This seems to be quite a reach and I can't quite see your therapist writing this in your record and getting your insurance to pay for those sessions.
http://www.medical-hypotheses.com/article/S0306-9877%2814%2900399-5/abstract
Research
Fellow of the National Trauma Research Institute, Monash Alfred
Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred & Monash University Central
Clinical School, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Received:
August 7, 2014;
Accepted:
November 6, 2014;
Published Online: November 13, 2014
Publication stage:
In Press Corrected Proof
Abstract
Recovery
after brain insult is variable. Research has shown that activation of
higher-order cognitive processes create larger gains in recovery than
repetitive tasks, most likely due to neuroplasticity. That is,
neuroplasticity is promoted by task complexity. Ear wiggling is a rare
skill among humans yet may activate and promote advanced recovery after a
brain injury. Increased cognitive complexity of learning a new task
could allow insights into plasticity in learning new motor tasks and the
role of cognitive complexity in learning that task. This paper focuses
on a hypothesis relating to white matter pathways dormant in most people
(such as those related to ear wiggling). If these pathways can be
triggered by electrical/magnetic stimulation and/or higher-order thought
into becoming consciously controllable, then it is possible that
activation of a dormant, complex skill may assist in re-growth or repair
of brain-damaged pathways. The broader potential impact of the proposed
hypothesis is that ear wiggling could be used for improving the
recovery of TBI or stroke subjects via neuroplasticity processes.
This is a bizarre coincidence. I once wrote a blog entry about figuring out how to wiggle my ears - something I was not previously able to do. It took an entire day of trying, but I don't know how many reps it was. After a day, I was able to rewire my brain to control muscles I'd never controlled before. Why can't we stroke survivors do that? We do - fanatical massed practice at work. I guess we can tell who sticks with and who the slackers are.
ReplyDeleteI never posted the blog entry.