Locus Coeruleus, Periaqueductal Grey, and Superior Colliculi:
In Gestalt therapy, presence is about being fully and authentically in the here-and-now. It involves heightened awareness of oneself, the other, and the immediate situation – a state of embodied, sensory-rich engagement.
The Neuroscience of Presence: The brain areas, Locus Coeruleus, Periaqueductal Grey, and Superior Colliculi are crucial to foundational aspects of presence:
The Locus Coeruleus (LC) & Norepinephrine: The LC is the primary source of norepinephrine in the brain. Norepinephrine is vital for arousal, vigilance, and attention. In a state of presence, our attention is heightened and focused on the present moment. The LC’s activity levels directly influence this state of alert, focused awareness. A well-regulated LC contributes to a calm alertness that supports presence, whereas a dysregulated or negatively valenced LC might lead to hypervigilance, hindering balanced presence.
Periaqueductal Grey (PAG) & Embodied Presence: The PAG is a deeply rooted brainstem structure involved in basic survival behaviors, pain modulation, and emotional regulation. It’s linked to defensive emotional responses and our sense of being grounded in our bodies. Presence, in its embodied sense, resonates with the PAG’s role in our fundamental sense of “being” in the world. When we are truly present, we are more attuned to our bodily sensations and immediate experiences, which are processed through this primitive brain region. Furthermore, the PAG’s role in valenced attachment and social behavior could be relevant to the relational aspect of presence in therapy. Therefore, the therapist’s own self regulation is vitally important to ‘holding the space’ for the client.
Superior Colliculi (SC) & Sensory Orienting: The SC is key for orienting responses to sensory stimuli, especially visual and auditory. It directs our attention reflexively to salient sensory information in our environment. Presence involves being open to and aware of sensory input. The SC’s function of quickly orienting us to what is happening around us in the present moment is a fundamental component of sensory awareness in presence.
