Repair of the Human Brain and Spinal Cord

Description

With the single-nerve fiber action potential recording method and the single-motor unit electromyography, the functioning of the human central nervous system (CNS) is analyzed at the single-neuron level under physiologic conditions following injury, malformation and degeneration. It is shown that the self-organization of the neuronal networks of the human CNS by phase and frequency coordination becomes impaired following all nervous system diseases.

Out of the differences between the functioning of the healthy and pathologically functioning CNS, a repair treatment is developed called Coordination Dynamics Therapy (CDT). This movement-based learning therapy is able to improve almost every nervous system in its functioning by functional and structural repair for all ages including premature born babies and in aging.

The therapy progress with CDT can be quantified by using the System Theory of Pattern Formation. By pattern change, given by a special CDT device, a single value is obtained for the quality of CNS functioning.

Especially the tremor in Parkinson’s disease and the urinary bladder repair in spinal cord injury are analyzed in detail by the human neurophysiologic recording methods and clinical assessments.

The repair of the human nervous system is shown in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in mild and severe traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. By applying CDT, CNS functioning can also be improved in Parkinson’s disease and in aging. The rate of improvement/repair by learning is measured in the healthy and the diseased nervous systems. It is emphasized that the efficacy of movement-based learning therapies may differ by a factor of 100. A powerful tool in learning is the learning transfer. By training integrative movements, including automatisms, not only the trained movements can be improved, but also the vegetative and higher mental functions can be repaired as, for example, continence, speech and cardiovascular performance.

Contents

Chapter I. Introduction to Coordination Dynamics Therapy 1-6
Chapter II. Method: Scientific Basis for Coordination Dynamics Therapy pp.7-70
Chapter III. Development and Motor Learning of the Healthy CNS pp.71-92
Chapter IV. Repair in Mild CNS injury pp.93-96
Chapter V. Repair in Severe Traumatic CNS Injury pp.97-240
Chapter VI. Repair in Very Severe CNS Injury pp.241-336
Chapter VII. Repair of Urinary Bladder and Vegetative Functions pp.337-428
Chapter VIII. Building of New Neurons in the Human CNS upon Long-Term Therapy pp.429-446
Chapter IX. Repair of Brain-Injured Patients in the Vigilant Coma pp.447-462
Chapter X. Brain Death pp.463-468
Chapter XI. Improvement of CNS functioning in Brain-Injured Athletes pp.469-474
Chapter XII. Rate of Repair and the Severity of the Injury pp.475-480
Chapter XIII. CDT in Aging and after Operations pp.481-494
Chapter XIV. CDT in Premature Born Babies, Babies and Children pp.495-500
Epilogue pp.501-514
References pp.515-526
Index pp.527-532