The Wonderful Emotional Brain Of People With High Sensitivity (PAS)

Sometimes it is not easy, sometimes it is difficult to fit in a world with “too many pins”, with too much noise, selfishness and double intentions. The senses of people with high sensitivity (PAS) are as vulnerable as they are privileged, they can feel what others do not perceive, or do it at such a high intensity that the world appears before them with a range of realities that others, is they escape us.

What actually makes a person with high sensitivity be this way? Is genetic? Why do they suffer more than others? Why is love both so intense and painful in your relationships? Why do they enjoy their solitude and at the same time feel a deep misunderstanding since they are children?

In 2014 , a work carried out at Stony Brook University was published, where an attempt was made to explain the particularities of the PAS brain, and how it could differentiate itself from people who are not, or at least, they do not have that characteristic emotional openness.

The results of the work carried out by six researchers were published in the journal “ Brain and Behavior “, and we then went on to discover the interesting conclusions. We are sure that they will surprise you.

The emotional brain of people with high sensitivity (PAS)

It is estimated that almost 20% of the population has the basic characteristics that define high sensitivity. The usual thing is that they spend a large part of their life without knowing that they belong to that small group of privileged people, and who, in some way, have had to live with “invisible glasses” that will make them see the world in a different way, and with a more open heart, while vulnerable.

Studies conducted at the University of Stony Brook revealed that people with high sensitivity has a gifted emotional brain of a large em pathy. They are brains fully oriented to “sociability”, and to union with their peers.

What does this mean? Basically what was concluded is that the brain processes of these people show an overexcitation in the neural areas related to emotions and interaction: they are able to decipher and intuit the feelings of those in front of them, but in turn, they must face to a very basic problem …

The rest of the world lacks the same empathy, therefore there is a clear imbalance with respect to their sensitivity and that of those around them. “They see themselves as different.”

To reach these conclusions, different tests were carried out, such as magnetic resonances, there where to study the brain processes of people diagnosed as PAS, of those who were not. And for this, they were exposed to different stimuli to see the biochemical activity and the different structures that make up the brain. 

Mirror neurons

We are sure you have already heard of mirror neurons. They fulfill a social function, hence they are present especially in humans and primates. Located in the lower frontal cortex of the brain, and very close to the language area, they are mainly related to empathy and our ability to capture, process and interpret the emotions of others.

In people with high sensitivity, the activity of mirror neurons is continuous and very noticeable from childhood.

The insula

The insula is a small structure lodged very deep in our brain. It is found in the insular cortex and in turn, it is related to the limbic system, a basic structure in our emotions, it is the one who gives us that more subjective and intimate vision of reality.

In fact, the scientists in this study call the insula the “seat of consciousness”, since it brings together much of our thoughts, intuitions, feelings and perceptions of everything we experience at every moment. And it will not surprise you to know that in people with high sensitivity, this “magical” structure  known as the insula shows a very high activity compared to those who are not characterized by being PAS.

The work also concludes that in addition to being more receptive to visual stimuli related to human faces and emotions, they also present a lower threshold to many physical stimuli such as intense lights or loud sounds, even activating brain structures related to pain. Something curious, there is no doubt.

Image Courtesy: Kelly Vivanco