Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
possible dangers. Although our conscious perception is always lagging
0.5 second, the nonconscious perception prepares us for possible dan-
gers. In case it detects such a danger, it will direct the attention to the
stimulus and prepare the body so that it is ready for possible action
(for instance, in fright from an unfamiliar sound, the heart rate
increases and the sugar level in the blood rises). Pain is the first signal
of danger. Due to the basic brain, we give more attention to negative
experiences compared to positive ones. Although we cannot directly
experience the output of the basic brain, we experience hunches that
tell us what to avoid.
2.2 STAGE 2, FROM 200 MILLION TO 2.5 MILLION YEARS
AGO
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EMOTIONAL BRAIN
The next stage in evolution started approximately 200 million years ago,
with the appearance of mammals. Mammals take care of their young
after birth; they all have at least a temporary relationship with their off-
spring in the period that they feed them. Some mammals
—
are group animals; they survive by joining together, and they raise their
offspring within a community. Group living means that we have to man-
age relationships. To regulate relationships, the brain has developed a
second layer called the emotional brain or the limbic system. The emo-
tional system manages how we personally relate to the outside world.
—
like humans
Here again, we recognize two basic directions, positive and nega-
tive, that appear to us in the emotions of love and anxiety. We have
some innate anxieties, for example, for extreme weather conditions,
insects, or snakes. Besides that, we are programmed to stick together.
As group animals, we need a warning system for when we are losing
connection with the group. This warning comes in the shape of anxiety
of loneliness and social exclusion. All other anxieties are learned.
Anxiety can be seen as an anticipating emotion to prevent pain.
Experiencing pain leads to avoiding anxiety. We will see later in this
topic that safety management starts with creating associations between
objects or situations and anxiety. Without this conditioning process,
there is no basis for safety behavior.
Anxiety is anticipating possible pain. It is a basic ingredient of safety
behavior.
