Transcript The Corpus Callosum

Both Sides Now:
Am I Just Dumb or What?
Why Do Others Learn More Easily
than Me?
Dr. Charles T. Krebs, Founder of LEAP
Clinician and Researcher
The Lydian Center for Innovative Medicine
777 Concord Avenue, Suite 301
Cambridge, Massachusetts
A Model of Learning
based upon Gestalt & Logic
Modes of Leaning:
• Two different, yet Complementary
Modes of Mental Processing.
Two different ways to Organise &
Consolidate "packages” of Sensory
Input and Experience for Storage in
Memory!
• One Mode is based upon Global,
Simultaneous Processing of Data.
• Uses Inductive Reasoning to perceive
the Pattern and Form of the Whole, is
inherently ‘Non-Rational’ & Intuitive.
Referred to as Gestalt - the German
word for Pattern or Form!
A Model of Learning
based upon Gestalt & Logic
Modes of Leaning:
• Other Mode is based upon Logical, Linear,
Sequential Processing.
• Uses Deductive Reasoning to analyse the
Relationship of the Pieces to the Whole.
• Is inherently Rational & Analytical.
• Two Powerful Modes of Mental Processing
that perfectly Complement each Other.
• Why “Whole Brain” Thinking is always
preferable to “Half Brain” Thinking.
• Why we need Both Sides Now - Brain
Integration!
Gestalt & Logic “Lead”
Functions
• Gestalt functions do Predominate in One
Cerebral Hemisphere and Logic functions in
the Other.
• However, Processing underlying Higher
Mental Functions is done in both
Hemispheres.
• And at Three Levels – the Cortical Level,
the Limbic Level & the Brainstem Level.
• Gestalt and Logic Functions are not simply
localised in the Right or Left Cerebral
Hemisphere
• However, each type of Brain Function or
process has a Cerebral “Lead” Function
which is either predominantly Gestalt or
Logic in Nature.
Gestalt & Logic “Lead”
Functions
• “Lead” Functions are activated by
Conscious Thinking!
• Each “Lead” Function initiates a
Chain of integrated activity at all
Three Levels in the Brain!
• Blocked “Lead” Functions thus “shut
down” the ability to begin a Whole
Process!
• Higher Level Thinking requires
access to both Gestalt & Logic
“Lead” Functions & their
Integration.
Right Brain – Left Brain
How the two Sides Meet?
• Integrative Pathways uniting our
Gestalt and Logic “Lead” Functions are
called Commissures.
• The biggest Commissure in the Brain is
the Corpus Callosum!
• The Corpus Callosum is a set of 200 to
800 Million Interhemispheric Axons!
• The Number of Fibers Varies with Sex
and Handedness – Women & NonRight Handed Men have the most
Fibers!
Corpus Callosum
Both Sides Now!
Figure 3: The Corpus Callosum - expanded view
Right side cut away to show Interhemispheric
Fibers from the Right Cerebral Cortex go to
exactly the same areas of the Left Cerebral
Cortex.
Figure 1: The Corpus Callosum, Anterior Commissure and
other Commissures of the brain - cross sectional view. The
fibres crossing through the corpus callosum connect most
cortical areas in one hemisphere with the same areas in
the opposite hemisphere. Whereas the Anterior
Commissure connects areas in the anterior, inferior and
medial temporal lobes in one hemisphere with the same
areas in the opposite hemisphere.
There are a number of other minor commissures connecting
the right and left sides of the brain. One of the most
Important being the Hippocampal Commissure the source of
Exam Blank Out!
Fig. 1: Simplified Schematic of
Mental Processing.
Note the many Levels of Integration, and how late in Processing
Consciousness appears & this is just on one-side of the Brain!
Then the Corpus Callosum must further Integrate the Gestalt & Logic
“Lead” Functions in both Hemispheres that Initiate our Thinking!
Learning from the LEAP point of
view, requires three things:
• Access to Specific Brain Functions.
• Ability to Integrate these Brain
Functions.
• Maintaining Integration of these
Functions under Varying Degrees of
Stress.
• But how do we know when a
Person has Lost Integration needed
to Learn?
Both Sides Now:
Corpus Callosum & Right/Left
Hemisphere Integration
• How Do You Locate a "Blocked" Corpus Callosum?
• The Corpus Callosum Neuro-Muscular Test: A
Bilateral Muscle Test specifically activates the
Corpus Callosum.
• But How "Blocked" is "Blocked"?
• What "Blocks" the Corpus Callosum? Most often
Childhood Traumas – but Trauma as perceived by
a 2 or 3 year old!
• What is the Result of a Blocked Corpus Callosum?
• The Stress Avoidance Cycle!
Both Sides Now:
Corpus Callosum Neuro-Integration
Muscle Test
• This Test was developed by Vic
Roderigues in 1985.
• I then modified this Test to make it
specific for the Corpus Callosum.
• The CCNM Test is basically a High
Supraspinatus Test, but with the
Hands facing each other & the
Pressure is across the chest.
Figure 5. The Stress Avoidance Cycle begins when you have either on-going or
specific situational loss of Brain Integration (BI). On-going loss of BI is due to
trauma in early childhood, and is there every day, while situational loss of BI is
only there in the presence of a specific stressor.
What is the Result of the
Stress Avoidance Cycle?
Both Sides Now:
Corpus Callosum & Right/Left
Hemisphere Integration
• What is the Result of Unblocking
the Corpus Callosum?
• The Success Cycle!
Figure 6: The Success Cycle begins when you “hold” Brain Integration
even when stressed by a specific task or function, or even when you
make a mistake, allowing you “Figure it out” eliminating the stress .
What is the Result of the
Success Cycle?
One-day Workshop
following the Conference
• Will provide the Simple Muscle
Tests to check for Corpus Callsoum.
“Blockage”.
• Then explore how this may change
in Different Contexts!
• Brain Integration is totally
Contextual!