Changes in the osteopath′s brain bioelectrical activity during listening the patient′s cranial rhythmic impulse (pilot study)

Abstract

Introduction. Previously, the authors conducted a series of studies of changes in the bioelectric activity (BEA) of the brain of patients while an osteopath was working with them. Data on the specific response of the brain to osteopathic effects allow us to explain many mechanisms of the therapeutic effect of osteopathy. It is of interest to study the nature of changes in the BEA of an osteopath′s brain during prolonged tactile contact with objects of influence. Aim: the identification of changes in the BEA of the osteopath′s brain that occur in the process of performing osteopathic listening of the patient relative to the period of quiet wakefulness; the reproducibility of the interaction patterns of the osteopath′s cerebral cortex biopotentials during working with different patients; the comparison of the nature of changes in the BEA of the osteopath′s brain during osteopathic listening of the patient and during imitation of listening (palpation of an inanimate object). Materials and methods. The study involved 2 osteopaths (the article′s authors) having more than 5 years of experience in osteopathy. Measurements were carried out twice with each of them. The authors of the article themselves and the clinic′s assistant acted as patients. A soccer ball was used for an experiment with simulated listening. The BEA of the osteopaths′ brain was recorded by the method of multiparametric computer EEG. Results. Changes in the BEA of the osteopath′s brain during imitation of listening (palpation of an inanimate object) are characterized by the greatest increase in EEG correlations in the leads C4, P4. Changes in the BEA of the osteopath′s brain when performing diagnostic listening of the patient′s cranial rhythmic impulse relative to the period of calm wakefulness are characterized by a longitudinal direction of brain activity and an increase in interhemispheric interaction of biopotentials. During the end of the audition immediately after working with the patient, the individual differences of each of the subjects related to the style of working with patients and the nature of the mobility of nervous processes became more pronounced. Conclusion. Changes in the BEA of the osteopath′s brain during imitation of listening allow us to talk about the activity of the secondary somatosensory cortex, i.e., the work of ascending mechanisms of the nervous system, orientation reaction, and cognitive attention. Changes in the BEA of the brain of an osteopath during diagnostic listening may indicate the predominance of descending mechanisms of the nervous system, the work of the executive control system, perceptual attention of the doctor.