Fusion-Sensory Motor Reflex

Stage of Diet Changes

2011-09-01T16:06:00.005-05:00

Denial
Most of us hate to be told what is good for us. So at this stage, I would like to reframe nutritional advice. Finding the nutrition that makes you feel and act your best is a unique and personal journey. Depending on your own bent, see this journey as a science experiment, an ancestry study, a spiritual quest or a practical personal care experience.

Overwhelm
When people start changing the SAD (standard American diet), they are often overwhelmed with what, when, how and why to change the daily diet. Too much change and too many new rules for eating can cause overwhelm and discouragement. It is really best at first to go with just one main principle, realizing that you will not always be able to follow it, but you will feel better if you do. One such principle is: Always choose the less processed of what is offered: Fruit salad, diet bar, candy. The choice is simple; the less processed is the fruit salad. If the principle is "no wheat" and you are offered either an oatmeal cookie, chocolate chip cookie, cake, pick the oatmeal cookie because there is less wheat.

Anger
Everyone, from time to time, after starting to shift the diet has an angry moment: Why can’t I eat like everyone else? Well, the secret is that “everybody else” can’t eat that way either. Their age, genes or systems may be able to hold off the devastation of an unbalanced diet but how would they feel with a more balanced diet? So ditch the anger and get on to….

Acceptance
So you accept that step by step you have changed small and large parts of the diet using principles that make the decisions easier and are finding joy in the simplicity of you and your family’s diet. It isn’t perfect but most of the time you follow the 3 to 4 principles that you have established. Great, but don’t get cocky, kid.

Proselytizing
Once you have established a clear diet path and are feeling the great results, it is very hard to resist becoming a evangelical nutritionist. This impulse can go from “friendly” unasked for advice at work to a full out nutrition nazi. This is a natural impulse that should be guarded against. Just remember that others will respond to even asked for advice with denial, so be joyful in your own self discovery.

Bon Appetit!

Using Reflexes to Heal & Regenerate

2011-07-25T11:49:00.003-05:00

It is common for people beginning to look at developmental resources to underestimate their full usefulness. For example, infant reflexes should not be retained into childhood and beyond. They may come out of integration during trauma. Some novices see this as “bad”. However, when infant reflexes are reactivated, nature is offering an opportunity, if we take it. If we return to the movements and postures that developed our original ability, we can heal using the original process that developed the ability in the first place. Then one can return to integration.

For example: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSS) usually brings the Moro Reflex out of integration. Originally for the individual, the Moro Reflex may have been weakly integrated and therefore quickly becomes unintegrated under traumatic stress. By starting a program that allows a person to just relax in the positions of Moro #1 and Moro #2, as well as adding the development resource of sustained deep pressure, an adult can recapture the original moment of development for regulation.

This may not be all that is needed for re-integration, but it can be a healthy start. It is common that one or the other will not in the beginning feel entirely comfortable. This activity gives the Upper and Lower Brains time to adjust and rewire. At first the body-brain system may only want to stay in the positions for as little as 15 seconds. Tune in and gently encourage the system to lengthen the time, over a number of days. Two minutes in the postures seems to be a favored amount of time, although some prefer up to 10 minutes in each position. More time in a posture is not necessarily better. Check in (see earlier posts on checking in) and listen to what you Lower Brain and body are trying to communicate. Attempt to ignore the chattering Upper Brain. Relax your joints and muscles as much a possible in the postures. Let images and thoughts come and go without reaction.

Next week, I will post the pictures for the postures!

Traumas and the Neurodevelopmental System

2011-07-05T15:43:00.003-05:00

Last month we looked at birth trauma and how it affects human development. Today we connect birth trauma with other types of traumas. As we previously noted there is a spectrum of trauma:

1. Stress, that can be bad or good for our growth
2. Chronic stress that is decidedly not good for our systems
3. Strauma when chronic or sudden stress triggers mini trauma into our systems
4. Trauma when the physical, mental and/or emotional human functioning is effected

Birth trauma can look like any of the above and any of the above can affect how the sensory-reflex motor systems develop. Some of these differences are minor and others can be major. If the developmental spiral through life is too splintered, the human system is stressed at more and more levels of daily life.
Other traumas can affect our functioning in life:
1. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
2. Traumatic bodily injury
3. Traumatic emotional injury
4. Traumatic mental injury

Each of these traumas is real and healing needs access to the developmental resources that we all have available in our brain-body systems. Some of these resources include:

1. Reflex patterns 2. Gravity and Body senses

3. Breathing 4. Use of mirror neurons through visualization

5. Sleep 6. Nutrition

7. Body and natural rhythms 8. Meridians

It is my belief that most emotional and mental (and many physical) traumas become traumas because the human systems in early development were weak. For example, emotional trauma is often linked with an unintegrated Moro Reflex. Often the Moro Reflex was not entirely or strongly integrated at the time of the trauma which then became emotionally triggered. I have met many people who have had physical trauma due to “accidents” that were all or partially caused by a retained ATNR Reflex.

At times the infant reflexes will come out of integration to restart healing after a trauma. Using the infant reflexes for healing is a natural way to remind the human system of resources we have naturally within.

Birth Trauma and Stress Management

2011-06-21T15:48:00.005-05:00

We are seeing more and more adults coming into our office due to traumatic birth issues. Traumatic births include breech, very long, very short, C-Section, forceps or suction deliveries. Problems can happen in any birth and, obviously, it is most important that both mother and child come through alive, even if traumatized. So it is without judgment that we look at this issue.

The infant developmental reflexes appear in utero, transform during birth and continue their work through the first year of life. Trauma at any of these times can affect an individual’s ability to regulate muscles, emotions and even thoughts. Most people who have had a traumatic birth have a vague understanding that it has left its mark on them. Deep stress, anxiety, exhaustion, overdrive, sustained learning issues, sensitivities and a lack of peace are only a few of these remnants.

Our work with adults of traumatic birth usually gives voice to this deeper knowledge by measuring and drawing attention to often seemingly inexplicable issues. A Plan for Learning reflex session starts with a short assessment of reflexes preselected by goals and a history. Throughout a session, the checks, integration techniques and home program activities are woven together to aid resolution. A 75 minute session cost $150 and includes a written chart of reflexes checked and measured, home activity suggestions, a DVD of the session and a CD of the activities suggested. The ideal number of visits varies from between two and eight. Reflex integration sessions booked between now and Sept 1, 2011 will receive a 10% discount with the mention of this announcement. A more peaceful future awaits.

The HANDLE Approach & Reflex Integration

2011-06-06T10:28:00.006-05:00

Development of how we intake, process and react to our world depends on the sensory-motor feedback system. Before we are born, our senses trigger motor reflexes, which then help regulate and use the senses. This feedback growth continues after we are born through the seminal (seed) senses and the infant (primitive) motor reflexes. This feedback system develops our processing modalities of the Upper Brain (cortex). As you can see, infant reflexes play a role in development.

The HANDLE Approach looks at the entirety of the sensory-motor development. As a metaphor let’s consider HANDLE a basket. The basket’s handle includes the incredibly important principles that lift and guide the HANDLE approach. The basket’s bowl gathers holistically many pieces of the whole system: the sensory, motor, reflex, nutrition, genetics, environment, and much more. No other approach that I have found comprehensively deals with so many parts of an individual’s system.

Dealing with one facet of the neuro system, such as, nutrition, reflexes, motor, etc, can be helpful at times. That is why many HANDLE practitioners are themselves or may suggest complementary therapies to focus in on a particular area. Although HANDLE works holistically and developmentally to integrate infant reflexes, there may be reasons to deal one or more individually with other techniques. However, these may or may not stay integrated if the underlying body senses are not well enough developed.

Infant reflexes are within us to support development and safety. Sometimes they become atypical due to trauma. Other times they are atypical due to developmental factors that take a more holistic approach to remediate.

New Online Introduction to Autism Course

2011-06-03T11:27:00.003-05:00

Just a quick announcement of our new online course, done in coordination with Professional Learning Board. This course is a great overview of what autism is and differences that people on the spectrum have compared with neurotypical. The course gives many opportunities for parents and teachers to try approaches to make learning and interaction easier for students with autism.

Find my new online course: Introduction to Autism at http://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tlb/introduction-to-autism-class/

Needs of the Lower Brain Must be Met for the Upper Brain to be Fulfilled

2011-06-02T13:26:00.004-05:00

Our Lower Brain holds our developmental and survival resources. Sometimes these resources are called “primitive” because they are with us from the beginning and are foundational for our growth and survival. However, if the Lower Brain ain’t happy, the rest of the person usually can’t be fully happy either. The Lower Brain can feel unsafe because of issues dealing with gravity, body in space sense, efficient energy use, inconsistent sensory input or conflicting signals.Let’s look at these issues more closely:

Gravity: From the moment of conception our developing body-brain system must do a dance with gravity. To live, cells, organs and tissues must push against gravity. Our first developing sense deals with measuring and reacting to gravity. Most developmental issues have their genesis with issues around gravity regulation of muscles and tissues. Autism, dyslexia, low tone, ADHD and other concerns have challenges with gravity.

Body in Space: All of our senses constellate to let us know where we are in relationship to other people and things in the environment. It is the basis of our sense of boundaries. If this body map isn’t well established, the body-brain system sends out an unconscious alarm. This alarm is often picked up by the Upper Brain as generalized anxiety. Although anxiety is usually associated with emotions, a physical feeling of lacking safety will trigger negative emotions. People on the autism spectrum, those with OCD, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental issues can have issues sensing their body in space.

Efficient energy use: Development is all about learning how to conserve and use limited neural energy wisely. When unnecessary energy is being eaten up by overworking Lower Brain functioning, the result is often a burst of energy and then exhaustion. This pattern is often seen in ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder and other syndromes.

Inconsistent sensory input: The body-brain system does not like to receive conflicting sensory signals. It would be like someone seeing a barking cat. The alarm signals go off. The brain wants agreement among the differing senses. If one sense is consistently giving unreliable information, the body-brain system will block or transform that information to improve agreement. This is a very inefficient use of neural energy and can interfere with day-to-day functioning.

Conflicting signals: The sensory system is not the only system that dislikes conflict. If a person has retained infant reflexes in the Lower Brain and the Upper Brain wants to move in a way counter to the reflex pattern, tension arises. It is as if one horse is pulling one way and the other another. Both horses do not get where they are going and use a great deal of energy trying. Most people with neurodevelopmental or learning disabilities have retained or atypical infant reflexes that interfere with planned motor activities.

Stress…Strauma…Trauma

2011-05-09T11:49:00.008-05:00

Lately I have discovered a gap in the English language. My family, friends and colleagues usually laugh at my created terms, but often end up using them because there are no viable alternatives. In this case, English is missing a word to describe the state of almost continuous, high level stress. Trauma is the closest word but is usually reserved for near death experiences, not the damage inflicted by significant, ongoing stress. I have come to use the word, strauma, which is a hybrid of stress and trauma.
Stress is an interesting word that invokes varying responses. It is a word with a great deal of gradation. The grading runs from being dead (no stress) to system shutdown (very high stress). At the one end, low to moderate stress can actually be helpful. Without some stress, our motivation often collapses. At the high end there are two different issues: sudden, intense stress and the soul and body eating, persistent high stress.
A typical human neuro-system is resilient to most stress that is short term. We are built to respond to sudden attack or deprivation. It is the long term stress that many people endure either by choice or necessity that corrodes our body and brain system over time. In modern life, our short term fight or flight responses are not as common as our often self imposed strauma.
To help clients of all ages to become aware of their internal stress to strauma levels, I often suggest a color chart. Depending on the age and ability of the client it can be a 3 or 5 point scale.
Five Point Stress to Strauma Scale:

Blue: Sluggish, low energy, sleepy

Green: Relaxed, non-stressful time and feeling, recreation

Yellow: Attentive, usual school and work rhythm

Orange: Building Strauma alert, too highly stressed for too long (different for everyone), autonomic nervous system signaling impending overwhelm

Red: Fight, flight or freeze activated, lower brain reacts for safety

The three point scale is as above without the blue or red levels. Many people attempt to stay in the orange area too long, thinking this is most productive. However, many studies show that it is a penny wise, pound foolish investment. As with a marathon runner, establishing a pace that can be sustained is most efficient and saves health and wellness.

Tuning In and Out

2011-05-02T11:23:00.004-05:00

Isn’t it interesting that tuning out can mean tuning in? If we tune out of
life’s environmental distractions to take stock of the internal environment
and our neurodevelopmental resources, we find gifts of health and awareness.
However, if we tune out our inner messengers and focus only on the outer world,
we can miss important messages. When we miss these messages, our interior
and neurodevelopmental resources must get our attention through physical,
mental and emotional means that are not always pleasant.

The rhythm of life requires inbreathing and outbreathing. There needs
to be a balance of tuning in and reaching out in our lives. Take time to
tune in during physical exercise, prayer, eating and other sensory experiences.
Examine how reaching out into the exterior environment affects the other spheres.
The essence of our being is life fully experienced in the inner and outer world
through each step of our human development.

Autism Awareness Month Part 2

2011-04-11T11:59:00.005-05:00

Autism is a spectrum disorder where different developmental milestones vary widely. One area that is consistent in all folks with autism is weakness in the gravity sense. All people with autism have issues with any or all of the following:

The gravity sense organ, the semi-circular canal and its ability to read and react to gravity

The cranial nerve and tracts that connects the gravity sense information and intake of sound into the brain stem

The cerebellum with the brainstem that modulates muscle tone and presorts sensory input

Why is this important? One of the most important reasons is that weakness with the gravity sense and other body senses can cause the Lower Brain to send alarm signals to the Upper Brain often resulting in anxiety.

Addressing the issues of the body senses can make this functioning better and lessen anxiety.

April is Autism Awareness Month Part 1

2011-04-05T16:34:00.006-05:00

Mind sharing develops in a sequence and in relationship to verbal and nonverbal language. Most people on the autism spectrum have delay in these areas. Both developments depend on a well functioning sensory-motor-reflex system.

Mind sharing for a newborn is undifferentiated. All is one mind and being: the baby, the parents, the environment.

As a baby develops into toddlerhood, the self-mind develops. The toddler learns to understand her own mind and responses with "Me!" and "Mine!" All others are considered part of the toddler mind and therefore should always know its needs and wants.

As time goes on the young preschooler now knows that you have a different mind and that she must ask endless questions to find out what is in your seemingly Olympian mind. The preschooler doesn't know your mind, but still believes that you know hers. She believes that mother knows what she did even if she wasn't there.

Then one big day, the child realizes that minds are separate and that others can't see into her mind. Now she realizes that she can tell an untruth and others will not know. As she grows older, she realizes that when she plays and share minds with others, she sees all new visas, making social interactions irresistable. She finds that each person is a surprise treasure box ready to be opened.

Tune Into Tone

2011-02-28T12:06:00.006-06:00

We are so busy! However, more and more people are trying techiniques, such as yoga and meditation to relieve stress.These are excellent practices and tuning in can improve yoga and mediation or be used on its own.

In the study of sensory-motor-reflex, we consider the tone of our body’s tissues, muscles, liquids and organs.Tone is the ability of living systems to push out in tension and release to relaxation. It is tone that we use to feel and give us a brain map of the inside and outside of our bodies. The words “tone” and “tune” come from the root word. So when we tune in, we are noting our tone.

Try this: Sit in at a table and put your elbows on the the table. Relax. Cup your hands and gently place them over your ears. Close your eyes. Now tune into what you feel inside your head in the inner ear. Don’t try to make something happen, just notice. Take a minute or two and relax, just feeling the inner ear.

How did it feel? Warm and pulsing? Cold and contracted? Something else? The inner ear is the housing of our Gravity Sense organ: the semi-circular canals and of our sound wave translator: the cochlea. Tuning into this area may make you more aware of your sense of gravity and hearing. It may improve the tone of the inner ear and help a tune reach your brain more easily. Over time while practicing this activity, you may feel changes in the tone and sensations in the inner ear. Try it daily for a few weeks and see.

As the months roll on, I am hoping to bring you more tips about tuning in and toning. Tuning in gives the Lower Brain that oversees survival time to communicate with the busy, distracted Upper Brain. This physical inner exploration can be not only fun and relaxing, but the start of a more conscious way to help your body-brain system work more efficiently and to help sustain attention longer in only a minute or two a day!

The Tortoise:Sustainable Attention, Abilities & Powers

2011-02-21T10:18:00.010-06:00

I once heard that the difference between a genuis and everyone else is that a genius can sustain his or her attention for a much longer time on one area of thought. Sustaining our energy is the key to many issues in people's lives:learning, attention, completion of tasks, and self mastery. As a younger person, I would hurl myself into every task, because unconsciously I thought I needed a "running start" to be able to finish it. I got through even simple tasks by brute force and speed. Partly this was my unregulated neurodevelopment and partly this was the message of my society that I must try very hard. However, through development, I have learned the truth of the tortoise and hare story for myself. Instead of "slow and steady wins the race", I think I would rephrase it: "as fast as sustainable, wins the race."

Some might argue, "Isn't the pace that is sustainable always slow? And will this turn us all into lazy louts?" I think not. Like the long distance runner, without knowing the sustainable pace, the complete race cannot be run. The conscious thinking Upper Brain (the cortex) often thinks that by not listening to the messenger in the Lower Brain, it can push through the warnings of coming overstress. And the Upper Brain can, but at a price. Using this ability to push through against all stress warnings can give us great ability to survive in times of need. The occasional use of this blocking can take a toll, but is usually survivable. It is OK to ask if it is worth the price, before a full out, unbridled plowing through life.

When we use this override functioning, day-to-day, through our life, the price is one of exhaustion and illness. This is not efficient.Using the knowledge of a sustainable energy level, more gets done in the long run. So how does one know about how to keep a sustainable pace through the activities of life? I believe that this can be best done by checking in and looking for the stress signals from your autonomic nervious system. The next blog entry will examine checking in and knowing your stress signs.

Conscious Living vs. Blocking Stressors

2011-02-14T10:09:00.006-06:00

People sometimes fear that if they start listening to the developmental messengers of their body systems, they might become hypochondriacs. They fear that they will be compelled to listen to their body’s every complaint. Just blocking the message seems to be the most efficient day-to-day default setting. It is a surprise and a relief to find that the opposite is true. By consciously knowing and adjusting where our neural energy is being used or wasted, we become more masterful over our world.

The amount of energy that we use blocking the environmental stressors markedly increases unconscious stress. Blocking an such stressors take a lot of neural energy and the stress itself takes even more. Almost always suppressing these stresses cannot be sustained long without an emotional reaction. For example, your collar is chaffing, you block this sensory message, then the temperature rises and you block that message. Then your child asks for help and you snap. The energy needed to use your prefrontal cortex has been undermined by all the sensory blocking. If you had consciously adjusted your collar and had cracked the car window, you may have been kinder to your child.

We often block environmental stressors without consciously considering how we could easily accommodate our body systems' needs. I once sat at a meeting for 3 ½ hours facing dark window blinds cracked so that bright light shown into my eyes. I blocked the visual stress and, by the end, had a severe headache that made the meeting information unmemorable. If I had consciously realized the issue, I could have moved my seat or adjusted the blinds. Then the whole point of the meeting would have had my attention.

Many people carry labels, such as, ADHD & autism, and are being overwhelmed by environmental stresses. Attention and development take flight when there are high levels of stress.

Mercury, above, was the messenger of the gods. He carries the caduceus, a rod wrapped seven times by a serpent. This is an ancient symbol of healing. The caduceus could represent the lower "reptile" or survival brain bringing its developmental gifts to the upper brain for enlightenment, health and power. Heed the developmental messenger for health and well-being.

Developmental Resources: Dorothy's Slippers

2011-02-13T13:11:00.000-06:00

Inner developmental resources are like Dorothy’s Slippers: you had them all along; you just didn’t know how to use them. Nature has provided us with some magnificant tools for healing and self growth. These tools are very real and physical, yet most people aren't consciously aware of them. We live in a cortex driven (upper brain) era. Many of us have lost awareness and trust in our deeper resources, such as our body senses and reflexes. We feel cut off, fragmented and somehow missing something. Our upper brain or cortex hunts for the reasons for these phantom feelings, usually in outer, complex, and unproductive ways.

Think of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. She wanted to get home. She went to the upper brain (the Wizard) and he sent her out into the world to seek her way home, only to end up back where she started with no satifaction. It was only when she listened to her inner resources, Glinda, that she found that she had always had what she needed, both in Oz and at home. Her slippers of gems (ruby in the movie and diamond in the book) where literally at her feet.

The developmental gifts in our lower brain, including our body senses and reflexes, are there waiting to be called upon to balance and sustain us through our life. Let's start using them now. So all together: click your heels together three times....

Access Our Blog from Fusion Training Website!

2011-02-13T13:09:00.000-06:00

We're kicking off our new blog here on the website! The good news is that we have a great plan to bring you interesting, useful news and tips about development and the sensory-motor-reflex approach every week. We will also be connecting this blog to Facebook and Twitter so you will be able to follow us and not miss a thing. We are slowly connecting all the parts, so bear with us for the next month or so.

Stroke Damage Halted by a Tickle

2010-12-12T21:41:00.000-06:00

This is some of the most exciting info. I have found in some time. In Dec. 4, 2010 of Science News on page14, a smallish article describes an experiment with a bunch of rats that had been given strokes. The neuroscientist at University of Arizonia in Tucson stimulated a single whisker of half the rats. The whisker stimulation rerouted blood flow in the brain and got it to the stroke damaged area. The end result from 5 minutes of whisker stimulation was that there was no noticeable stroke damage in the rats whose whisker was tickled. The brain imaging show no difference between these rats and an unaffected rat brain. The only caveat is that the stimulation must be done within two hours of the stroke.

Picture from www.handle.org

Although not proven, the scientist see no reason why this might not work for humans. The whiskers relate to the mouth and hands in humans. So Face Tapping, lip and mouth buzzing, Buzz Snap and facial and hand reflex integration could make a huge difference in human recovery from stroke! Hurray for our developmental resources and neuro-plasticity! I hypothesize that this may not be the only neuro-motor trigger for help in trauma.

Viruses and the Brainstem

2010-08-25T09:43:00.000-05:00

My daughter sent this article to me with the note: "Proving you right, one study at a time." The article is about chronic fatigue and its link to the murine leukemia virus.

http://http//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/23/AR2010082304486.html

This is a retro virus that the study found in 86.5% of those with chronic fatigue. Truthfully, this study has not been replicated at this time. However, I think one of the barriers to the analysis is that this virus is not the ONLY virus that can become retro and subtly or overtly attack the brainstem affecting the sensory-motor-reflex systems and therefore the physical and mental health of others.

Last year I met Dr. John Martin, who has worked as a pathologist at U of California on what he called "stealth viruses". He was at the time considered a fear monger and was put on leave at the University for challenging the existing blood reserves.

It has been my opinion for some time that retro or "stealth" viruses could be contributing to the waves of odd, vitality sapping syndromes we see, including, ME, CFS, EBS, and others. They may also, as Dr. Martin suggested play a role in other neurodevelopmental issues including PANDAS, autism and even schizophrenia. Until we find out, keeping our brainstem in the best of health is imperative.

Fear-Paralysis Factors

2010-05-30T19:16:00.000-05:00

Many people have asked me to give a course on Fear-Paralysis Response. I have not done this yet, because I have so many questions to be answered that I worry about giving wrong or unhelpful information. The Fear-Paralysis is a response rather than a true reflex because its genesis is in the first 3 months before the motor system is truly online. It appears to be a cellular-tissue response.

For years, we have seen this response in clients who had fetal alcohol (or embryo alcohol) effect or even when other toxicity is present. However, there are always times when it appeared when no toxicity was present. I usually have attributed this to extreme stress in the first three months of pregnancy. Now we have found another contributing factor.

It now appears that issues around the attachment of the placenta can be one such factor. From our case load, it appears that these placenta attachment issues for a time affect the embryo's ability to take in oxygen and nutritients. There are many points around this that I will not go into in this blog, but we will be on the lookout for more case examples.

One of the things that appears common is that these issues can right themselves during the pregnancy and therefore, never lead to outer awareness of the issue in the first place. This makes study difficult and we can only go by meager evidence to be found in other ways such as birth history and that of siblings.

We are hoping that others in the field are working on Fear-Paralysis Response and may be of help to our endeavor.

2010-05-17T07:44:00.001-05:00

Off to Seattle to give Big 8: Primary Reflexes and Development on May 21, 22, 23. There's a free 2 hour introductory lecture on Friday evening, 6:30 to 8:30. It is at Lake Forest Park Montessori, 19935 19th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA. Tell you friends and relatives about it!

Gravity, Our First Relationship

2010-05-15T22:05:00.000-05:00

First there is Gravity, pushing down upon us to the center of the Earth. We are designed to push back in the tone of our cells, tissues and muscles. Gravity and Tone push and yield in the rhythms of our bodies: breath, heart beat, lymph flow, cerebral spinal fuild, and brain waves. And our reflexes with flexion and extention and contraction and expansion reflect the push and pull of the consistent interaction of tone and gravity. After birth, we have been squeezed and pressed and transformed, ending in the press of gravity, hitherto unknown to us. It is somewhat like coming out of water after a long swim. The gravity feels heavy and cloying, but as newborns we have never felt full gravity. We must work hard to push against it or we sleep and allow gravity let us "fall" asleep.

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex- STNR

2010-05-05T18:07:00.000-05:00

Not too long ago I posted a very short clip of one position of STNR on YouTube. Someone commented that it was "wrong". It shows the "Child's Pose" position of STNR. It is true that this pose is not the first pose in the development of STNR, but it is one stage along the way. Some experts don't even acknowledge STNR and instead consider all the phases to be parts of Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) or may even call it Tonic Neck Reflex (TNR). This arguement shows how sticky it can be to divide a holistic, developmental movement into parts to begin with. (Applause is heard from Judith Bluestone watching from above and Bonnie Bainbridge-Cohen in the East.) However, there can be really good reasons to looks at the developmental pieces of STNR if you remember in the end that it is a developmental sequence.

I divide STNR in my own way. (Those of you who know me are not surprised, I am sure.) Catherine Burns has helped me, as have many others. I label Low STNR when the baby is no longer in flexion when lying on the stomach and therefore can straighten the legs and bend the arms as the head is lifted. So much is accomplished in the position! Yeah for tummy time! The vestibular and visual systems are developed together and the colliculi of the midbrain are activated.

As the baby strengthens and the arms are straightened, the legs bend and the head flexes. This is in the form of "Child's Pose" of Yoga fame. This is a relaxation to the vestibular and organ systems. Many children sleep in this position. As the baby draws the straightened arms toward the core, the baby is pushed onto the haunches in the "Sitting Cat" position. Walking the hands forward, the baby is in the "Table" position or on hands and knees. Next comes the rhythmic rocking on hands and knees, in preparation for crawling.

Throughout as these positions of STNR continue to develop, the cortex is taking control through the motor cortex. As this is mastered, the pattern is purposely broken in the "Cobra" and "Teeter Totter" position, among others.

It's a Hand to Mouth Existence

2010-04-12T15:33:00.000-05:00

The relationship in the brain between movement of the hand and movement of the mouth is well documented. Just think of places in the world where people can't speak without moving their hands. The sensory motor cortices (or cortex for the grammatically simple) have large and closely related areas dealing with the sensory intake and motor output of the hand and mouth. At the base of the left motor cortex is the Broca area in the frontal lobe for moving the mouth for speech, right next door is the hand to mouth coordination.

The Grasp Reflex and Babkin Palmomental Reflex are primary reflexes stored in the brain stem. Babkin activates by touch and stretch in the palm and the mouth opens and the mouth moves toward the hand. When I see children with writing issues I usually see a combination of these two reflexes. However handwriting includes more than just hand reflexes and can include differentiation of wrist, elbow and shoulders.

In talks with others in the field, some people combine Babkin and Hand to Mouth Reflexes. Some people combine all types of grasps into the Grasp Reflex. I didn't have much to say except all the relationships of the hand and mouth are complex. But then I had a new experience.

I rarely work with adults in reflex integration for many reasons; the main one being they are harder to deal with. However, a young adult came in to see me with the main issue being compulsive nail biting. I checked Babkin; I checked Grasp. They seemed OK. I was confused. I try a new tact. Maybe elbow bending is the issue with Hands Pulling. A bit retained, but not enough to answer the question. I decide to check Parachute Reflex. Oh my! The client fell toward the wall and caught himself with his hands in the Hanging Grasp. Then it hit me! Nail biting and Hanging Grasp are related if you add the Hand to Mouth Reflex. So Hanging Grasp is not Grasp and Babkin is not Hand to Mouth.

I came up with a handy isometric for both of these reflex and we'll see how these work for nail biters and kids who still put stuff in the mouth.

Triclosan: Our Germ-proof Bubble Breaks

2010-04-08T08:14:00.000-05:00

Triclosan is a pesticide that was introduced in 1969. Fast forward to 2010 and it is a nearly ubiquitous antibiotic additive in liquid soaps, hand sanitizers, toothpaste, make-up and even clothes and toys. It has been suspected of disrupting the endocrine system, especially in development for at least five years. And to make matters worse, Triclosan is not removed or filtered out of our water sources and accumulates there, making our water toxic as well. 75% of the population have Triclosan in their urine. Because of the connection to hormone and neurochemical regulation, it is being looked at as one of the environmental assaults that may increase autism. Thyroid issues have also been linked. There are researchers (from the Soap and Detergent Association) who pooh-pooh all concerns. The EPA has stated that recent research raises "valid concern" about the chemical.

One last note: just use liquid Castille Soap for hands, faces, hair, pets, floors, counters, etc. The research states that regular hand washing with soap and water is as effective as our chemical bombardments.

TLR and Vestibular Functioning

2010-02-11T21:59:00.000-06:00

I have found that checking the TLR (Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex) is often a way to measure vestibular functioning (gravity sense). However, vestibular functioning can be affected by other movements that do not have to do with the tilting of the head. Sucking on a crazy straw and blowing a faceted bead can activate the inner ear and the vestibular system. Jaw clenching can also stress the vestibular system. Today a client used a crazy straw and did 8 consecutive suck/swallows. A few seconds later, ears began to blaze, which is a state change sign, and he got rather disregulated. It took 20 minutes for him to re-regulate. This client had a strong head movement vestibular measure. Obviously ocular-vestibular activities alone are not the entire story.

Trunk Extension Reflex

2010-02-10T11:30:00.000-06:00

As I was doing research into the Trunk Extension Reflex, I came upon this study that links the ability for volitional Trunk Extension and hip stability.

Dynamic iso-resistive trunk extension simulation: Contributions of the intrinsic and reflexive mechanisms to spinal stability
Journal
Technology and Health Care
Publisher IOS Press ISSN 0928-7329 (Print) 1878-7401 (Online) Issue
Volume 15, Number 6 / 2007 Pages 415-431
Subject Group
Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology

As I am always looking for ways to stabilize the hips to improve vestibular functioning and balance, this information intrigued me. Extending the heels and crown and sustaining for a 7 seconds stretch, appears to be one of the most powerful integration tools in postural reflexes, especially for adults. Those with retained ATNR, Moro, Spinal Galant, Perez or a number of other reflexes find that the Trunk Extension stretch is an important addition to their program.

Visit to the Neurobehavioral Dept. of Skokie Hospital

2010-02-03T21:21:00.001-06:00

Just back from my quarterly visit to Chicago. Lee Rodin, a HANDLE screener and near-practitioner and I presented at the hospital about the HANDLE Approach. We had 45 minutes to communicate a presentation that usually takes 1 to 2 hours to a very mixed audience. Some of the neurologists were very reserved, but the therapists were much more lively. No one was impolite. Lee presented the vestibular and proprioceptive systems with great wisdom and clarity. The questions at the end were very bread and butter, BUT....we were invited to speak and no one left. To me that signals a breakthrough in the allopathic world.

2010-01-23T20:27:00.000-06:00

Here is our first imbedded youtube video. Our two Gomo videos and the Primary Reflex Dance have been chopped up and uploaded. I will be picking ones to narrate and expound upon. Hippy Sitting is one of the activities we do as a homework for Spinal Galant Reflex integration issues. Please comment if you come to watch here!

Tactility: the Ultimate Body Sense

2010-01-21T21:49:00.000-06:00

I was reading the new Scientific American about why human developed as hairless and how being hairless led to bigger brains. Although I have not finish the long article, from the neurodevelopmental point of view I can see why this would be true. One of human's unique traits is being able to hold back from acting on the obvious when an authority or teacher is directing otherwise. What does this have to do with skin? Our skin works with our eyes and other senses to form mental rehearsal by the use of what are called mirror neurons. Mirror neurons help us to take on the situation of another and experience empathy. As an example, it is our hairless skin that allows us to feel that someone is "creepy" That feeling would be like something creeping over our skin. Think of how different you feel in early summer wearing shorts and sleeveless shirt after wearing sweaters and heavy pants all winter. You feel a bit self conscious. Self conscoiusness is an awareness of how others see you. Bear skin increases this. Our skin allows us to "feel" more and be more conscious. Imagine being covered with hair and how muffled your skin would feel. And that is the "naked" truth.

HANDLE Principles 2: There is no silver bullet

2010-01-17T17:16:00.000-06:00

As the year mark of the passing of Judith Bluestone comes around, I will continue the principles that she articulated and developed as a part of the HANDLE Approach.

There is no silver bullet. There is no "cure" for neurodevelopmental issues. Only through gentle challenges of weak systems can we harness the developmental power that each of us has within our body-brain system. This can move us forward in our functioning.

There are many snake oil salesmen offering the "answer" to autism, ADHD, dyslexia and so on, but although many approaches can help individual systems, no one approach can "fix" these issues. The truth is that we should reframe our search into helping people with their own personal goals that are evading them. A goal might be to talk, to walk or to play a musical instrument.

Nutrition, cranial sacral therapy, speech, OT, PT and many more approaches can give a piece. The HANDLE approach works on the sensory-motor and body senses better than any therapy that I have seen. When I added the reflex motor resources to the mix, I find a powerful tool to help most people make their goals. And this is powerful indeed. Thanks, Judith.

Marietta, GA-Postural Reflex Course Notes

2010-01-15T10:19:00.000-06:00

Even with icy weather, a very enthusiastic group it was last weekend! We were very lucky to have in attendence, Max, 18, who has Asperger's Syndrome. He was our very excellent model for most of the activity explanations. During the Parachute Reflex explanation (see below), Max's mom noted that Max had to cognitively learn social space and often overestimates (is too far away) as an overcompensation for coming too close as a young child.
On the second day, many people were feeling changes in their reactions to stress. Many felt peace. Sharron says:
Personally I sense a greater freedom to laugh and relax. I gave a 20 min presentation Monday night on brain integration therapy to a home school group and was not as conscious of apprehension as in other days and enjoyed myself.

The Abdominal Sleep Reflex continued the relaxation and the Trunk Extension Reflex brought everyone back together. We are excited to be offering the HANDLE Intro course on this unique sensory-motor approach. March 19, 20, and 21 is the Big 8: Primary Reflexes and Development on March 26, 27 and 28th.

A special thanks to Rhea Brashear and the gang at Morning Star Montessori for sponsoring these courses.

Viruses have Been Changing Our DNA

2010-01-10T09:39:00.000-06:00

This article on viruses is only reiterating what many in the sensory-motor-reflex field have been saying for years. http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-01/8-percent-human-dna-comes-virus-causes-schizophrenia. Many of my aquaintances know that my mother had mental illness and it was labeled as schizophrenia, although other labels were used as well. In one of her letters to her dad, she outlined her hypothesis, truly radical at the time, that her mental issues were from a virus.

Reflexes and Development of Social Relationships

2010-01-10T08:10:00.000-06:00

It is widely understood that primary and postural reflexes are a built-in protection to us. They helps us move away from stimulus that may be harmful and protect us from falling. But fewer people consider the developmental benefits that reflexes offer.

Very clearly our sensory systems are functionally refined by our reflexes. Vision, audition, proprioception, and even tactility are drivers of reflexive reactions, as well as being developed through the reflexive movements.

Fewer experts yet see language and social development as an outcome of typical reflex development. Since language and much of social relationship are rooted in spatial concepts, our development of spatial understanding is key to mastering them. When we say, "We get along well.", we do not consciously remember that being "a long" another is a relationship of being spatially adjacent to another. How does that spatial alignment develop?

Some animals imprint on their mother and this establishes their "position" and "relationship" with her. As humans we use much more complex bonding in relationship development. However, some of our humble reflexes work to develop being in sync with those around us. As an example, on of our postural reflexes, the Parachute Reflex, is obviously for protecting us in case of a fall. Our arms reach out reflexively

when we trip. This safey mechanism is also a measuring stick of "closeness" in other social ways. When we "bring someone into our sphere" we are allowing one to come into our proscribed safety zone, and not "keeping one at arm's length". The handshake is the original safety device: dominant hand out (no weapon) and at arm's length.

Different cultures use the arm measuring stick in differing ways, but in the U.S. the preferable social distance is still at arm's length. This is just one of the many ways that original reflexive responses of our brainstem advise socially learned behavior and emotional responses.

8 Postural Reflexes Plus One in GA

2010-01-05T10:43:00.000-06:00

I will be giving the 8 Plus 1 Course on this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Marietta, GA. How is this course different from the Big 8 Primary Reflexes? Well, postural reflexes are lifelong reflexes that we have for equilibrium, righting and safety in movement. An example is the Parachute Reflex. Hopefully, when you trip and fall, your arms go forward to protect you. You do not think, "I am going to put my arms out so that I don't hit my head." This is no time for cognitive decision making, the brain stem leaps to the task. If the Parachute Reflex in hypo active and the arms do not raise high enough, ouch, the face plant will be the end. If hyperactive and the arms raise too high in front, ouch, face plant again is the result. Whether you are conscious of this dilemma or not, the brain is aware that if you fall, the results could be serious. This underlying anxiety can change the way we move.

If you can come join us.

HANDLE Principles Part 1

2010-01-03T16:17:00.000-06:00

As a new year and decade commence, I will be laying out the Principles of HANDLE as often articulated by Judith Bluestone.

#1 All behavior is communication.

This principle may at first seem obvious, but in everyday life many of us seek to end behaviors before trying to understand what is being communicated. In the case of dangerous behavior, obviously, the first priority must be to safety. But many behaviors of others activate our own behaviors and filters, interfering with us seeing what a behavior could really mean. We assume the meaning is to activate us and this may be true. However, before merely activating a predictable response, the behavior had its genesis in some need to communicate. Always ask, "In the universe of behavior choices, why this one?"

Once in my past life as an elementary school administrator, a second grade teacher reported a student as having disrespectful behavior. I asked (as I always ask), "What did the behavior look like?" She showed me by placing her hands on her hips and head turned to one side. This is a non-verbal that reads, "Oh yeah? Try and make me." However, I was not satified I understood the behavior totally. After reading the school file I realized the the student was nearly blind in one eye and had stability issues. Hands on hips for stability and head turned so that the good eye is on the speaker. Be careful about assuming the interpretation of behavior at once.

Also remember that our own behavior is also communication. Watch "Dog Whisperer" if you don't believe me.

Importance of Vitamin D3 Supplements

2010-01-02T11:06:00.000-06:00

One of last year's biggest vitamin stories was the discovery that almost all people in northern climes do not get anywhere near enough Vitamin D3. The RDA for D was doubled and some scientists think that it should be increased even more, especially for children. Vitamin D comes from exposure to the sun and is probably part of the reason one feels so good after time in the sun (sans sunburn). We need to have 40% of our skin in direct contact with the sun for at least 20 minutes a day to get the amount of D3 we need. Living in Minnesota, I can tell you that NO ONE I know can get that amount in the winter. People of African, Asian and Middle Eastern descent need more to fulfill the requirement. The ubiquitous use of sun screen has increased the problem.

Back in the old days, children would get rickets in northern cities, so D was added to milk and it is still there. However, preventing rickets, a disease of malformed bone growth , needs only minimal D for prevention. The D allows calcium to be absorbed for bone formation, but it affects what I like to call the "lesser bones" or tissues that are made of more or less the same material as bones in differing viscosity. Even a little shortage of D3 in the system can effect bones (osteoporosis?) connective tissue( fibromyalgia?), skin (eczemia?), muscle (chronic fatique?)and mood (seasonal depression?).

I know you're asking, "But eskimos live in the north and have dark skin." True, but in their traditional diet they live mainly on fish, filled with fish oil and Vitamin D!

Birth, Bonding and Attachment: The Book Part I

2009-12-31T09:09:00.000-06:00

I have been grappling with a book on sensory-motor-reflex interactions for years. As with all writing projects, the structure and emphasis is key. So after many false starts, I think I have found the right approach. The direction will center on difficult births and the connection between them and reflex issues that can result in bonding, attachment and other psychological issues. As I teach the Birth, Bonding and Attachment course and work with clients, the more I come to appreciate the foundations set by typical reflex development. Having myself been breech born and delivered by forceps (sorry, Mom), I have a first person experience with many of the subtle and not so subtle effects of traumatic birth. Look forward to snippets as the year goes on and please feel free to comment in any way.

New Year: New Connections

2009-12-30T12:29:00.001-06:00

The mission of this blog is to exchange and pass on knowledge about the importance of sensory-motor-reflex interactons in life and learning.

The Bodhi Tree of Sensory-Motor

2009-03-09T15:37:00.001-05:00

I spent most of the weekend working on a new interaction chart for sensory-motor interactions. After a few tries I came up with something that reminded me of a banyan tree. After a little more research, I learned that the banyan tree is a direct relative of the Bodhi Tree where Buddha found enlightenment. Accident? I think not.

I hope to add the picture soon. I like the model, because it adds memory types and social and verbal processing to a higher degree than HANDLE®'s Spaghetti chart, as well as the body senses.

Parietal Lobe and Language

2009-03-03T16:20:00.001-06:00

In my work in Spatial Cognition and Language, I have used many different developmental timeline of body-space, verbal and nonverbal language and very early reflexive patterns of what I call push energy to study how language develops.

The concept of the need for "push" and "reach" reflexive patterns that are later integrated with voluntary push and reach motion was corroborated by Japanese scientists, Ishbashi Tidetoshi and Iriki Atsushi in the study The role of the parietal lobe in monkey tool-use published in the journal Advances in Neurological Sciences in 2004. In a nutshell, this study showed that when monkeys intentionally used rakes to reach food out of their grasps, the area of the brain used was the same as the area used by humans to speak.

So when you "grasp" an idea, you need to grasp and reach with that rattle first.

Mourning the Passing of Judith Bluestone, Founder of The Handle Institute International

2009-03-02T17:54:00.000-06:00

On February 18th, 2009, two days after sharing a plane ride back to the U.S. from HANDLE's World Wide Affiliate Gathering in the U.K., my mentor and friend, Judith Bluestone released her body and merged with the energy that is life. I say this because one of her favorite sayings was, "We are energetic beings in an energetic world." Her healing gift and haliographic mind was a treasure and inspiration to us all. She will be sadly missed.

Big Eight Reflex Patterning Class-Brighton, U.K.

2009-03-02T16:32:00.000-06:00

On February 10th, 11th and 12th, I had great joy in sharing the holistic approach to working with the basic Big Eight Primary and Facial Reflex Patterns in England. The class was well attended at Pilgrim Hall near Lewes, Sussex. I also worked with 4 students as clients as well, with many positive results. A manual, Powerpoint DVD and the first GOMO and Handwriting DVD were made available.

After the class was the HANDLE World Wide Affiliate Gathering, with presentations by Judith Bluestone, the founder of The HANDLE Institute International and Ros Blackburn, a 40 year old woman who has lived with Autism Spectrum Disorder her entire life. I got to eat dinner with Ros and was able to ask her questions about her and other's issues with auditory processing. I ask questions about all my hypotheses on Spatial Cognition and Language. All the answers followed my predictions.

As my MN Autism Society presentation draws near, I will be posting more on Spatial Cognition and Language.

I'm Back-Summer 2008 and Reflexes

2008-08-19T17:13:00.000-05:00

For a while I thought no one could get to my blog and who would read it? Turns out some people do. I will continue this with topics from time to time.

SUmmer of 2008 was very eventful. Challenging Children class with Svetlana Masgutove in MN, Dream workshop with Harald Blomberg.

Svetlana went over the most common diagnosis of neurodevelopment: Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, low motivation, Cerebral Palsy, MR, and aggression. She presented new statistics of the frequency of hyper, hypo and atypical reflexes in each.

In both seminars, Fear/Paralysis is the new discussion point. It seems to boil down to some simple points: 1. F/P is an early pre-reflexive pattern that is not only muscular, but is cellular. 2. It is habituated in the first 3 mo. in utero. 3. It is activated with sensory triggers.
Moro is proprioceptively activated, but later can be sensory activated. So far I have seen no case where a client had F.P but no Moro retention. However, there are cases of Moro without F/P.

This is all very twisty. I often use my own situation to study these two. I had a 100% retained Moro reflex that was activated with proprioceptive, auditory, tactile and visual challenge. I did not have Fear/Paralysis or I worked through it in life. I also had retained Spinal Galant, another core reflex, which is tactilely activated. Sensitivity in sensory channels must play a role in whether a reflex is integrated or stays integrated. This is Judith Bluestone's view, as well.

Harald Blomberg's class on dreams interpretation as body and brain communication was very interesting. I have been asking my clients for their dreams since last year and have many that fit the pattern of the nervous system of the spine, lower brain and prefrontal cortex communicating and trying to integrate. I hope to devote more time for this later.

Another P.P.

2004-12-14T12:44:00.000-06:00

3. This one is the need of people for a silver bullet or magic pill approach to learning differences. No matter what anyone tells you there is no one "right" answer to these issues. Usually neuro-development, like all health takes a well-thought out approach. No one diet, activity, habit, therapy or medication helps in all ways. Usually all these components need to be considered and balanced with the life, environment and needs of the family as a whole. HANDLE(R)'s "H" stands for Holistic. Systems thinking demands seeing the big picture and the trade offs.

P Ps about P's Ps

2004-12-10T10:46:00.000-06:00

#2 The next pet peeve is the very idea that we can actually come close to defining intelligence, measure it in a growing child, and sum it up in a number.

IQ scores, I guess, have a place in the world of measurement. But, let's stop saying that they measure intelligence and stop believing that they are at all meaningful in the education of children.

Standardization also has a place in this world and wise people keep it in its place. But, let's stop thinking that there is much true standardization in the measurement of intelligence tests given to children. Their sleep, food, fear, percpetion, earlier interactions, expectations, developmental maturity and much more interacts and makes nonstandard outcomes.

If machines were being tested, they would be oiled properly, adjusted properly, housed properly to make the test valid. But with kids, only the test is the same and it is considered valid.

Dr Dr. Robert J. Sternberg of Yale University's Educational Psychology had his IQ tested early in school and it was deemed that he was of a low sort. Little was expected of him until in 4th grade his teacher told he that she didn't believe that he was stupid and was going to start expecting as much from him as anyone else. He never looked back. He learned the lesson of standardization: standardization doesn't say much about individual performance, but is best at showing data trends.

Now when I am told that a child's IQ is 40, 60, 80 or even 160, I look at the subtests and attempt to see how neuro-processing might have affected it. If you have poor audio processing, both part of the tests are difficult. If you have visual issues, the performance side can be very low. If your laterality or inner hemispheric integration is weak, processing quickly enough can make you look "slow".

Pet Peeves about People's Paradigms

2004-12-09T10:17:00.000-06:00

I know, I know alliteration is a no-no in blogging. But I have liked the term "pet peeve" ever since my daughter made a little elfin creature out of Sculpty clay and gave me my own pet peeve. I call him Alfred.

Oliver's Pet Peeves about People's Paradigms

Paradigm #1: There is psychology and there is physiology and the two are unrelated and need totally different approaches.

The longer I study neuro-development, the more I believe that much of what we perceived as personality is really just an accommodation to our perceptual world and the attendant stress. This may sound materialistic, but in reality we do have choice and creativity with these accommodations, if we are aware of where it starts. Most people think that personality starts in the mysterious area called, "psychology".

For years, psychology has told us that we are affected emotionally by early trauma. Trauma does affect the type and amount of stress that a system receives and can impact many neuro-systems in subtle and overt ways. However, emotions are the feedback systems that tell us how our systems are dealing with stresses.

I once helped with a study trying to find why some people have resilience in the face of great trauma and others do not. At the time the theory was that a dependable adult in the life of a child makes a difference (and of course it usually does.) However, I would bet that a robust neuro-developmental system is even more consistent with resilience.

More "peeves" in future posts.....

Why a blog on Neuro-development?

2004-12-08T13:57:00.000-06:00

For the last six years, when I tell people that I am a neuro-developmental specialist, I usually get a blank stare. When I explain that neuro-development deals with discovering perceptual and processing differences in individuals, interest increases. When I remark on my observations of a particular person's perceptual processing, attention is riveted.

We are taught from the very beginning that people are all unique individuals, but these differences are usually considered to be in culture or perspective. Rarely do people consider the differences in our perceptions of reality and how we react to these perceptions. These differences are very real and more defining than ethnic origins or life situations.

In neuro-development we look at stress stimuli (good and bad) and the ability and efficiency of an individual's body/mind system to deal with this stress.

My goals on this blog is to explain and discuss neuro-development and neuro differences as I am able. I do not want to get into specific cases, so if questions, examples or descriptions get too individual, I'll suggest an individual assessment. I do want to write about general concepts and react to related news items of the day.