Abstract
The human brain has an enormous plasticity. In the course of learning processes, the connections between neurons are stabilised. In addition, the neurons' structure can also be modified due to learning. In the context of psychiatric diseases and psychic disorders, structural and/or functional brain changes are a common phenomenon. However, such brain alterations are – at least partially – reversible in the course of psychotherapeutical interventions. Recent investigations demonstrated therapy induced normalisations of brain activity in patients with psychic disorders using functional brain imaging techniques. The studies described in this paper emphasise the view of the brain as a plastic organ which controls our behaviour and, reciprocally, is modified by environmental impacts. The studies also demonstrate that psychotherapeutical interventions influence both brain and behaviour.
Zusammenfassung
Das menschliche Gehirn weist eine enorme Plastizität auf. Durch Lernprozesse werden die Verbindungen zwischen Nervenzellen gefestigt. Zudem kann sich auch die Struktur von Nervenzellen durch Lernen verändern. Im Kontext psychiatrischer Erkrankungen und psychischer Störungen treten häufig strukturelle und/oder funktionelle Hirnabnormitäten auf. Diese sind jedoch durch psychotherapeutische Interventionen – zumindest teilweise – reversibel. Durch den Einsatz funktioneller bildgebender Verfahren konnten aktuelle Studien therapieinduzierte Normalisierungen der Hirnaktivitäten bei Patienten mit psychischen Störungen demonstrieren. Die vorgestellten Arbeiten belegen, dass das Gehirn ein plastisches Organ ist, das einerseits unser Verhalten steuert, andererseits durch Umwelteinflüsse modifiziert wird. Sie demonstrieren zudem, dass psychotherapeutische Interventionen beides, Hirn und Verhalten, beeinflussen.
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Brand, M., Markowitsch, H. Hirnforschung und Psychotherapie. Psychotherapie Forum 14, 136–140 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00729-006-0159-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00729-006-0159-9