User:Ruth olmstead/sandbox

Auditory and Visual Stimulation Auditory and visual stimulation (AVS) is commonly utilized through the use of Mind machines, also known as Light/Sound devices, and have been claiming improvements in relaxation, cognitive development, peak performance, and problem solving abilities. There has been some emerging research relating to the direct effects of AVS with regards to chemical changes as well as improved cognitive abilities in the human brain.

Chemical Changes, Blood Flow, Glucose Uptake, AdenosineTtriphosphate (ATP) resulting from AVS

It is a generally accepted theory that neuronal activity in the brain is energized by the hydrolysis (a chemical reaction of water with a compound) of adenosine triphosophate (ATP), which is primarily generated by the complete oxidation of glucose to carbon dioxide in human participants (Siesjo, 1978). A number of studies demonstrated that photic or light stimulation increased cerebral blood flow and glucose uptake much more than oxygen consumption (Aaslid, 1987; Bryan, 1990; Fox, Burton, & Reichle, 1987; Hossman; & Lin, 1987; Phelps & Kuhl, 1981; Reivich & Gur, 1985; Roland; Eriksson, Stone-Elander, & Widen, 1988). The above studies are important as they demonstrate that AVS may affect and assist individuals suffering from any disease or condition needing an increase in blood flow. It may assist in carrying oxygen throughout the circulatory system, and to the body’s vital organs and extremities, promoting healthy cell growth. Other benefits include improving brain function, resulting in better focus and concentration. Studies found that individuals diagnosed with learning disabilities (LD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have lower levels of glucose and decreased cerebral metabolism in the prefrontal region of the frontal lobe (Hynde et al., 1990; Matochik et al., 1994; Zametkin et al., 1990). This finding may be important as some studies using AVS resulted in increased attentional abilities (Olmstead, 2005, Micheletti,1998, Patrick, 1994), suggesting that AVS may have induced an increase in glucose and /or cerebral metabolism, which have resulted in improved focus, attention, short-term memory, arithmetic, encoding, visual-motor function, planning, and speed of information processing as measured by intelligence quota subtest scores (Olmstead, 2005). Aaslid,, R. (1987). Visually evoked dynamic blood flow response of the human cerebral circulation. Stroke, 18, 771-775.

Bryan, R. M. Jr. (1990). Cerebral blood flow and energy metabolism during stress. American Journal of Physiology, 259, 269-280. Fox, P.T., Burton, H., Raichle, M.E. (1987). Mapping human somatosensory cortex with positron emission tomography. Journal of Neurosurgery, 67, 34-43. Hossman, K.A., Lin, K. (1987). Regional energy metabolism during functional activation of the brain (Abstract). Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow Metabolism, 7(suppl 1): S297. Hynd, G.W., Semrude-Clikeman, M., Lorys, A.R., Novey, E.S., & Eliopulos, D. (1990). Brain morphology in developmental dyslexia and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Archives of Neurology, 47, 919-926.

Matochik, J.A., Liebenauer, L.L., King, A.C., Szymanski, H.V., Cohen, R.M., & Zamantkin, A. J. (1994). Cerebral glucose metabolism in adults with attention- deficit hyperactivity disorder after chronic stimulation treatment. American Journal of Psychiatry, 151(5), 658-664.

Micheletti,1998 Olmstead, 2005 Patrick,G.J. (1994). Improved Neuronal Regulation in ADHD: An application of fifteen sessions of photic-driven EEG neurotherapy. UMI Dissertation Abstracts Database. (University Microform Edition No. 9523739). Ann Arbor, MI: U.M.I. Dissertation Services. Phelps & Kuhl, 1981 Reivich & Gur, 1985 Roland; Eriksson, Stone-Elander, & Widen, 1988 Zametkin et al., 1990 Roland; Eriksson, Stone-Elander, & Widen, 1988