Unlocking Transformation: The Enneagram & Neuroscience
This blog post is inspired by insights from a webinar on the Enneagram and Neuroscience, hosted by Bonnie Bright, Depth Psychologist and Founder of Depth Psychology Alliance™ and the Institute for Soul-Centered Psychology and Coaching™, and Dr. Christophe Morin. You can watch the full discussion here.
The journey of self-discovery is one of the most rewarding paths we can take. The Enneagram provides us with a profound map of personality, while neuroscience reveals how our brain shapes—and reshapes—our behaviors. By combining these insights, we gain powerful tools to understand our motivations, overcome limitations, and cultivate true transformation.
The Enneagram: A Blueprint for Understanding Self
The Enneagram is a system of nine personality types, each representing different ways people cope with life’s challenges. It is influenced by both nature (inborn tendencies) and nurture (environmental influences), shaping how we respond to the world around us.
Each Enneagram type belongs to one of three Centers of Intelligence, which reflect our core ways of engaging with life:
Head Center (Types 5, 6, 7) – Rely on thinking, often motivated by fear.
Heart Center (Types 2, 3, 4) – Rely on emotions, often motivated by shame.
Gut Center (Types 8, 9, 1) – Rely on instincts, often motivated by anger.
By recognizing our dominant center, we begin to see the unconscious patterns that drive our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Neuroscience & Personality Development
Dr. Christophe Morin, a leading expert in neuroscience, explains how neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to rewire itself—allows us to shift our personality patterns. Many of the behaviors we associate with our Enneagram type are reinforced neural pathways, meaning that while they may feel fixed, they are actually changeable.
How Neuroscience Influences Each Enneagram Type
Head Center (Thinking Types: 5, 6, 7) – Overthinking and anxiety stem from an overactive prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Practices like mindfulness and cognitive reframing help reduce fear-driven responses.
Heart Center (Feeling Types: 2, 3, 4) – Emotional highs and lows result from the limbic system’s role in processing social belonging and validation. Techniques like breathwork and somatic experiencing help regulate emotions.
Gut Center (Instinctual Types: 8, 9, 1) – Reactivity and control issues stem from heightened activity in the brainstem and basal ganglia. Holotropic breathwork and movement-based therapies help release stored tension and promote calm.
Holotropic Breathwork: A Tool for Change
One effective way to shift deeply ingrained patterns is through Holotropic Breathwork, a powerful technique that alters consciousness and accesses the unconscious mind.
How to Practice Holotropic Breathwork:
Create a Safe Space – Find a quiet place, play relaxing music.
Deep, Rhythmic Breathing – Inhale deeply through the nose (4 seconds), exhale fully through the mouth (6-8 seconds), repeating for 20-40 minutes.
Emotional Release – As oxygen levels shift, repressed emotions may surface, leading to crying, shaking, or even a sense of euphoria.
Integration – Journaling or meditation after a session helps process insights and emotional breakthroughs.
Breathwork works by reducing activity in the prefrontal cortex, allowing the limbic system to process buried emotions and leading to profound healing and transformation.
Final Thoughts: The Power of Change
The Enneagram provides us with an insightful map, but neuroscience reminds us that we are not stuck in our patterns. By combining these tools, we can:
Recognize our core fears and emotional triggers.
Develop new neural pathways that promote healthier behaviors.
Move toward a life of greater self-awareness, resilience, and authenticity.
The journey of transformation starts with understanding—and from there, we have the power to change.
Interested in learning more? Check out the above links or Dr. Bright’s Four Week Enneagram & Neurospiritual Growth course, and this blog for more on the Enneagram.
