Modern neuroscience and psychotherapy: opportunities for integration - Review

Abstract

The paper conducts a thematic literature review and analysis on neuroscientific concepts as per which psychotherapy practice has to be executed. Psychotherapy might be linked to the changes within the metalizing and empathy networks' connectivity as per the results are found on the neural level. Several mechanisms underlying these changes are proposed: improvement of the prefrontal system's functioning by developing arousal regulation, activating oxytocin-related as an attachment system, and optimization of the predictive coding of interpersonal perception, including the receiving pathway of predictive error. The hypotheses are corroborated by the evidence provided through social, cognitive, affective and behavioral neuroscience as it regards to psychotherapy research and neuroimaging data of the psychotherapy effects.