Neuro-Electrical Effects of Human-Dolphin Interaction and Sono-Chemical Hypotheses

Speaker:	David M. Cole
Affiliation:	Chairman, AquaThought Foundation

AquaThought Foundation
14610 Lake Olive Drive
Fort Myers, Florida 33919
USA
+1 941-437-2959
aquatht@ix.netcom.com

1. Dolphin-Human Interaction Neurological Research

1.1 Introduction

The emerging field of psychoneuroimmunology focuses on the relationship between the central nervous system and immunity. Stress, shown to be a major culprit in the etiology of disease states, is the target of psychoneuroimmunology research. Biofeedback, guided visualization, and meditation have become common tools used to battle stress. The exploration of other methods of stress reduction, by specialists in alternative cancer treatment, has lead the way to current dolphin-human interaction research.

Organizations such as Living from The Heart, based in Morrison, Colorado, have shed much light on the medical and therapeutic applications of dolphin interaction. These organizations regularly report direct improvements in the well-being of their patients as a result of participation in their interaction programs. Missing from this research, however, is the underlying how and why of dolphin interaction. The study of the complex neurological stimulation provided by close interaction with dolphins is the primary research focus of AquaThought (all other research activities are ancillary). A true phenomena is being uncovered in this ongoing exploration, with human wellness as a beneficiary.

1.2 Goals

I. To quantify the phenomenological effect of dolphin interaction on humans.

II. To understand why and how dolphins cause such changes in humans.

III. To construct a methodology of electronically reproducing the dolphin effect for widespread distribution.

1.3 Approach

AquaThought is currently conducting an expansive effort to collect electroencephalographic data from a diverse group of subjects [1]. Methods of data collection and analysis must be invented, where none exist. Specialists in many disciplines of neuroscience are required for consultation and collaboration.

Much of the electroencephalographic testing takes place at three of the four dolphin swim facilities licensed to operate in the United States [2] . Although the process involved in conducting the electroencephalographic testing varies, the following general protocol is followed:

I. Collect baseline data - This takes place at the swim facility, prior to any interaction.

II. Place subject in direct contact with dolphins - This involves diving, touching, free swimming, and playing.

III. Collect post-interaction data - This also takes place at the swim facility, immediately following interaction.

AquaThought's current protocol maintains the subject's personal information, dominant hand & eye, instances of previous dolphin interaction, a simple psychological inventory - baseline and post-interaction, and EEG, Blood Pressure, Temperature - baseline and post-interaction.

1.4 Results

While the analysis of the data obtained so far is not complete, several trends are emerging. The subject's dominate brain frequency drops significantly after the dolphin interaction. Also observable is a period of hemispheric synchronization (the brainwaves emitted from both the left and right hemispheres of the brain are in phase and of similar frequency).

The following chart contrasts the baseline measurement (samples 1-11) against the post-interaction measurement (samples 12-23) for one subject:

The following spectral density charts reveal a significant frequency dominance in the post-interaction measurement as compared to the baseline measurement for one subject:

1.5 Interpretation

In order to understand the early results of this research, it is necessary to look at how this neurological data might correlate with reported wellness benefits. The induced alpha brain state, as psychoneuroimmunology dictates, may be responsible for strengthening the human immune system. This serves as the current operating hypothesis for alternative cancer treatment successes. But the question of how dolphin interaction can have such a profound effect on the wellness of human subjects is not answered in such simple terms. Many reported instances of human benefit do not fit neatly into the psychoneuroimmunology hypothesis. Further study of the neurological data may expose an entirely new process at work. With the addition of neuromapped EEG data, it is now possible to localize specific anatomic structures which are affected by dolphin contact. This anatomic localization provides an entirely new dimension in AquaThought's research.

Recent studies, performed by the Florida Back Institute, detail the endocrinology of human-dolphin contact. It is becoming evident, through findings such as these, that the neurotransmitter production/uptake cycle may be dramatically affected by dolphin contact. It is not a great extrapolation to consider the entire endocrine system to be affected. This may well be a result of sono-chemical changes that occur at cellular boundaries in living tissue. Sono-chemistry [3], a direct result of the dolphin's echolocation output, may explain both the chemical and electrical changes that have been observed in the brain.

References and Footnotes

[1] AquaThought's current electroencephalographic tests sample data from 16 points on the subject's scalp (Fp1, Fp2, F7, F8, F3, F4, T3, T4, C3, C4, T5, T6, P3, P4, O1, O2 of the International 10-20 System). The signal is amplified, filtered, and digitized at 1024 samples per second per channel. The resultant time domain data is transferred to a host computer and recorded for later analysis. Utilizing a fast Fourier transform, the data is converted from time domain into spectral domain so that frequency, amplitude, and phase may be determined for each sample point. Additional analysis normalizes the baseline measurements to yield differences from the post-interaction measurements. Many other statistical data analysis processes are applied to search for trends in the data.

[2] Dolphin Research Center, MM 59 1/5 Highway US 1, Grassy Key, Florida 33050, (305) 289-0002. Dolphins Plus , 31 Corrine Place, Key Largo, Florida 33037, (305) 451-1993. Theatre of the Sea, MM 84 1/5, Highway US 1, Islamorada, Florida 33036, (305) 664-2431.

[3] Sono-chemistry is the interaction of sound with matter through the process of cavitation. Chemists induce cavitation by generating intense sound waves, creating alternating regions of compression and expansion that can form bubbles 100 microns in diameter. The bubbles implode violently in less than a microsecond, heating their contents to 5,500 degrees Celsius - approximately the temperature of the sun's surface. ("The Chemical Effects of Ultrasound", Suslick, Kennenth S., Scientific American, Feb 1989 v260 n2 p80(7)).

It has been suggested that ultrasonic energy (such as dolphin echolocation) may cause neuronal migration and other cellular changes in living tissue. ("Routine Ultrasonography In Utero and School Performance At Age 8-9 Years", Salvensen, K. A., The Lancet, Jan 11, 1992 v339 n8785 p85(5)).