Psychological reflex arc

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Karl Jaspers (1883–1969) describes an elementary approach to complex psychological phenomena shaped by performance psychology as the “ psychological reflex arc ” . It is based on the basic scheme of neurology , according to which stimuli are supplied to an organism , to which it reacts after internal processing as a result of an excitation process . This physiological scheme is transferred from the spinal cord to the brain with the concept of the psychological reflex arc.

Conceptual differentiation

If nervous reactions represent psychologically motivated answers, it can be cognitive abilities such as memory , perceptions and orientation , but also certain perceptions , acts of thought , judgment, as well as targeted movements and language . With the idea of ​​a “psychic reflex arc”, the simplistic neurological scheme of stimulus-mediated reactions is extended to the soul life. The “psychic reflex arc” thus represents a so-called “higher” reflex arc above the psychophysical level or at the level of conscious perception . The interconnections of nerve pathways on the level of the spinal cord are transferred to the cerebrum through the term psychological reflex arc. From an anatomical point of view, certain developmental similarities between the cerebrum and the spinal cord can be determined, see Chap. Basic neurological scheme . Higher centers can influence lower orbits. As a result, new special questions arise, especially of a local historical nature within the CNS . Scientific answers can be sought to these questions. Any assumption of a simplistic view, however, also requires a critical attitude to this model theory.

Originator of the term

Jaspers names Carl Wernicke (1848–1905) as the originator of the term “psychic reflex arc”. Wernicke is an important proponent of a theory of localization of psychological symptoms. He discovered sensory aphasia and its localization in the left temporal lobe. Wernicke can thus be seen as the originator of a "psychoreflexology" that was continued by Iwan Petrowitsch Pawlow (1849-1936) and Wladimir Michailowitsch Bechterew (1857-1927). However, Wilhelm Griesinger (1817–1868) already used the term psychological reflex actions. As the purpose of his corresponding writing, he stated

"To emphasize the parallels between the actions of the spinal cord (with those of the medulla oblongata) and those of the brain, insofar as it is the organ of psychological phenomena in the narrower sense ..."

- Wilhelm Griesinger : About psychological reflections. In: Wilhelm Griesinger's Collected Treatments. First volume, p. 4

Basic neurological scheme

Spinal cord cross section: representation of the afferent (blue) and efferent leg (red) of a reflex arc (without receptor and effector )

Using the basic neurological scheme, mental functions are compared with reflexes as simple and stereotypical neurophysiological functions. As shown above (according to Jaspers), the reflex events can be divided into three. The tripartite division has also been adopted by Hermann Voss and Robert Herrlinger .

  1. Afferent nerve pathway with reception and transmission of incoming (centripetal) stimuli - here for example : receptors , stimulus conduction via the sensory organs, motivation , etc.
  2. Processing and coordination of incoming signals - here, for example : sensual perception , becoming aware of memories , etc.
  3. Efferent nerve pathway with outgoing effectoric (centrifugal) impulses: - here, for example, knowledge , will formation , drives , etc.
1. Afferents
The corresponding organs conveying consciousness are primarily the sense organs . Do these correspond to the classic notion of the “5 senses”? The sensory projection paths in the cerebrum take the place of the sensory stimulation that occurs at the level of the spinal cord . Can the structural organization of the neuron chains in the spinal cord also be transferred to the brain? Are the centripetal stimuli of the sensory organs similar to the sensitive stimuli transmitted via the posterior roots of the spinal nerve in the spinal cord via the “posterior” ( occipital ) brain sections? This question arises mainly due to the fact that both the brain and the spinal cord emerge from the neural tube common to both sections of the CNS . For the functional organization of the neocortex, according to Peter Duus, the position of the primary receptor parts in the parietal, occipital and temporal cortex is noteworthy.
From a neuroanatomical point of view , a sense of balance and the centripetal nerve impulses from the visceroceptive afferents of the viscera, which are composed of different proprioceptive and exteroceptive afferents, must be counted among the classic “5 senses” such as sight , hearing , smell , taste and feeling .
2. Processing
The centers of the cerebrum for processing sensory performance represent the sensory projection centers . According to the neurological point of view, they are located in the posterior cerebral segments. They are located in the occipital , temporal and parietal sections of the brain. In this respect, the question arises whether the blueprint of the spinal cord can also be recognized in the cerebrum. The sensitive stimuli in the spinal cord are also processed in the central cave gray.
The processing of the incoming sensory signals takes place according to the mediation theory in the corresponding modules of the brain. The structure of the cerebrum is determined by appropriate "intermediate layers" in which the stimulus-processing activities take place. 99.9% of all neurons in the cerebral cortex are dedicated to these tasks. As interneurons, they form the cortico-cortical pathways and thus represent the main mass of the cerebrum .
To 3. efferents
Nevertheless, even the structure of the brain is undoubtedly determined by the basic neurological scheme mentioned above. This scheme is based on the reflex arc that can be followed in the spinal cord . In place of elementary sensory stimulation, as it is transmitted in the spinal cord (protopathic and epicritical sensitivity ), a memory image can appear in the brain area, i.e. above the psychophysical level , and a movement conception in the brain instead of motor excitation in the spinal cord.
Parallels between the structure of the spinal cord and that of the brain also exist insofar as in the brain, as in the spinal cord, the input of sensory excitations is localized in the rear (occipital and parieto-temporal) parts of the brain and the outgoing excitations of the will as psychically controlled signals in the front (frontal) section.

Behavioral imprint

Hans Walter Gruhle (1880–1956) considers the transfer of reflex events to psychology to be an advance of the natural sciences into the field of psychology. He is critical of behaviorism and animal psychology . In animal experiments , behaviorism has the hopeless alternative of either describing insignificant behaviors or giving anthropomorphic interpretations. Wilhelm Dilthey (1833–1911) tried to differentiate the humanities from the natural sciences.

The concept of the psychic reflex arc may appear. U. as an expression of a behaviorist attitude. Not all possible reactions, but a large number of them, can be objectively observed or measured using an apparatus. However, they are based e.g. Sometimes also on experience-related skills and must therefore be assigned to a subjective psychology . Behaviorism is to be understood as a laboratory-oriented discipline that regards experience-related abilities of the brain as a black box . In the laboratory, subjective influences should be eliminated.

Results of the reflex model

The results of the reflex model on the psychological level can be seen in the fact that neuropsychological syndromes were described as expressions of switching centers that can be located in the cerebrum .

criticism

Wernicke's views are to be criticized insofar as they lead to an excessive generalization, indeed an absolutization. This overestimation is expressed in Wernicke's sentence: "The analysis of aphasia gives us the paradigm for all mental processes." It is rooted in Griesinger's sentence, "Mental illnesses are brain diseases". In contrast, general psychological symptoms should also be emphasized, which are by no means to be assessed as expressions of a locally circumscribed brain affection. Not all mental illnesses can be described as precisely localizable brain disorders.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Karl Jaspers : General Psychopathology . Springer, Berlin 9 1973, ISBN 3-540-03340-8 ; (a) + (b) pp. 130–141, 150 f., 156, 403 all job information; (c) p. 403 to Stw. “Wericke as the originator of the term based on Griesinger”; (d) p. 130 on stw. "Tripartition of the reflex process"; (e) p. 131 to district “border area between neurology and psychiatry”; (f) P. 400 ff. on chap. "Brain Processes".
  2. ↑ Carl Wernicke : The aphasic symptom complex . A psychological study on an anatomical basis. Breslau: M. Cohn & Weigert 1874
  3. ↑ a b Hans Walter Gruhle : Understanding Psychology . Experiential theory. Georg Thieme, Stuttgart 2 1956; P. 552 f.
  4. ^ Wilhelm Griesinger : About psychological reflexions . With a look at the nature of mental illness. Arch. F. physiol. Heilkunde 1843, second year, p. 76; In: Wilhelm Griesinger's Collected Treatments. First volume. Psychiatric and nerve pathology treatises. Verlag August Hirschwald, Berlin, 1872. online
  5. ^ Hermann Voss and Robert Herrlinger : Taschenbuch der Anatomie. Nervous system, sensory system, skin system, incremental system, Volume III. VEB-Gustav-Fischer, Jena 12 1964; S. 1 to the district “Tripartite division of the subtasks”.
  6. ↑ Peter Duus : Neurological-topical diagnostics. Anatomy, physiology, clinic. Georg Thieme, Stuttgart, 5 1990, ISBN 3-13-535805-4 ; P. 370 to Stw. " Topical analogy of the cerebrum and spinal cord (occipital and frontal position of sensory and motor areas)".
  7. ↑ Manfred Spitzer : Spirit in the net , models for learning, thinking and acting. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag Heidelberg 1996, ISBN 3-8274-0109-7 ; P. 135 to chap. "Intermediate layers in the head".
  8. ^ Fritz Broser : Topical and clinical diagnosis of neurological diseases. U&S, Munich 2 1981, ISBN 3-541-06572-9 ; P. 15, chap. 1–12, to control unit “switch cell”.
  9. ^ Wilhelm Dilthey : The structure of the historical world in the humanities . 1910
  10. ↑ Arnold Pick : The neurological research direction in psychopathology . Berlin: Karger 1921.