Premise: Doing the practices associated with Kundalini Yoga causes neural changes similar to those that occur in many autistic individuals, including high-functioning autistics. The practices cause neural pathway thickening due to neural plasticity in the regions of the sensory and motor gyruses. Thus the author’s claim, that ‘mysticism is in part someone becoming more ‘autistic’ may be substantiated.
Research on the sensory and motor gyrus structure in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) suggests:
Sensory Gyri:
- Increased folding: Studies found increased gyrification (folding) in sensory cortices, particularly in the:
- Primary auditory cortex (Heschl’s gyrus)
- Secondary auditory cortex (Planum temporale)
- Visual cortex (Lingual gyrus)
- Thicker cortex: Increased cortical thickness in sensory regions, potentially related to:
- Enhanced sensory processing
- Difficulty integrating sensory information
- Altered connectivity: Differences in connectivity between sensory gyri and other brain regions.
Motor Gyri:
- Reduced folding: Decreased gyrification in motor cortices, particularly in the:
- Primary motor cortex (Precentral gyrus)
- Premotor cortex (Brodmann area 6)
- Thinner cortex: Decreased cortical thickness in motor regions, potentially related to:
- Motor planning and execution challenges
- Differences in motor skill development
- Abnormal organization: Altered structure and organization of motor gyri, potentially affecting motor control.
Key regions:
- Fusiform gyrus: Involved in processing faces, objects, and shapes; differences in ASD may contribute to social cognition challenges.
- Intraparietal sulcus: Involved in attention, spatial processing, and math; alterations in ASD may affect cognitive processing.
Important considerations:
- Variability: Individual differences in gyrus structure and function are significant.
- Methodological limitations: Study results may vary depending on imaging techniques and analysis methods.
- Correlation vs. causation: Structural differences may not directly cause ASD symptoms.
Sources:
- “Altered Gyral Folding in Autism” (2013)
- “Cortical Thickness in Autism Spectrum Disorder” (2015)
- “Structural Abnormalities in Autism Spectrum Disorder” (2018)
Stitching Practice
Stitching practice is designed to increase neural pathway thickening and possibly the formation of entire novel pathways, that may enhance, let us call it, “Enhanced Jungian Individuation”
(‘enlightenment’). The practice targets both sensory and motor gyruses.
Overview of the Sensory and Motor Gyruses
The Sensory Gyrus – Overview
The sensory gyrus, also known as the postcentral gyrus, is a region in the brain’s cerebral cortex that plays a crucial role in processing sensory information from the body. Here’s an overview:
Location: The sensory gyrus is located in the parietal lobe, which is situated near the center of the brain, above the occipital lobe and behind the central sulcus.
Function: The primary function of the sensory gyrus is to process and interpret sensory information from various receptors throughout the body, including:
- Touch (tactile sensations)
- Temperature
- Pain
- Proprioception (position and movement of body parts)
- Vibration
Organization: The sensory gyrus is organized somatotopically, meaning that different areas of the gyrus correspond to specific parts of the body. This organization is often depicted as a sensory homunculus, a diagrammatic representation of the body mapped onto the brain.
Subdivisions: The sensory gyrus can be divided into several sub-regions, each processing specific types of sensory information:
- Primary somatosensory cortex (SI): processes basic sensory information
- Secondary somatosensory cortex (SII): processes more complex sensory information
Interesting fact: The sensory gyrus works in close conjunction with the motor gyrus (precentral gyrus), which is responsible for controlling voluntary movements. This close relationship enables precise coordination of sensory feedback and motor responses.
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The Sensory Gyrus – Connections
The sensory gyrus serves as a transit zone or hub for various important brain functions beyond sensory processing:
Transit zones and connections:
- Default Mode Network (DMN): The sensory gyrus connects to DMN regions (medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex) involved in:
- Self-referential thinking
- Mind-wandering
- Memory retrieval
- Attentional networks: The sensory gyrus interfaces with attentional systems (frontoparietal network, anterior cingulate cortex) for:
- Selective attention
- Attentional switching
- Error detection
- Emotional processing: The sensory gyrus communicates with emotional centers (amygdala, insula) for:
- Emotional regulation
- Empathy
- Interoception (sensing bodily states)
- Memory consolidation: The sensory gyrus interacts with hippocampal and parahippocampal regions for:
- Episodic memory formation
- Spatial memory
- Sensory-based learning
- Motor control: The sensory gyrus connects to motor areas (primary motor cortex, premotor cortex) for:
- Sensorimotor integration
- Motor planning
- Coordination
Key transit zones within the sensory gyrus:
- Postcentral gyrus-parietal operculum junction: Interfaces with insula, amygdala, and anterior cingulate cortex for emotional and attentional processing.
- Intraparietal sulcus (IPS): Connects with frontal and parietal regions for attention, spatial processing, and math calculations.
- Primary somatosensory cortex (SI)-secondary somatosensory cortex (SII) border: Interacts with insula, amygdala, and anterior cingulate cortex for emotional and interoceptive processing.
Functional implications:
- Multisensory integration: The sensory gyrus integrates information from various sensory modalities, facilitating complex cognitive processes.
- Sensorimotor transformation: The sensory gyrus helps translate sensory input into motor responses.
- Cognitive flexibility: The sensory gyrus’s connections enable flexible switching between different cognitive tasks.
The Motor Sensory Strip – Overview
The motor sensory strip, also known as the motor cortex or precentral gyrus, is a critical region in the brain responsible for:
Location:
The motor sensory strip is located in the frontal lobe, specifically in the precentral gyrus, which runs parallel to the central sulcus.
Functions:
- Voluntary movement control: The primary motor cortex (M1) generates neural signals that control voluntary movements, such as:
- Muscle contraction
- Movement planning
- Coordination
- Motor planning and execution: The premotor cortex (PM) and supplementary motor area (SMA) are involved in:
- Movement planning
- Motor sequence learning
- Coordination
- Sensorimotor integration: The motor sensory strip receives sensory feedback from the sensory gyrus, enabling:
- Adjustments to movement
- Refining motor control
- Learning new motor skills
Organization:
The motor sensory strip is organized somatotopically, meaning that specific areas correspond to specific parts of the body:
- Homunculus: A diagrammatic representation of the body mapped onto the brain, illustrating the organization of motor and sensory areas.
- Body regions: Different areas of the motor strip control movement for:
- Face
- Arm
- Hand
- Trunk
- Leg
Subdivisions:
- Primary motor cortex (M1): Responsible for executing voluntary movements.
- Premotor cortex (PM): Involved in movement planning and coordination.
- Supplementary motor area (SMA): Participates in complex motor planning and sequence learning.
Connections:
- Sensory gyrus: Receives sensory feedback for sensorimotor integration.
- Basal ganglia: Interacts with basal ganglia for movement regulation.
- Cerebellum: Coordinates with cerebellum for motor learning and refinement.
Clinical significance:
- Motor disorders: Damage to the motor sensory strip can result in:
- Paralysis
- Weakness
- Motor planning difficulties
- Neurological conditions: Impaired motor control in conditions like:
- Stroke
- Parkinson’s disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Neuroplasticity: Understanding the motor sensory strip’s organization and connections informs strategies for motor rehabilitation.
Interesting facts:
- Neural overlap: Some neurons in the motor sensory strip respond to both sensory and motor stimuli.
- Motor learning: Repetitive motor practice reorganizes the motor sensory strip, enhancing motor skills.
The Motor Sensory Strip – Connections
The sensory motor gyrus (precentral and postcentral gyri) serves as a transit zone or hub for various important brain functions beyond sensory and motor processing:
Transit zones and connections:
Precentral gyrus (motor):
- Prefrontal cortex: Connections for executive function, decision-making, and working memory.
- Basal ganglia: Interactions for movement regulation, habit formation, and reward-based learning.
- Cerebellum: Coordination for motor learning, refinement, and planning.
- Default Mode Network (DMN): Connections to medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex for self-referential thinking.
Postcentral gyrus (sensory):
- Insula: Connections for interoception, emotional regulation, and empathy.
- Anterior cingulate cortex: Interactions for error detection, conflict monitoring, and motivation.
- Parietal cortex: Connections for spatial processing, attention, and memory.
- Temporal lobes: Interactions for auditory and visual processing.
Shared transit zones:
- Intraparietal sulcus (IPS): Intersection of sensory, motor, and attentional networks.
- Primary somatosensory cortex (SI)-primary motor cortex (M1) border: Transition zone for sensorimotor integration.
Functions facilitated by transit zones:
- Multimodal integration: Combining sensory, motor, and cognitive information.
- Sensorimotor transformation: Translating sensory input into motor responses.
- Cognitive flexibility: Switching between different cognitive tasks.
- Emotional regulation: Coordinating emotional responses with sensory and motor functions.
Research insights:
- Neural overlap: Shared neural populations in transit zones process multiple functions.
- Network flexibility: Transit zones enable flexible reconfiguration of brain networks.
- Brain stimulation: Targeting transit zones with non-invasive stimulation (e.g., TMS, tDCS) can modulate multiple functions.
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Kevin Cann
10/19/2024