Tensional Selves and Brain Energy Consumption - A Living Model Between Neuroscience, Bioaffectivity, and Belonging
Tensional Selves and Brain Energy Consumption - A Living Model Between Neuroscience, Bioaffectivity, and Belonging
Contemporary understanding of the human mind requires moving beyond the mechanistic and fragmented view of the brain as merely an “isolated thinking organ.” From a decolonial neuroscience perspective, the brain is seen as a living and tensioned territory, metabolizing affective and social experiences through dynamic neurovascular and bioelectrical circuits. Within this framework, we propose the model of Tensional Selves (Eus Tensionais), which describes how different states of consciousness emerge from the interaction of primary emotions, relational contexts, and physiological flows such as oxygenation, cortical activation, and energy consumption.
Decolonial Neuroscience - Eus Tensionais and Brain Energy Consumption - Neurociencia Bioafectividad y Pertenencia
From States to Selves: The Brain as a Tensional Ecosystem
Instead of assuming a fixed “Existential Self,” this model proposes that what we call “self” is in fact a temporary bioenergetic state - a Tensional Self. Each self is shaped by:
* A bioaffective origin (e.g., fear + control → the Perfectionist Self)
* A neuroaffective function (e.g., error avoidance, moral coherence)
* A specific configuration of:
* Active brain regions (via NIRS)
* Electrophysiological patterns (via EEG)
* Peripheral oxygenation ranges (via SpO₂)
These selves coexist, compete, or cooperate within a kind of neural ecosystem that metabolizes, alternates, or chronifies tensions depending on the individual’s context and personal history.
Brain Hubs, Energy, and Tensional Selves
Brain hubs — such as the DLPFC (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), ACC (anterior cingulate cortex), PCC (posterior cingulate cortex), and vmPFC (ventromedial prefrontal cortex) — are highly connected and energy-demanding regions. The brain uses about 20% of the body’s total energy, but this energy is not evenly distributed. It flows dynamically depending on the mental state — and therefore on the Tensional Self that is active.
| Tensional Self Type | Recruited Hubs | Estimated Energy Cost | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Selves | DLPFC, SMA | Moderate and efficient | Goal-directed focus |
| Moral Selves | DLPFC, ACC, OFC | High and sustained | Internal control |
| Affective Selves | vmPFC, PCC | Low to moderate, synchronous | Compassionate presence |
| Reactive Selves | ACC, Insula, DLPFC | Very high and unstable | Panic and hypervigilance |
Thus, Tensional Selves do not correspond directly to hubs, but they activate specific circuits that consume energy in different ways — as reflected by:
* changes in OxyHb/DeoxyHb (via NIRS),
* EEG patterns (beta, alpha, theta, microstates),
* and SpO₂ levels as markers of ventilatory regulation.
SpO₂ as a Bioaffective Window
During states of presence, sustained attention, or high-performance flow, individuals often show mild compensatory hypercapnia, with SpO₂ between 94–97%, associated with:
* Cortical vasodilation (especially in frontal areas)
* Increased cerebral blood flow (CBF)
* Efficient oxygen release to active tissue (Bohr effect)
* Emotional stability and enhanced neurophysiological presence
In contrast, hyperoxygenation states (>99% SpO₂), typical of anxiety, moral overcontrol, or panic, are linked to cerebral vasoconstriction and disorganized energy usage.
Integrated Tables: NIRS, EEG, and SpO₂ in Tensional Selves
Functional Selves (Regulatory States)
| Tensional Self | Brain Regions (NIRS) | EEG Patterns | Typical SpO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executor | DLPFC, SMA | ↑ Beta, ↓ Theta | 94–96% |
| Caregiver | vmPFC, ACC | ↑ Theta/Alpha | 94–96% |
| Flow | PCC, medial PFC | ↑ Alpha, smooth microstates | 94–95% |
| Inspirer | TPJ, DLPFC | ↑ Theta/Alpha, light beta | 94–96% |
Alert or Dissociative Selves
| Tensional Self | Brain Regions (NIRS) | EEG Patterns | Typical SpO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panic | Unstable ACC | High beta (>30 Hz), incoherent | 100% |
| Super-Hero | DLPFC, SMA | ↑ Gamma, rigid beta | 99–100% |
| Self-Abandonment | vmPFC, PCC | ↑ Theta, network disconnection | 92–94% |
| Vigilant | ACC, DLPFC | ↑ Beta/Gamma, unstable vigilance | 99–100% |
Scientific Foundations Supporting the Model
* Kohl et al. (2020): Elevated SpO₂ may indicate cerebral vasoconstriction → critical to understanding panic states.
* Scholkmann et al. (2014): Fast OxyHb/DeoxyHb fluctuations via NIRS track emotional transitions.
* Wallois et al. (2012): EEG microstates correlate with hemodynamic patterns → useful to identify dissociative selves.
* Ehlis et al. (2014): DLPFC dysfunctions associated with rigid selves such as the Perfectionist.
Conclusion: Energy as the Language of the Self
“The Existential Self does not exist. What exists is the energetic tension of being temporarily embodied in awareness.”
This model offers a living and integrative vision of the brain — where belonging, emotion, and energy form the triad that gives rise to the Self. It does not separate body and mind, nor spirituality and science. Instead, it recognizes the Body-Territory as the energetic field of human experience, with measurable real-time markers.
From a decolonial and physiological perspective, the self is not an abstract soul nor a fixed psychological identity. It is a neuroenergetic configuration, emerging from metabolic dynamics, cultural context, and intersubjective relationships.
