Volume : 2, Issue : 7, July - 2013

The Neurobiology of Psychotherapy � Clinical Insights

Dr. Avinash De Sousa, Dr. Nandlal S. Prajapati

Abstract :

Psychotherapy has existed as a therapeutic modality since over a century. The present review aims to look at a neurobiological basis for psychotherapy and therapist patient interactions and posit a biological theory of the mechanism of psychotherapy. Various neuroimaging techniques in the last decade have vastly improved our knowledge of ain function and dysfunction in the last decade. Various structures of the ain like the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the orbitofrontal cortex, the insula, the anterior cingulate cortex and the amygdala play a role in key psychotherapeutic processes. An emerging neurobiology of empathy from social affective neuroscience has greatly improved our understanding of therapist patient relationship and is explored. The role of mirror neurons in psychotherapy is highlighted and the need for further understanding in the neurobiology of psychotherapy is stressed.