Physical activity and learning

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A recent study has shown that, to improve the memory of what we have learned, it is best to do physical activity… 4 hours later!
The results of the study show that if we plan our schedule accordingly, we can maximize learning.

Precisely, we have seen that it is associative memory that improves. As well, exercising four hours after having studied favors the functioning of the hippocampus, responsible for short-term memory. We can add to this that the hippocampus also helps us with orientating ourselves in space. It’s convenient when you don’t want to be late for an appointment, for example! The hippocampus also allows us not to forgive our wallet or our keys, for example.

If it’s true that the exact mechanism of how exercising 4 hours after studying helps us with memory, what is known is that physical activity promote the release of specific neurotransmitters, namely dopamine and norepinephrine. These two substances can improve memory consolidation.

One can think that if the body is aligned and stable, the effects of exercising to promote better memory can only be greater. When one considers that posturology activates areas of the brain responsible for both movement and memory, adding posturology to any regimen can only lead to a win-win!

ADHD, really?

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ADHD is trendy and some specialists question themselves on the number of children diagnosed. It is the case of Benoît Hammarrenger, neuropsychologist.

In the US, we consider that it’s 25% of the children that are tagged with a questionable ADHD diagnosis.

According to M. Hammarrenger, we rely too heavily on the Conners questionnaire when the time comes to do a variety of tests. The Conners test is not supposed to be, relatively speaking, the determinant test leading to a diagnosis.

Not only does M. Hammarrenger consider that the diagnosis is often done too early, he also considers that other conditions that are similar to ADHD can be mistaken for it. Those actually include anxiety and pervasive developmental disorder.

In functional neurology, it’s been known for many years that these different issues brought up by M. Hammarrenger often affect the same brain pathways. fMRI studies have many times revealed that networks involving the cerebellum, the basal ganglia and the frontal areas were affected in the cases of ADHD, anxiety as well as other cognitive and emotional challenges.

It is these networks that are optimized in the context of an intervention in posturology. By optimizing the balance and movement system, the networks responsible for learning are stimulated. As well, by integrating primitive reflexes that create the tone of the muscles of the organism, we are literally positioning the body for comfort and overall efficiency.

For your eyes only

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Recently, researchers have studied the following question: is there a connection between the papillary reflex, stress and auditory issues.

What about the pupil reflex?

The pupil reflex represents the change in the size of the pupil as it responds to a luminous source that lands on the retina. When light hits the retina, the autonomic nervous system that is responsible to manage that kind of situation does so by allowing contraction of the constrictor muscle of the pupil. This mechanism contributes to a reduction of light that hits the retina.

The reverse scenario is also possible. If the body perceives that there is not enough light, it can see it as a threat and the pupil then dilates to allow more light to contact the retina.

The pupil reflex as a means to assess the nervous system

Clinicians in functional neurology have been using the pupil reflex as a means of evaluation of the autonomic nervous system. This is the system responsible for keeping us alive while we are busy living our lives.

For example, an individual that is stressed, generally speaking, can have a weaker pupil reflex, which means that, at rest, its pupils are more dilated than someone who is more relaxed.

It has been many years that the pupil reflex has been used as a component of the assessment of the autonomic nervous system in the cases where patients suffer from Parkinson, Alzheimer and diabetes.

In the context of this study, 36 studies speaking of the pupil reflex and the autonomic nervous system were read. 30 of them made the link between the pupil reflex and a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.

What about posturology?

With posturology, we assess the body as a whole with the purpose of evaluating the expense of energy an individual is responsible for to stand upright and move. This evaluation includes motility of the eyes, as in how both eyes work together to allow us to focus on the horizon, as we need to do so to stabilize our body to do anything!

Ocular convergence is interesting for the posturologist. It attests of the capacity of the two hemispheres to work together, which is necessary for all motor tasks to take place.

Since we know that, for ocular convergence to take place, pupil constriction is necessary, if this mechanism is weak, ocular convergence pays the price and the final resultant is postural compensations and, in the worst of cases, instability disorders.

Specific exercises can be suggested as to improve the pupil reflex, which can potentially have positive consequences on the entire balance system.

Nocturnal enuresis and bed wetting

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A recent study made some links between the development of equilibrium strategies and nocturnal enuresis.

What was noticed was that the children that suffer from enuresis also present with postural imbalances.

In a study, 171 children were recruited. 111 of them suffered from enuresis. 60 did not. We analyzed their equilibrium and their posture.

What was found was that the children that suffered from enuresis were unstable and their pelvis showed more tilted forward.

A hypothesis that comes to mind is that the motor aspect of the nervous system depends on the maturity of the central nervous system. We can therefore think that the same can apply for the autonomic component of the system. Is it possible that sphincter control is more difficult in children that suffer from postural imbalances and from being unstable?

Strabismus and posture

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Strabismus is a default of eye alignment. We diagnose strabismus mainly in children that are 6 years old and less and it is about 5% of the children that are affected by strabismus. It is not rare that parents are the first ones to recognize the eye deviation.

It is recommended to have a full eye exam as of the age of 3. The thing is, by the age of 3, the visual system has already developed quite a bit.

It is true that if the strabismus is of congenital nature, the environment of the child will not be a considerable factor in resolving the issue. That being said, if the strabismus appeared during the first years of life, non-invasive solutions do exist.

Certain optometrists will recommend visual exercises. And that’s good. Yet, it’s incomplete. We develop our vision as we develop our entire body. We do so by navigating our environment. In my opinion, we have to address the body as a whole to get optimal results.

Take the Doman brothers, for example. They recognized early on (in the 1960s) that ocular pursuit was developed in the context of crawling, belly on floor.

It is with this in mind that, at Clinique VI, we offer a service entitled Motor Development for 0-6 years old.

As Dr. Ezane, MD and associates say: we associate equilibrium difficulties with strabismus. More so, we know that these children must spend more energy to stand upright that children that do not have strabismus.