The Triune Brain model

The Triune Brain model, proposed by neuroscientist Paul MacLean in the 1960s, suggests that the human brain can be divided into three distinct parts, each with its own evolutionary history and function: the reptilian brain (the brainstem), the paleomammalian brain (the limbic system), and the neomammalian brain (the neo-cortex).

While the Triune Brain model has been influential in shaping our understanding of brain evolution and function, it has also been subject to criticism and refinement over the years. Some researchers argue that the model oversimplifies the complex interplay between different brain regions and their functions, and that it doesn't fully capture the dynamic nature of brain development and plasticity.

That being said, many of the basic principles underlying the Triune Brain model still hold up today, and it continues to be a useful framework for understanding certain aspects of brain function and behavior. For example, the concept of the reptilian brain as the seat of basic survival instincts and reflexes, the paleomammalian brain as the source of emotional and social behavior, and the neomammalian brain as the center of higher cognitive functions and consciousness still resonates with many neuroscientists and psychologists.

As a life coach, part of my work is in engaging the left and right hemispheres of the brain to develop a more rounded set of thinking skills, and integrating the cognitive, emotional and social aspects of brain function and behaviour.

In Co-Active coaching, we begin with the 'Co'. Action arising from this place of being and receptivity is whole and integrated, rather than disconnected and driven. In order for us to experience life as a whole, action must be grounded in being, in our sense of a connection to a larger wholeness. When the 'Co' and the 'Active' go together, the action in our life is nourishing and fulfilling. [Co-Active Leadership, Kimsey- House].

Another aspect of Co-Active coaching is to 'be with' our clients in their process, inviting the whole spectrum of human experience, including physical sensations in the body and emotions which may be present in the moment. In this way, by witnessing our clients in their own process, we are helping to separate and integrate the distinct components of the Triune Brain, creating more clarity and coherence in the system overall.

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a form of therapy that seeks to heal trauma and stress-related disorders by restoring coherence within the body and nervous system. Trauma can disrupt this coherence, causing the body to become "stuck" in a state of fight, flight, or freeze. By helping clients to tune into their bodily sensations and process their traumatic experiences, we seek to allow the body's natural healing processes to take over.

Overall, while the Triune Brain model may not be a perfect representation of how the brain works, it remains a valuable tool for understanding the evolution of the brain and the complex interactions between different brain regions and functions.