Current Neuroscientific Concepts and Psychotherapy: Possibilities for Integration

This article reviews the literature and presents theoretical research examining psychotherapy in the context of modern neuroscientific concepts. It is proposed that changes in the mentalization and empathy neural networks should be interpreted as cerebral correlates of psychotherapeutic processes. Hypotheses regarding possible mechanisms leading to changes in the connectivity of neural networks after psychotherapy are put forward: strengthening of the role of the prefrontal system in regulating the level of arousal, oxytocin-mediated modulation of the attachment system, and optimization of predictive coding of interpersonal perception, including the pathway for processing prediction errors. The propositions put forward are based on research in social, affective, cognitive, and behavioral neuroscience, scientific work in the field of psychotherapy, and data on the neurophysiological correlates of the effects of psychotherapy.