Somato-

Somatology has to do with the human body - it is one of the types of psychotherapy. Some experts argue that somatic psychology strives to study the body and its function in psychology. The somatocentric theory within somatology opposes the consideration of psychological content. It is based on the idea that physical consciousness/physical identity has emotional value.

The psychological effect on the patient’s body is very important when it is necessary to cure a person of severe mental disorders. The brain has a direct influence on receptors and myoreceptors; they provoke processes in the body like neural impulses. The body uses muscle relaxation, vibration, tactile contact and physical movement to regulate itself. When a person is overcome by an emotional disorder, the brain simply cannot control the body, so failures occur in the automatic regulation of nervous reflexes, hence problems in physical condition and the development of the disease. The body in psychology is the main way to determine the interaction of the psyche and physical phenomena. Based on somatology, we can draw a conclusion about its significance for the psychological state of a person.



Currently, the concept of “Somato-” is increasingly appearing. In a broader sense, this term refers to the influence of biological mechanisms on personality development and human behavior. And neurobiology, at its core, was one of the fastest growing sciences in the West. “Behavior and emotions are controlled not only by the cerebral cortex, but also by the basal ganglia, thalamus, hypothalamus, reticular formation, limbic system, parasympathetic and sympathetic parts of the autonomic nervous system,” — says Vitaly Ignatiev, a specialist in evolutionary and comparative anatomy, Doctor of Biological Sciences. Cells of the cortical structure of the brain are specialized in recognizing and interpreting signals that come to them from sensory information. “For brain perception to become possible, signals must first pass through five subcortical structures of the brain “,” notes Vitaly Ignatiev. “If a person has a neurological or mental disorder, these impulses may be misinterpreted.”