Central Pattern Generators for Breathing and Gait and Possible Medical Application of Oriental BodyWork: Access to Extrapyramidal and Body Trunk Movement System Through Breathing Methods

Abstract

The neurophysiological background of oriental bodywork based on breathing methods is poorly understood. Recently, experimental techniques using genetically engineered animals have been applied to identify and analyze the functions of motor columns such as medial motor column (MMC), known as evolutionarily old locomotion central pattern generators (CPGs) in lamprey. In oriental bodywork between two individuals, locomotion-related body reactions are often observed. In Nishino Breathing Methods (NBM), the extrapyramidal system is likely to be accessed through the practice of Sokushin-kokyu (whole body awareness with breathing), Karin (body axis rotation and reactivation with breathing), and Taiki (body trunk mutual signaling with breathing; the coordination of two individual body trunks). In addition, kinesiological discussions of ancient oriental traditions, such as the practice of mysterious hand-back contact and the active expiration that relates to music and body trunk reaction, are presented. Based on the hypothesis that oriental bodywork is accessing the extrapyramidal body trunk motor system (basal ganglia to spiral locomotion CPGs), this paper discusses the inter-individual body reactions coexisting through different evolutionary levels in multilayered motor systems, and their possible medical applications.