Comments on: NIH Launches the Human Connectome Project to Unravel the Brain’s Connections http://mhsw.org/press/nih-launches-the-human-connectome-project-to-unravel-the-brain%e2%80%99s-connections/ Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:08:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Prof/Dr Brian A Rothbart http://mhsw.org/press/nih-launches-the-human-connectome-project-to-unravel-the-brain%e2%80%99s-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-706 Prof/Dr Brian A Rothbart Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:55:51 +0000 http://mhsw.org/?p=403#comment-706 I found very interesting the information you shared regarding the National Institute of Health's 30 million dollar project to research how the brain functions in healthy adults. I am glad to hear that there is money being spent towards exploring new treatment options, given the chronic pain pandemic we are in. Recently, I wrote a post where I talked about an article in the Journal of Neuroscience (Baliki et al 2008). In this article, investigators at Northwestern University's School of Medicine discovered an alteration in brain function in people suffering from chronic pain. They feel that this alteration in brain function may explain how chronic pain can trigger such symptoms as insomnia, depression, anxiety and/or mental sluggishness. Baliki et al further explained that the front region of the brain, in a person suffering from chronic pain, is consistently active. This, they suggest, will prematurely wear out the neurons, altering their connections to one another. They believe this may lead to permanent brain damage and the symptoms I listed above. What I have suggested is that focal areas of hyperactivity within the cerebral cortex may result from ischemia. I further suggest that this cerebral ischemia is due to a forward head position. A forward head position can compress the carotid arteries, which run along either side of the neck. Compressing these carotid arteries can diminish the flow of blood to the brain much like a kink in a water hose can diminish the flow of water through the water hose (Rothbart 2009. Forward head position can lead to debilitating symptoms within the brain). Diminished blood flow can lead to cellular death in the brain. The end result are symptoms such as insomnia, depression, anxiety and/or mental sluggishness. A forward head position can be part of a postural distortional pattern caused by an embryological foot structure, now known as Rothbarts Foot. That is, I suggest a problem originating in the feet can lead to changes in brain function and resulting chronic pain. This forward head position can be effectively corrected using a type of therapy that now bears my name (e.g., Rothbart Proprioceptive Therapy). Rothbart Proprioceptive Therapy uses a stimulation underneath the feet. This stimulation sends a signal to the brain. The brain, in turn, automatically corrects the posture and brings the forward head back over the spine. This opens up the carotid arteries allowing increased blood flow and oxygen to reach the brain. I suggest that when the head is in its correct position over the spine and the brain is receiving sufficient blood flow and oxygen, brain function improves. Clinically, what we see is dysfunctional sleeping patterns attenuating, depression and anxiety abating and mental alacrity improving. I would welcome your thoughts on this. Prof/Dr Rothbart www.rothbartsite.com References Baliki MN, Geha PY, Apkarian V, et. Al. 2008. Beyond Feeling: Chronic Pain Hurts the Brain, Disrupting the Default-Mode Network Dynamics. Journal Neuroscience. 28(6):1398-1403. Rothbart BA 2009. A forward head position can lead to debilitating symptoms in the brain. Heal Yourself Magazine. http://healyourselftalk.com/magazine/a-forward-head-position-can-lead-to-debilitating-symptoms-in-the-brain 25 Jul Rothbart BA 2009. Chronic Pain Changes How the Brain Functions. Research Blog Post. http://blog.rothbartsite.com/2009/07/06/chronic-pain-changes-how-the-brain-functions.aspx August. I found very interesting the information you shared regarding the National Institute of Health’s 30 million dollar project to research how the brain functions in healthy adults. I am glad to hear that there is money being spent towards exploring new treatment options, given the chronic pain pandemic we are in.
Recently, I wrote a post where I talked about an article in the Journal of Neuroscience (Baliki et al 2008). In this article, investigators at Northwestern University’s School of Medicine discovered an alteration in brain function in people suffering from chronic pain. They feel that this alteration in brain function may explain how chronic pain can trigger such symptoms as insomnia, depression, anxiety and/or mental sluggishness.
Baliki et al further explained that the front region of the brain, in a person suffering from chronic pain, is consistently active. This, they suggest, will prematurely wear out the neurons, altering their connections to one another. They believe this may lead to permanent brain damage and the symptoms I listed above.
What I have suggested is that focal areas of hyperactivity within the cerebral cortex may result from ischemia. I further suggest that this cerebral ischemia is due to a forward head position.
A forward head position can compress the carotid arteries, which run along either side of the neck. Compressing these carotid arteries can diminish the flow of blood to the brain much like a kink in a water hose can diminish the flow of water through the water hose (Rothbart 2009. Forward head position can lead to debilitating symptoms within the brain). Diminished blood flow can lead to cellular death in the brain. The end result are symptoms such as insomnia, depression, anxiety and/or mental sluggishness.
A forward head position can be part of a postural distortional pattern caused by an embryological foot structure, now known as Rothbarts Foot. That is, I suggest a problem originating in the feet can lead to changes in brain function and resulting chronic pain.
This forward head position can be effectively corrected using a type of therapy that now bears my name (e.g., Rothbart Proprioceptive Therapy). Rothbart Proprioceptive Therapy uses a stimulation underneath the feet. This stimulation sends a signal to the brain. The brain, in turn, automatically corrects the posture and brings the forward head back over the spine. This opens up the carotid arteries allowing increased blood flow and oxygen to reach the brain.
I suggest that when the head is in its correct position over the spine and the brain is receiving sufficient blood flow and oxygen, brain function improves. Clinically, what we see is dysfunctional sleeping patterns attenuating, depression and anxiety abating and mental alacrity improving.
I would welcome your thoughts on this.
Prof/Dr Rothbart
http://www.rothbartsite.com

References
Baliki MN, Geha PY, Apkarian V, et. Al. 2008. Beyond Feeling: Chronic Pain Hurts the Brain, Disrupting the Default-Mode Network Dynamics. Journal Neuroscience. 28(6):1398-1403.
Rothbart BA 2009. A forward head position can lead to debilitating symptoms in the brain. Heal Yourself Magazine. http://healyourselftalk.com/magazine/a-forward-head-position-can-lead-to-debilitating-symptoms-in-the-brain 25 Jul
Rothbart BA 2009. Chronic Pain Changes How the Brain Functions. Research Blog Post. http://blog.rothbartsite.com/2009/07/06/chronic-pain-changes-how-the-brain-functions.aspx August.

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