-IBIS-1.5.0-
rx
psychophysiology
ultradian rhythms
psychospiritual approaches

definition

The discovery of the ultradian rhythms that regulate many functions of the autonomic and endocrine systems has implications for our understanding of the function of the cerebral hemispheres. Until the present time it was presumed that hemispheric functioning was not only specialized in function but also fixed in time. A series of studies during sleep, however, indicated that there were natural, 90 minute ultradian rhythms in hemispheric dominance that might affect psychological functioning. Every 90 minutes during sleep most people experience a period of dreaming (REM sleep). While awake, there are also natural 90-minute oscillations in mental activity and cognitive style (note the timing of meals and breaks at work, verifying the hypothesis of a 90 to 120 minute "basic rest-activity-cycle" (BRAC). Left and right hemispheric dominance tended to alternate with this ultradian periodicity.

Debra Werntz (1981) found that these ultradian rhythms in cerebral hemispheric dominance were contralaterally associated with similar alternations in the nasal breathing cycle. That is, when the left nostril was open and taking in air, the right cerebral hemisphere had an EEG pattern indicative of greater activity, and vice versa. Further, she found that changing nasal breathing from one side to the other also changed cerebral hemispheric dominance. She states, "Thus the whole body goes through the Rest/Activity or Parasympathetic/Sympathetic oscillation while simultaneously going through the 'Left Body-Right Brain/ Right Body-Left Brain' shift."

Werntz summarizes, "This then produces ultradian rhythms at all levels of organization. This represents an extensive integration of autonomic and cerebral cortical activity, a relationship not previously defined", although the Eastern yogis have been practicing it for centuries! Rossi states, "This path of information transduction is being modulated constantly and automatically on an involuntary, unconscious level by the state-dependent encoding of memory, learning, and behavior from our experiences of everyday life."

Rossi notes that an exploration of any mind-body state or problem involving the autonomic nervous system could be undertaken by shifting cerebral hemispheric dominance via the nasal breathing rhythm. Lying on the right side causes the right nostril to become congested, while the left nostril opens within a few minutes. This reflexively tends to activate the right cerebral hemisphere. By lying on the left side, the left cerebral hemisphere is activated.
(Rossi, 1986, p. 121-3)

see:
bodymind psychobiology
body reveals: the spirit
converting a symptom to a signal
hypnotherapy: overview
hypnotherapy: techniques
hypnotherapy: guidelines and precautions
reframing
self-hypnosis
shifting cerebral hemispheric dominance
state-dependent learning
the shadow and physical symptoms


footnotes