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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

New Framework for Understanding Cross-Brain Coherence in Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Hyperscanning Studies
Published on: October 6, 2023
[From the Gestaltkreis to synergetics: irreversible structural and dynamic functional couplings]
Volker Perlitz1, Ernst Richard Petzold
1Klinik für Psychosomatik und Psychotherapeutische Medizin, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen, Germany. vmperlitz@ukaachen.de
This study integrates physiology and psychosomatics, revealing that structural and functional couplings are key to neuro-bio-psychic self-organization. Analyzing these dynamic processes offers insights for evidence-based medicine.
Area of Science:
- Integrative physiology and psychosomatics.
- Neuroscience and systems biology.
Context:
- Bridging generations of research in physiology and psychosomatics.
- Identifying common principles across multiple observation levels.
- Focusing on the brainstem system as a foundation for self-organization.
Purpose:
- To synthesize findings from physiology and psychosomatics.
- To explore the role of irreversible-structural and dynamic-functional couplings.
- To apply nonlinear methods from synergetics to analyze complex psychosomatic functions.
Summary:
- The study identifies the relationship between structural and dynamic couplings as a common denominator across physiological and psychosomatic research.
- It highlights the brainstem system's role in neuro-bio-psychic self-organization.
- Heidelberg psychosomatics theories (Gestaltkreis, Methodenkreis, Bipersonality, Simultandiagnostik) are analyzed using nonlinear synergetics methods.
- Coupling and synchronization/desynchronization are fundamental to neurophysiological processes like association and dissociation.
Impact:
- Provides a unified framework for understanding self-organization from neurophysiological to psychosomatic levels.
- Demonstrates the utility of synergetic methods for quantifying complex psychosomatic phenomena.
- Suggests that dynamic process analysis, particularly coupling and synchronization, can advance evidence-based medicine.
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