ABSTRACT
Our periaqueductal grey matter is located in the evolutionarily most ancient part of the brain below the thalamus (Figure 14.1). Areas at the top of this structure are involved in mediating the fight response and areas at the bottom mediate a flight response. Ventro-lateral areas are involved in immobility reactions and dissociative states and there are good connections to the amygdalae. In addition, the PAG is involved in mediating a range of biologically determined emotional motivation systems involving hormones and neurochemicals interacting with our self-representation to create our affect or emotional states. This has been described as our primordial ‘core consciousness’ which is also influenced by the emotions of others (Trevarthen 2009: 67). Location of key brain-stem functions including the periaqueductal grey area. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203501375/0bffb3d0-b816-41ba-b3fa-c9589a002963/content/fig14_1_C.jpg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/>
