Presenter: Susan Gordon, PhD

Original Date: April 13, 2019

This presentation explores the construct psycho-neuro-intracrinology, which represents a complex system that is psychological, neurological and intracrinological and reveals a mind-brain continuum within the person. The example of women during the midlife transition provides a model of the development of personality and the ontogenesis of self with implications for women across the lifespan and to men through similar neurohormonal mechanisms. This lecture focuses on the nature of consciousness and the self and the biochemical mechanisms explaining the scientific and clinical applications of the psychoneurointracrine hypothesis. Two neurobiological theories of the mind-brain continuum are advanced: (1) the theory of psychoneurointracrine autopoiesis explains how the regulation of a steroid’s receptor is modulated by the person’s perception of experience and sense of well-being, and (2) the theory of emergent global states explains how limbic projections from the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal and adrenal axes regulate the reactive and anticipatory response to stress. This construct extends knowledge of the mind-brain relationship, the person-centered approach to science, and the growth-oriented dimension of personality.

1.5 General CEUs approved by OBNM