2012; The University of Queensland, 2019).  Finally, as perceptive and interpretive processes link to surmise an understanding of the here-and-now as it relates to the then-and-there and the new-and-next, processes of efferently bound reaction (autonomic / involuntary) or response (mindful / voluntary) occur.

In its entirety this flow of energy and information, while above differentiated as high-low back-front left-right processes for understanding, is an interwoven process of rapidly branching connections that are highly dependent on the Self’s unique neural networks and the overall health of the neural structures and neural transmitters (Badenoch, 2018); to ignore the simultaneousness of these rapidly branching connections would be to negate the interweaving integrative capacity of the entire nervous system.  This in turn would negate the ability of the mind-body to be aware of and attune to sensation, perception, and interpretation of afferent and efferent energy and information as it relates to adaptive response and the Self’s capacity to weave together a diachronic sense of Self within and between time, space, and place.  To be utmost succinct, neurobiologically, Contextual Coherence is a communicative movement between afferent and efferent feedback as it simultaneously connects with the lower limbic areas and the left and right cortices bringing together an appreciation of past, present, and future meaning as it relates to adaptive reaction and response (Badenoch, 2018; Dahlitz, 2016; McGilchrist, 2009). 

The Self becomes More Aware

With appreciation of both coherence and context, which is underscored by an understanding of the neurobiological processes of contextual coherence in action, the Self becomes more aware and attuned to the space between stimulus and response. This space in turn opens opportunities for the Self to hold the paradoxes and possibilities that exist within elements of functional systems, to make sense of stimulus, and to access the internal resources needed for a level of response flexibility that considers past, present, and future meaning. With an increasing compacity to bring meaningful awareness and attunement to the individual elements within functional systems – whether physiological, psychological, or relational – emergent levels of equilibrium and harmony activate the enigmatic regenerative processes that innately integrates functioning and organically moves systems toward health, wellness, and overall well-being.