scholarly journals The Embodied-Enactive-Interactive Brain: Bridging Neuroscience and Creative Arts Therapies

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Vaisvaser
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
The Body ◽  
Creative Arts ◽  
Creative Arts Therapies ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Integrative View ◽  
Communicative Patterns ◽  
Synchronization Mechanisms ◽  
Neuroplastic Change ◽  
The Brain

The recognition and incorporation of evidence-based neuroscientific concepts into creative arts therapeutic knowledge and practice seem valuable and advantageous for the purpose of integration and professional development. Moreover, exhilarating insights from the field of neuroscience coincide with the nature, conceptualization, goals, and methods of Creative Arts Therapies (CATs), enabling comprehensive understandings of the clinical landscape, from a translational perspective. This paper contextualizes and discusses dynamic brain functions that have been suggested to lie at the heart of intra- and inter-personal processes. Touching upon fundamental aspects of the self and self-other interaction, the state-of-the-art neuroscientific-informed views will shed light on mechanisms of the embodied, predictive and relational brain. The conceptual analysis introduces and interweaves the following contemporary perspectives of brain function: firstly, the grounding of mental activity in the lived, bodily experience will be delineated; secondly, the enactive account of internal models, or generative predictive representations, shaped by experience, will be defined and extensively deliberated; and thirdly, the interpersonal simulation and synchronization mechanisms that support empathy and mentalization will be thoroughly considered. Throughout the paper, the cross-talks between the brain and the body, within the brain through functionally connected neural networks and in the context of agent-environment dynamics, will be addressed. These communicative patterns will be elaborated on to unfold psychophysiological linkage, as well as psychopathological shifts, concluding with the neuroplastic change associated with the formulation of CATs. The manuscript suggests an integrative view of the brain-body-mind in contexts relevant to the therapeutic potential of the expressive creative arts and the main avenues by which neuroscience may ground, enlighten and enrich the clinical psychotherapeutic practice.

Mortal Body, Immortal Mind

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-26
Author(s):  
Hans Goller
Keyword(s):  
Brain Activity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Activity Data ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Body Experiences ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Near Death Experiences ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Alternative Theories

Neuroscientists keep telling us that the brain produces consciousness and consciousness does not survive brain death because it ceases when brain activity ceases. Research findings on near-death-experiences during cardiac arrest contradict this widely held conviction. They raise perplexing questions with regard to our current understanding of the relationship between consciousness and brain functions. Reports on veridical perceptions during out-of-body experiences suggest that consciousness may be experienced independently of a functioning brain and that self-consciousness may continue even after the termination of brain activity. Data on studies of near-death-experiences could be an incentive to develop alternative theories of the body-mind relation as seen in contemporary neuroscience.

The Brain as Treasury and as Aqueduct

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 542-566
Author(s):  
Jessica Wright
Keyword(s):  
Fifth Century ◽  
The Body ◽  
Late Antique ◽  
Material Resources ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Motor Nerves ◽  
Architectural Structures ◽  
A Site ◽  
The City ◽  
The Brain

In late antique theological texts, metaphors of the brain were useful tools for talking about forms of governance: cosmic, political, and domestic; failed and successful; interior discipline and social control. These metaphors were grounded in a common philosophical analogy between the body and the city, and were also supported by the ancient medical concept of the brain as the source of the sensory and motor nerves. Often the brain was imagined as a monarch or civic official, governing the body from the head as from an acropolis or royal house. This article examines two unconventional metaphors of the brain in the work of the fifth-century Greco-Syrian bishop Theodoret of Cyrrhus—the brain as a treasure within the acropolis, and the brain as a node in an urban aqueduct—both of which adapt the structural metaphor of governance to reflect the changing political and economic circumstances of imperial Christianity. Drawing upon medical theories of the brain, Theodoret expands upon the conventional governance metaphor of brain function to encompass the economic and the spiritual responsibilities of the bishop-administrator. Just as architectural structures (acropolis, aqueduct) contain and distribute valuable resources (treasure, water) within the city, so the brain accumulates and redistributes nourishing substances (marrow, blood, pneuma) within the body; and just as the brain functions as a site for the transformation of material resources (body) into spiritual goods (mind), so the bishop stands as a point of mediation between earthly wealth and the treasures of heaven.

scholarly journals Regulatory Roles of Bone in Neurodegenerative Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengran Yu ◽  
Zemin Ling ◽  
Lin Lu ◽  
Jin Zhao ◽  
Xiang Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Lymphoid Organ ◽  
The Body ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

Osteoporosis and neurodegenerative diseases are two kinds of common disorders of the elderly, which often co-occur. Previous studies have shown the skeletal and central nervous systems are closely related to pathophysiology. As the main structural scaffold of the body, the bone is also a reservoir for stem cells, a primary lymphoid organ, and an important endocrine organ. It can interact with the brain through various bone-derived cells, mostly the mesenchymal and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). The bone marrow is also a place for generating immune cells, which could greatly influence brain functions. Finally, the proteins secreted by bones (osteokines) also play important roles in the growth and function of the brain. This article reviews the latest research studying the impact of bone-derived cells, bone-controlled immune system, and bone-secreted proteins on the brain, and evaluates how these factors are implicated in the progress of neurodegenerative diseases and their potential use in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.

scholarly journals Monosodium Glutamate in the Diet Does Not Raise Brain Glutamate Concentrations or Disrupt Brain Functions

2018 ◽  
Vol 73 (Suppl. 5) ◽  
pp. 43-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Fernstrom
Keyword(s):  
Monosodium Glutamate ◽  
Safety Evaluation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Neuronal Function ◽  
Excitatory Neurotransmitter ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Experimental Findings ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Amino Acid Glutamate

The non-essential amino acid glutamate participates in numerous metabolic pathways in the body. It also performs important physiologic functions, which include a sensory role as one of the basic tastes (as monosodium glutamate [MSG]), and a role in neuronal function as the dominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Its pleasant taste (as MSG) has led to its inclusion as a flavoring agent in foods for centuries. Glutamate’s neurotransmitter role was discovered only in the last 60 years. Its inclusion in foods has necessitated its safety evaluation, which has raised concerns about its transfer into the blood ultimately increasing brain glutamate levels, thereby causing functional disruptions because it is a neurotransmitter. This concern, originally raised almost 50 years ago, has led to an extensive series of scientific studies to examine this issue, conducted primarily in rodents, non-human primates, and humans. The key findings have been that (a) the ingestion of MSG in the diet does not produce appreciable increases in glutamate concentrations in blood, except when given experimentally in amounts vastly in excess of normal intake levels; and (b) the blood-brain barrier effectively restricts the passage of glutamate from the blood into the brain, such that brain glutamate levels only rise when blood glutamate concentrations are raised experimentally via non-physiologic means. These and related discoveries explain why the ingestion of MSG in the diet does not lead to an increase in brain glutamate concentrations, and thus does not produce functional disruptions in brain. This article briefly summarizes key experimental findings that evaluate whether MSG in the diet poses a threat to brain function.

scholarly journals POTENTIAL USE OF SULFORAPHANE AS A NEUROPROTECTOR

2021 ◽  
pp. 125-136
Author(s):  
S. A. Tsiumpala ◽  
K. M. Starchevska ◽  
V. I. Lushchak
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
The Body ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Inflammatory Processes ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Potential Use

Introduction. Under normal conditions, oxidative stress and proinflammatory processes are tightly controlled. However, during neuroinflammation and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), homeostasis is disrup­ted, which may lead to development of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Inflammatory processes may result in neurodegenerative disorders. Sulforaphane is an isothiocyanate compound which has potential for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Its therapeutic potential is based on the ability to activate transcription of genes, that regulate protective cellular mechanisms. The importance of stu­dying sulforaphane as a neuroprotector is based on the fact, that dementias are the seventh leading cause of death glo­bally and actively progress due to aging of human population. In this review, the anti-inflammatory effects of sulforaphane in the brain and its use as a potential neuroprotector in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases are discussed. The aim of the study – to review available literature sources on the potential use of sulforaphane to prevent or mitigate neuroinflammation. Conclusions. Economic and technological development of mankind and the improvement of the general qua­lity of life leads to prolongation of human life. But, achievements of longevity give new challenges to humanity. In young age and early adulthood, the organisms can relatively easily maintain homeostasis, then in old age intensification of oxidative stress and inflammatory processes can lead to the development of dementias and mental disorders. What should we do now to save clear mind in old age? In this review, sulforaphane is considered to be a potential neuroprotector. Biologically active supplements and drugs containing sulforaphane can weaken up inflammatory processes in the brain and in the body in general, and therefore they can be used for prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Evidence on Integrating Pharmacokinetics to Find Truly Therapeutic Agent for Alzheimer’s Disease: Comparative Pharmacokinetics and Disposition Kinetics Profiles of Stereoisomers Isorhynchophylline and Rhynchophylline in Rats

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunyuan Zhang ◽  
Xu Wu ◽  
Yanfang Xian ◽  
Lin Zhu ◽  
Ge Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Oral Administration ◽  
Therapeutic Agent ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Systemic Exposure ◽  
The Body ◽  
Chinese Medicinal Herb ◽  
Disposition Kinetics ◽  
The Brain

Isorhynchophylline (IRN) and rhynchophylline (RN), a pair of stereoisomers, are tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids isolated from Uncaria rhynchophylla, a commonly used Chinese medicinal herb. These two compounds have drawn extensive attention due to their potent neuroprotective effects with promising therapeutic potential for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, IRN and RN can interconvert into each other in vivo after oral administration. The present study aimed to elucidate the pharmacokinetic profiles and disposition kinetics of the administered and generated stereoisomers in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after oral administration of equal dose of IRN or RN to rats. Our study demonstrated that after oral administration, RN showed significantly higher systemic exposure (6.5 folds of IRN, p < 0.001) and disposition in the brain (2.5 folds of IRN, p < 0.01) and CSF (3 folds of IRN, p < 0.001) than IRN. The results indicated that interconversion between IRN and RN occurred. Notably, regardless of the orally administered IRN or RN, RN would always be one of the major or predominant forms present in the body. Our results provided sound evidence supporting further development of RN as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of AD. Moreover, the present study sets a solid example that integrating pharmacokinetics is crucial to identify the truly therapeutic agent.

scholarly journals Crafting Life Stories in Photocollage: An Online Creative Art-Based Intervention for Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Shoshi Keisari ◽  
Silvia Piol ◽  
Talia Elkarif ◽  
Giada Mola ◽  
Ines Testoni
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Developmental Task ◽  
Creative Arts ◽  
Creative Arts Therapies ◽  
Integrative View ◽  
Creative Art

Creative arts therapies (CAT) provide a safe and creative environment for older adults to process life experiences and maintain personal growth while aging. There is a growing need to make creative arts therapies more accessible to the aging population, as many have limited access to these services. This need has been catalyzed by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tele-CAT offers a possible solution. This study explored the experiences of older adults who participated in an online creative process of digital photocollage based on CAT. Twenty-four Italian and Israeli community-dwelling older adults aged 78 to 92 participated in this research through Zoom teleconferencing software. Transcriptions of the sessions and the art produced through the photocollage were qualitatively analyzed through Thematic Analysis. The findings show that the projective stimuli of digital photographs supported older adults’ narratives and engaged them in a more embodied emotional experience. Participant experiences involved artistic enjoyment within a positive and safe interaction with therapists. The creation of digital photocollages allowed the participants to process their life experiences and create an integrative view of their life, a vital developmental task in late life. These results point to the advantages and challenges of tele-CAT for older adults.

Brain–Computer Interfaces and Neurofeedback for Enhancing Human Performance

2019 ◽  
pp. 125-141
Author(s):  
Ranganatha Sitaram ◽  
Andrea Sánchez Corzo ◽  
Mariana Zurita ◽  
Constanza Levican ◽  
Daniela Huepe-Artigas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Performance ◽  
The Body ◽  
Measured Quantity ◽  
Action Perception ◽  
Brain Computer Interfaces ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Cognition And Emotion ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Computer Interfaces ◽  
The Brain

Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs), also known as brain–machine interfaces (BMIs), are a group of experimental procedures in which an external sensor is used to provide information about a specific brain process in order to change the measured quantity. A BCI acquires signals from the brain of a human or an animal using any one or more of these sensors, then selects or extracts specific features of interest from the signal and converts and then translates these into artificial output that can act on the body or the outside world. A BCI may influence human performance by replacing, restoring, supplementing, or enhancing brain function. In this chapter, we discuss the extant research in terms of experimental work and neuroscience understanding of the application of BCIs and neurofeedback systems in influencing human performance in different brain functions, namely, action, perception, cognition, and emotion, in healthy individuals, expert performers, and patients.

scholarly journals Cerebral blood flow monitoring

2015 ◽  
Vol 02 (03) ◽  
pp. 204-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manikandan Sethuraman
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Cerebral Blood Flow ◽  
The Body ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Functional Activities ◽  
Local Factors ◽  
Flow Monitoring ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Selective Increase ◽  
The Brain

AbstractBrain is a unique organ of the body that receives highest amount of cardiac output and totally depend on the blood supply for its survival and no reserve of blood flow making it vulnerable for ischaemia. Other important properties of cerebral circulation include autoregulation of blood flow, high oxygen extraction, and selective increase in blood flow to specific brain areas during various functional activities. It is important to understand that systemic and local factors affect the cerebral blood flow and the brain functions. Moreover the alterations in cerebral blood flow (acute or chronic) can be responsible for various symptoms as well as diseases pertaining to the brain. Hence it is important to measure the cerebral blood flow for the diagnostic as well as therapeutic purpose. This review focusses on the various techniques available for monitoring the cerebral blood flow.

scholarly journals The effects of unilateral Swedish massage on the neural activities measured by quantitative electroencephalography (EEG)

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-46
Author(s):  
Nattakarn Kaewcum ◽  
Vorasith Siripornpanich
Keyword(s):  
Somatosensory Cortex ◽  
Central Area ◽  
Sensory Stimulation ◽  
Quantitative Eeg ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
The Body ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Research Fields ◽  
The Brain

Purpose It is generally accepted that massage can provide a lot of benefits to human health, especially for the brain functions. Little is known about the effect of unilateral massage on the brain activities. Nowadays, Swedish massage is a modern massage technique that is popular in both treatment and research fields. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of unilateral Swedish massage on brain activities with electroencephalography (EEG) recording. Design/methodology/approach In total, 18 healthy adult participants (5 men, 13 women) aged between 22 and 36 years were massaged over one side of arm, forearm, hand, neck and face. Then the same procedures were repeated to another side of the body. EEG was recorded before (baseline) and during each massage condition. The absolute power of four common brain waves consisting of δ (0.5-4 Hz), θ (4-8 Hz), α (8-13 Hz), and β activities (13-30 Hz) from the quantitative EEG analysis between baseline and each massage condition were used to compare with the paired t-test. Findings The study found the reduction of δ and θ powers over bilateral frontal, fronto-central, and central areas. The increments of α power over the similar brain areas were also observed. These findings indicated the generalized effect of unilateral Swedish massage for inducing relaxation. Moreover, the significant reduction of β power was also found over right central area when left-arm massage was applied. This finding revealed the initial inhibitory effect of Swedish massage over right somatosensory cortex that received sensory stimulation through massage from left side of the body. Originality/value Unilateral Swedish massage induced the inhibitory effect at the contralateral somatosensory cortex and then produced the generalized effect which is compatible with relaxation.

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