Resilience and Neuroscience

An inner and silent strength that comes to our aid when we need it to face adversity and emerge stronger from negative experiences. From a psychological perspective, resilience is the ability to adapt and recover from difficulties. The human brain has remarkable recovery abilities, even from high levels of stressWhat is stress? From a clinical perspective, stress is a phy... More and severe trauma. Resilience does not eliminate stress or difficulties, but it allows us to face them effectively, reducing their negative impact on our mental and physical well-being. However, resilience remains a widely discussed concept and is difficult to define precisely. Is it possible to investigate it from a neurological perspective to understand how it works? And how can we best apply it in a psycho-pedagogical context to help people recover?

Early Research on Resilience

The term resilience was first used in the neurological field in the 1970s by the English psychologist Michael Rutter. Considered one of the founding fathers of child psychology, Rutter borrowed the concept from the world of material physics. Some substances have innate abilities to better withstand stress than others and are therefore considered more resilient. Rutter applied the concept to the child psyche, noting differences in responses among individuals to traumatic events. In his research, Rutter focused on risk factors, which later studies assessed in populations of children in disadvantaged conditions. These studies identified a key common element in children more capable of recovering: the presence of a supportive figure. Having at least one person who accepts us unconditionally, offering affectionWhat is affect according to science? Affect represents one o... More and recognition, can enhance resilience. Therefore, resilience is not only the result of innate tendencies or exposure to risk but also of various factors, including life experiences, social support, and self-care practices.

A Continuous Process

Over time, more and more research has focused on the concept of resilience. Psychological, neural, hormonal, and molecular characteristics have been explored in the brains of more resilient people. Areas of the endocrine system, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, have been identified as key in managing stress during development. This research is revealing the underlying mechanisms of resilience and providing insights for new techniques and therapies. More recently, however, the comparison between material resilience and the mind’s recovery capacity has been questioned. Material resilience implies returning to a pre-trauma state, recovering previous characteristics. However, this does not happen in our brains, which cannot be “reset.” Those who recover do not return to a state before the trauma but rather integrate it and gradually “normalize” it. It is a long-term process that requires constant attention and appropriate support structures and techniques. Resilience is not a static trait of the individual but a dynamic and ever-evolving factor. It helps to prefigure oneself in a future where the trauma has been overcome and, instead of going back, move forward.

Prefiguring the Future to Fully Live the Present

From this perspective, resilience is a process in which self-determination, mastery of emotions, and the temporal scale are considered simultaneously. The Spherical Resilience model, developed by Patrizio Paoletti and inspired by the Spherical Model of Consciousness, emphasizes this temporal dimension. Visualizing oneself in a future time helps expand temporal perception and channel energies in a proactive direction. Today, the concept of resilience is applied in health, education, and social policy. Campaigns and initiatives have been carried out by the Patrizio Paoletti Foundation, such as the Prefigure the Future projects for communities affected by earthquakes in Umbria and Marche. Launched in 2017, Prefigure the Future responds in real-time to environmental, social, and educational emergencies across the country. In 2021, the project focused on people in prison. In collaboration with the University of Padua, a series of studies was conducted to identify and promote the most effective resilience practices in juvenile detention centers.

Resilience in Everyday Life

Resilience, therefore, is not only an innate ability but can be developed and strengthened through conscious and autonomous practices. In daily situations, these practices become strategies that can make a significant difference in well-being and overall health. Among them, the most important is maintaining supportive social relationships. LearningIl termine apprendimento - con i sinonimi imparare, assimila... More to manage stress is also important, for example through regular physical exercise and mindfulness meditationThere are many ways to define meditation, but perhaps the si... More practices. You can access freely three guided meditations with Patrizio Paoletti, Tal D. Ben-Soussan, and Ruben Laukkonen. To manage stress, it is essential to learn to recognize and regulate emotions, developing our emotional intelligenceThe first definition of Emotional Intelligence as such was p... More. The Patrizio Paoletti Foundation provides the free Edukit on Heart Intelligence, because emotions and cognitive abilities are closely linked. Having a resilient approach not only helps us overcome past difficulties but also makes us stronger and better prepared to face new challenges positively.