Dolphin Therapy Effects: A Hypothesis

S. Birch (1,2)

(1) Bioelectronics Group, Dept. Electrical & Computer Systems Engineering, Monash University, Caulfield Campus, Caulfield East 3145 VIC, Australia. (2) Interspecies Research & Development, PO Box 198, Gardenvale 3185 VIC, Australia.

http://www.physics.monash.edu.au/~darice/intspec/index.html

The therapeutic effects of dolphin human interaction are receiving more widespread attention, although the mechanism whereby such effects are mediated is still unclear. Some of these effects include: * Increased maternal relaxation in human mothers giving birth in water (Charkovsky). * Alleviation of chronic depression through self reported transformational experiences (Dobbs). * Significant improvement in cognitive response of mentally handicapped children (Nathanson, Smith). * Pain relief in spinal patients lasting anywhere from 3 hours to 4 days (Smart).

As part of ongoing biomedical engineering research investigating dolphin ultrasonic and extremely-low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic emissions directed towards human volunteers, human electroencephalographic (EEG) readings are being collected as an indicator of neuroelectrical and neurochemical change. Subjects have their brainwave activity recorded from both brain hemispheres directly before and after swim-with-dolphin programs, using small scale portable EEG equipment. Results obtained to date reveal that after swimming with dolphins in situations where subjects can hear dolphin acoustic emissions, there is an increase in left-right hemispheric synchronisation an an increase in slow (alpha/theta) brainwave activity. In situations where subjects cannot hear any dolphin acoustic emissions, there is no change in brainwave activity. These results are concordant with findings of other research groups (Cole, deBergerac). Currently, new methods of interfacing sensors to the computer equipment are being devised. Measurements reported by other researchers have indicated the presence of a low frequency EM and acoustic component (Byrd).

A recent study into the effects on humans of exogenous corticosteroid administration has shown that there is a significant decrease in plasma and cerebrospinal endorphin and ACTH concentrations and an increase in theta brainwave activity. Furthermore, in a study of the effects of addictive substances on EEG patterns, opiates were found to induce synchronous left-right slow wave activity. Such evidence highlights the link between neurochemical concentration and EEG modifications and consequently, in this study, EEG traces from subjects which display an increase in slow wave activity are being considered as putative indicators of modified endorphin/POMC expression in vivo. Cancer patients in intractable pain who were administered B-endorphin displayed pain relief lasting an average of 33 hours (Oyama). An endorphin release would therefore explain the pain alleviating effects of dolphin interaction and is being investigated directly through blood studies on human volunteers (Smart).

Endorphin is produced from the precursor molecule POMC, which can also be cleaved to produce ACTH. When administered to autistic children, synthetic ACTH analogues have been found to improve the quality and quantity of their social interactions with familiar experimenters. If coupled with the endorphin release there is also an ACTH release, this could provide an additional hormonal mechanism for the observed improvements in cognitive ability of handicapped children. Additionally, numerous studies into the effects of Transcendental Meditation (TM) indicate that the increase of alpha-theta brainwaves, as observed in dolphin-human interactions, result in improved learning.

It is proposed that in human nerve cells, the alternating sequences of conductive and non-conductive layers may act as an antenna and amplify signals (Ludwig). It is also suggested that the neuroglial complex may be susceptible to, and amplify, EMF signals (Russo & Caldwell). Of further interest, in certain individuals the pineal gland (which controls a number of hormonal systems) has been found to be sensitive to ELF EMF (Wilson et al). Research has revealed that illumination of the temporal lobes with very low intensity, low frequency magnetic fields results in transformational / "mystical" experiences by the subjects, with content dependent on cueing stimuli presented. The resultant hemispheric synchronisation is postulated to allow right hemisphere intrusion into the left hemisphere's perception of self, resulting in altered perceptions. These low intensity fields have been determined to be obtainable in the vicinity of areas of tectonic strain and postulated to be linked to unusual phenomena in human perceptions (Persinger). The frequencies of observed dolphin EM emissions fall within the range required for these transformational experiences, and coupled with the endorphin self-reward mechanism, the long lasting positive transformational effect of dolphin contact can be explained.

Overall, the hypothesis outlined above provides a framework outlining the interaction of neurochemical and neurophysiological systems with external stimuli generated by dolphins which may be responsible for the healing effects which are observed.

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