Both Sides Now: Am I Just Dumb or What?

Why Do Others Learn More Easily than Me?

Dr. Charles T. Krebs, Founder of LEAPClinician and Researcher

The Lydian Center for Innovative Medicine777 Concord Avenue, Suite 301

Cambridge, Massachusetts

A Model of Learning based upon Gestalt & Logic

Modes of Leaning:

• Two different, yet Complementary Modes of Mental Processing.

Two different ways to Organise & Consolidate "packages” of Sensory Input and Experience for Storage in Memory!

• One Mode is based upon Global, Simultaneous Processing of Data.

• Uses Inductive Reasoning to perceive the Pattern and Form of the Whole, is inherently ‘Non-Rational’ & Intuitive.

Referred to as Gestalt - the Germanword for Pattern or Form!

A Model of Learning based upon Gestalt & Logic

Modes of Leaning:

• Other Mode is based upon Logical, Linear, Sequential Processing.

• Uses Deductive Reasoning to analyse the Relationship of the Pieces to the Whole.

• Is inherently Rational & Analytical.

• Two Powerful Modes of Mental Processing that perfectly Complement each Other.

• Why “Whole Brain” Thinking is always preferable to “Half Brain” Thinking.

• Why we need Both Sides Now - Brain Integration!

Gestalt & Logic “Lead” Functions

• Gestalt functions do Predominate in One Cerebral Hemisphere and Logic functions in the Other.

• However, Processing underlying Higher Mental Functions is done in both Hemispheres.

• And at Three Levels – the Cortical Level,the Limbic Level & the Brainstem Level.

• Gestalt and Logic Functions are not simply localised in the Right or Left Cerebral Hemisphere

• However, each type of Brain Function or process has a Cerebral “Lead” Function which is either predominantly Gestalt or Logic in Nature.

Gestalt & Logic “Lead” Functions

• “Lead” Functions are activated by Conscious Thinking!

• Each “Lead” Function initiates a Chain of integrated activity at all Three Levels in the Brain!

• Blocked “Lead” Functions thus “shut down” the ability to begin a Whole Process!

• Higher Level Thinking requires access to both Gestalt & Logic “Lead” Functions & their Integration.

Right Brain – Left BrainHow the two Sides Meet?

• Integrative Pathways uniting our Gestalt and Logic “Lead” Functions are called Commissures.

• The biggest Commissure in the Brain is the Corpus Callosum!

• The Corpus Callosum is a set of 200 to 800 Million Interhemispheric Axons!

• The Number of Fibers Varies with Sex and Handedness – Women & Non-Right Handed Men have the most Fibers!

Corpus Callosum Both Sides Now!

Figure 3: The Corpus Callosum - expanded view Right side cut away to show Interhemispheric

Fibers from the Right Cerebral Cortex go to exactly the same areas of the Left Cerebral Cortex.

Figure 1: The Corpus Callosum, Anterior Commissure and other Commissures of the brain - cross sectional view. The fibres crossing through the corpus callosum connect most cortical areas in one hemisphere with the same areas in the opposite hemisphere. Whereas the Anterior Commissure connects areas in the anterior, inferior and medial temporal lobes in one hemisphere with the same areas in the opposite hemisphere.

There are a number of other minor commissures connecting the right and left sides of the brain. One of the most Important being the Hippocampal Commissure the source of Exam Blank Out!

Fig. 1: Simplified Schematic of Mental Processing.

Note the many Levels of Integration, and how late in Processing Consciousness appears & this is just on one-side of the Brain!

Then the Corpus Callosum must further Integrate the Gestalt & Logic “Lead” Functions in both Hemispheres that Initiate our Thinking!

Learning from the LEAP point of view, requires three things:

• Access to Specific Brain Functions.

• Ability to Integrate these Brain Functions.

• Maintaining Integration of these Functions under Varying Degrees of Stress.

• But how do we know when a Person has Lost Integration needed to Learn?

Both Sides Now:Corpus Callosum & Right/Left

Hemisphere Integration

• How Do You Locate a "Blocked" Corpus Callosum?

• The Corpus Callosum Neuro-Muscular Test: A Bilateral Muscle Test specifically activates the Corpus Callosum.

• But How "Blocked" is "Blocked"?

• What "Blocks" the Corpus Callosum? Most often Childhood Traumas – but Trauma as perceived by a 2 or 3 year old!

• What is the Result of a Blocked Corpus Callosum?

• The Stress Avoidance Cycle!

Both Sides Now:Corpus Callosum Neuro-Integration

Muscle Test

• This Test was developed by Vic Roderigues in 1985.

• I then modified this Test to make it specific for the Corpus Callosum.

• The CCNM Test is basically a HighSupraspinatus Test, but with the Hands facing each other & the Pressure is across the chest.

Figure 5. The Stress Avoidance Cycle begins when you have either on-going orspecific situational loss of Brain Integration (BI). On-going loss of BI is due totrauma in early childhood, and is there every day, while situational loss of BI is only there in the presence of a specific stressor.

What is the Result of the Stress Avoidance Cycle?

Both Sides Now:Corpus Callosum & Right/Left

Hemisphere Integration

• What is the Result of Unblocking the Corpus Callosum?

• The Success Cycle!

Figure 6: The Success Cycle begins when you “hold” Brain Integrationeven when stressed by a specific task or function, or even when you make a mistake, allowing you “Figure it out” eliminating the stress .

What is the Result of the Success Cycle?

One-day Workshop following the Conference • Will provide the Simple Muscle

Tests to check for Corpus Callsoum. “Blockage”.

• Then explore how this may change in Different Contexts!

• Brain Integration is totally Contextual!