Finitude of the Tensional Self - from support to dissolution – FALAN LatBrain SfN Brain Bee
Finitude of the Tensional Self - from support to dissolution – FALAN LatBrain SfN Brain Bee
I am the body that perceives itself to be. I sustain myself in tensions, in the viscera I contract and in the muscles I tighten to exist as an “I.” During the day, these tensions support me, give me shape, and even silence pain. But when night arrives, finitude calls me: little by little, I loosen the knots, release the weight, and stop being the “I that held everything together.” With each layer of sleep, I dissolve — and in that dissolution I discover a freedom that is peace.
1) The tensional self as support and prison
Initial function: the tensional self stabilizes the body, regulates belonging, and protects against acute pain.
In chronic pain: it becomes rigid, transforming into a painful identity.
Natural finitude: allows these tensions to dissolve during sleep.
Blocked finitude: trauma, ideology, or chronic pain prevent this dissolution → sleep fragmentation.
Relation vs causality: there is a clear relation between muscular/visceral tensions and pain perception. Demonstrating causality requires manipulating the tensions (e.g., relaxation, somatic physiotherapy) and verifying whether reduction precedes the decrease in pain.
2) Sleep as the stage of tensional dissolution
N1: first myoclonias reveal the drop in muscular tensions.
N2: reorganizes motor patterns, preparing the body for N3.
N3: is the provisional finitude of the tensional self — body deeply relaxed, endogenous analgesia activated.
REM tonic: recalibrates proprioception (a nightly body checklist).
REM phasic: clears feelings tied to tensions.
In chronic pain, this sequence is interrupted: tensions are not released, N3 is shortened, and REM loses efficiency. The body awakens still “holding” the tensional self.
3) Neuroscience of the tensional self
EEG: increased beta and gamma power correlates with greater bodily vigilance and persistent pain.
fNIRS: prefrontal cortex (PFC) hyperactivation indicates cognitive effort to keep the body on alert.
Integration: the more rigid the tensional self, the more the brain reorganizes its “body map,” fusing identity and pain.
Possibility: relaxing tensions may generate relief.
Probability: EEG/fNIRS protocols suggest that individuals with greater reductions in beta/gamma activity have a higher likelihood of clinical improvement.
4) From the Whole to measurement
Hypotheses to probe mechanisms of the tensional self:
N3–Tensions Hypothesis: more N3 reduces muscular rigidity markers and improves pain.
fNIRS–PFC Hypothesis: resting prefrontal hyperactivity predicts who maintains a more rigid tensional self.
EEG–Beta/Gamma Hypothesis: reductions in these bands after relaxation indicate tensional dissolution.
REM–Proprioception Hypothesis: greater proportion of REM tonic improves proprioceptive accuracy upon waking.
5) For clinicians and caregivers
Deep body relaxation techniques (breathing, somatic physiotherapy).
Education on unconscious tensions that maintain pain.
Encouragement of sleep routines that favor N3*.
In palliative care: rituals of bodily surrender (gentle massage, slow music, guided breathing).
6) Indicative References
EEG and tensions/pain
Zebhauser et al., PAIN, 2023 – Theta/alpha/beta/gamma oscillations in neuropathic pain.
Ryu et al., Scientific Reports, 2024 – Prefrontal gamma activity associated with subjective pain.
fNIRS and tensional self
Luo et al., 2024 – Prefrontal connectivity and analgesic response to TENS.
Bae et al., 2025 – DLPFC activation reduction after manual therapy in chronic pain.
Sleep and tensions
Reid et al., 2023 – Review on sleep EEG and pain mechanisms.
Irwin et al., PAIN, 2023 – Loss of N3 increases inflammation and pain sensitivity.
Signature:
Finitude must bring peace with new Consciousness — maturity with inoscence.
* N3 sleep (slow-wave sleep, “deep sleep”) is where the provisional finitude of the tensional self occurs, with greater release of endogenous analgesia, memory consolidation, and energy restoration.
Favor N3 → regularity, darkness, silence, coolness, moderate exercise, relaxation, morning natural light, avoiding caffeine/alcohol.
Reduce N3 → uncontrolled pain, high stress, nighttime screens, irregular schedules, noisy or hot environments.
