ABSTRACT
Neuroscience research suggests that psychotherapy may help to regulate the amygdalocentric network and heighten the activity of the hippocampal–entorhinal complex necessary for learning new behavioral coping strategies. An analogous relationship exists between the neural structures and processes in our brains and our experiences and behaviors. According to G. M. Edelman, a piece of brain tissue the size of the tip of match contains approximately 1 billion synapses. About 2 million to 3 million nerve fibers are thought to connect our perceptual cells with the brain. The functions of individual neurons depend on three factors: their localization within the brain, their connections with other neurons, and their individual characteristics. The chapter looks at the fundamental process underlying the transmission of action potentials to see whether relevant implications for psychotherapy can be derived. Psychotherapists tend to value simple rales very highly because they must apply their knowledge under highly complex conditions.
