by Tim Brunson, PhD

Phrenological thinking was influential in 19th-century psychiatry. Originally it was based upon the idea that personality traits could be determined by examining bumps on the head. Phrenology was eventually discredited as a pseudoscience. However, the concept of relating specific brain function to specific behaviors did not totally go away. In the 1860s, Paul Broca discovered left temporal speech centers. And in 1874, Carl Wernicke revealed that an area near the Broca's Area affected receptive speech. This led to a renewed interest in the belief that specific brain substrates relate to particular functions of the mind. This was further promoted in the 1950s when Wilder Penfield was able to locate memory centers in discrete brain locations. This is the foundation of the theory of localization – which extremists view as a justification for cognitive rigidity. However, over the past few decades researchers have debated the relevance of localization as compared to a more dynamic view of the brain's plasticity – which posits that the environment can cause cognitive reorganization.

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Hypnotizability is a cognitive trait able to modulate many behavioural/physiological processes and associated with peculiar functional characteristics of the frontal executive system. This review summarizes experimental results on hypnotizability-related differences in sensorimotor integration at a reflex and an integrated level (postural control) and suggests possible interpretations based on morpho-functional considerations. In particular, hypnotizability-related differences in spinal motoneurones excitability are described, and the role of attention and imagery in maintaining a stable upright stance when sensory information is reduced or altered and when attention is absorbed in cognitive tasks is discussed as a function of hypnotic susceptibility. The projections from prefrontal cortex to spinal motoneurones and the balance between the activation of the right and left cortical hemisphere are considered responsible for the hypnotizability-related modulation of reflex responses, while the differences in postural control between subjects with high (highs) and low (lows) hypnotic susceptibility are considered a possible consequence of the activity of the locus coeruleus, which is also involved in attention, and of the cerebellum, which might be responsible for different internal models of postural control. We suggest a highly pervasive role of hypnotic susceptibility in human behaviour through the modulation of the integration of perception and action, which could be relevant for neurorehabilitative treatments and for the adaptation to special environments.

Cogn Neuropsychol. 2008 Oct-Dec;25(7-8):1065-76. Carli G, Manzoni D, Santarcangelo EL. Department of Physiology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

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Full Title: Progression to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): could it be prevented by manual therapy and exercise during the 'at risk' stage (stage 0)?

A number of predisposing factors are recognised as increasing the risk of developing chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD). There is increasing recognition that COPD may be an inflammatory disease with systemic consequences. However, the trigger for the transition from 'at risk' (stage 0) to COPD state remains unclear. The current approach to intervention for the 'at risk' group is risk factor avoidance. We propose that if interventions shown to improve chronic respiratory symptoms in COPD sufferers could be applied to the 'at risk' group, then moderation or even reversal of the changes typical of this transition becomes a possibility. Exercise training has been shown to be beneficial at all stages of COPD. Mobility of the chest wall influences lung function. We hypothesise that the application to 'at risk' individuals (stage 0) of therapeutic interventions known to improve chronic respiratory symptoms and cardiovascular function in mild/moderate COPD (stages 1 and 2) could delay progression of the disease (i.e. manifestation of mild/moderate COPD). If the hypothesis were confirmed, the potential to delay or even prevent the onset of COPD would be feasible.

Med Hypotheses. 2009 Mar;72(3):288-90. Engel RM, Vemulpad S. Department of Health and Chiropractic, Macquarie University, Bldg E7A 222, Balaclava Road, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia. rengel@els.mq.edu.au