“Dys-afferentation” – altered brain sensation and why it is important.

‘Every organ in the body is connected to the one under your hat”  

What a great saying this is!

The meaning of this is that there are messages sent out to the body all the time. The brain is controlling our cells, organs, muscles……..everything!

It does this by sending nerve message OUTWARDS, from the brain, through the spinal cords and out to every end organ

The brain is also RECEIVING messages inwards from our body.

These inwards messages are also known as SENSATION, or AFFERENTATION. 

Biomechanical dysfunction in the spine can result in an alteration in changes to the message being sent to the brain.

Our physical body and organs have sensors in them (“receptors”), which send information back into the spinal cord, and up to our brain. This is how we “feel” our body (for example pain, balance, and temperature).

These messages pass into the sensory part of the brain, but they also transmit to an important area of the brain called the cerebellum. The cerebellum has an important FEEDBACK function, telling the brain when there is error. This function had important implications for movement, thought, and emotional functions.

Dys-afferentation is when there is a state of abnormal sensory input to the brain due to lack of normal spinal function.  

The computer jargon of ‘garbage in-garbage out” applies here.

It all comes down to quality information going into the brain, resulting in better information going out.