ABT Symposium 2010

Published July 22, 2010 Advanced Brain Technologies Leave a Comment
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In the summers of 2004-2008 we ran the Advanced Brain Technologies (ABT) International Conference in the beautiful settings of The Canyons Resort in Park City, and Zermatt Resort in Midway, Utah. ABT providers, customers, professionals, parents and others would travel from the world over for 3 days of lectures, workshops, music, networking, food and friendship.  All of us united through a shared interest in helping people attain all they can in life by improving their brain health and performance.

When the global financial crisis hit we made the difficult decision to discontinue the conference until the economic recovery. And still we wait… While the right decision, we and those accustomed to our annual event have been feeling an immense void.  So, rather than put on the BIG EVENT, we decided to organize 1 day of great presentations, music, and networking at our first ever East Coast Symposium in New Jersey this October.

The ABT Symposium 2010 is taking place at Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey on October 24, 2010.

New research on Advanced Brain Technologies neurosoftware and neuromusic programs will be presented. Learn about the Lucker model of auditory processing and his theory about the effects of The Listening Program® (TLP). Discover Learning Ears, Ear-Voice training that works with TLP to improve learning, language and communication abilities. Hear about a TLP brain injury protocol being trialed at a pediatric rehabilitation hospital.Listen to diverse case presentations from practicing ABT providers. Experience live music performances which will demonstrate the effects of live music performance on group dynamics. Engage in a discussion about activity recommendations for listeners. And, Network with other therapeutic and educational professionals.

The focus of this highly anticipated symposium will be new information on research, treatment strategies, and programs for diverse client populations ranging from neurotypical to brain injured.

We have a great line up of speakers including Dr. Jay Lucker from Howard University speaking on auditory processing , music from world renowned artist Nacho Arimany, and much more… Early bird discounts are available for professionals through September 15th, and we have special pricing for students and parents. For those who may be interested in training as ABT Certified Providers of The Listening Program®, you can join us at the same location on the 22nd and 23rd of October for our certification course. Please join us! To register or for more information including a list of speakers, special hotel rates, etc.  please visit ABT Symposium 2010.

Did Liberace Have Great Working Memory?

Published July 14, 2010 brain research , brainbuilder , music research , neuroscience Leave a Comment
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I have vivid memories watching Liberace masterfully and playfully tickling the ivory on his ornate pianos as a child of the 70′s. I was always amazed by the ease in which he played. Was he born with this gift? He obviously practiced thousands of hours. But was there something else, another piece to the puzzle of his musical genius? Perhaps, he had great working memory.

A recent study looked at piano player’s ability to sight read a new piece of music. It was published in journal Psychological Science and demonstrated that while practice, practice, practice, leads to great musical performance, that working memory capacity, plays an important role in the level of performance that can ultimately be achieved.

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book The Outliers he shares the body of research that shows regardless of the skill or activity,  that over 10,000 hours of consistent practice is required to achieve an expert level of proficiency. Incidentally, Mozart is one of the musical geniuses highlighted in this fascinating discussion. While practice makes perfect, cognitive function must be at a sufficient level to engage and excel at the task, as in the example of the pianist.  With that said, cognitive function, working memory in this case is not something which is fixed. What your capacity is today, can be increased, dramatically, to help you excel in all areas of life, including musical performance.

Working memory is of great interest to me, largely because it is becoming increasingly recognized as one of the fundamental cognitive abilities that is key to unlocking our full potential. This is not new information. This is a discovery my father made some 35 years ago, and has fervently pursued since, developing methods to expand working memory and sequential processing ability. Work that I have continued at Advanced Brain Technologies through our BrainBuilder® neurosoftware program which assesses and trains these abilities.

I am pleased to see the research community taking such interest in working memory and look forward to seeing more studies linking cognitive function to musical ability in the future. For you musicians perhaps you may consider some targeted working memory training to accompany your practice and advance your performance to an entirely new level!

Read more about the research linking working memory to musical performance.

Modified Classical Music on iPods Helps Toilet Train Liverpool Children

Published July 8, 2010 The Listening Program , auditory system , autism , brain and technology , brain research , music research , neuroscience Leave a Comment
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The Liverpool Echo published an article today about the results of a pilot study which examined the effects of  modified classical music and a specific protocol to help children with autism and other cognitive and developmental challenges to be toilet trained.  This is a world first project, conducted by June Rogers head of NHS Liverpool Community Health’s Integrated Paediatric Continence Service.

Children listened to 30 minutes of music a day through a special audio system which provided the music through both auditory pathways, air and bone conduction. The outcomes are positive and have been presented at European conferences. We now await approval for a large scale clinical trial to confirm these results in a larger sample size.

Continence problems severely impact quality of life, self esteem, and have large costs associated with supporting these children as they enter school. Our protocol holds promise to help children with toilet training problems, reduce costs of services to them, and help them live a happier more fulfilling life.

Note that the program name in the article is incorrect. What is referenced as the Listening Project is supposed to be The Listening Program® developed by Advanced Brain Technologies in Ogden, Utah.

Read the full article

UPDATE: Thank you to the staff at the Liverpool Echo for making the correction to the program name!

Facelift and Happy Independence Day!

Published July 2, 2010 personal Leave a Comment
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Thanks to Mary Cim, our brilliantly creative Art Director at Advanced Brain Technologies, The Brain Understanding Itself has received a facelift. Please comment and let me know what you think!

For those of you who are as fortunate as I to be an American citizen I wish you each a Happy Independence Day. Interestingly since I live in Utah and July 4th falls on a Sunday this year, we are celebrating tomorrow, July 3rd. I have never been able to quite get my hands around this idea, but in this great state of Utah this is how it is done.

Regardless of the day of celebration, July 4th Weekend is always a special time for me and one in which I feel immense gratitude to our founding fathers for their foresight and wisdom, to our military personnel for their commitment and bravery, and my family, friends, and fellow citizens as we unite and celebrate what it means to be Proud Americans!

Enjoy your parades, picnics, and fireworks and God Bless America!

The Phantom Sounds of Tinnitus

Published June 23, 2010 auditory system , brain research , neuroscience Leave a Comment
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New neuroscience research suggests relief from the often debilitating mystery sounds generated in the auditory system called tinnitus may some day be alleviated.

I just came across this article in ScienceDaily and wanted to share it. Unfortunately I cannot elaborate in this post, but I am encouraged to see the research interest in exploring the role of the central auditory pathway in tinnitus.

Read the article here http://bit.ly/cJ8L0m

Stress Response System in the Ear Protects Against Hearing Loss

Published May 4, 2010 auditory system , brain research Leave a Comment
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The ear serves in part as an environmental monitoring system, sending the brain signals in response to vibrational input to understand the world around us; to move, learn, communicate, adapt, survive and thrive.

The middle ear is the gateway to a neural filtering system that helps us receive auditory information such as human speech and to simultaneously filter out unwanted sound or noise which can damage the delicate structures of the inner ear resulting in hearing loss, hyperacousis, stress, and a host of other problems. 

Many recognize the vital connection between the ear and body’s fight-flight response, which is physiologically linked from the middle ear to the vagal regulation system. The polyvagal theory of psychologist Stephen Porges provides a clear understanding of this mechanism. The Listening Program® with bone conduction technology is used in part as a training method to improve the function of this system.

Now a new in vivo study at Tufts University shows for the first time that there is a stress response system within the cochlea (inner ear) that mirrors the signaling pathways of the fight-flight response and protects against noise induced hearing loss. This is an exciting finding that further reveals what a marvel the auditory system is and the critical role it plays in our lives.

Read more about the Tufts study.

Reflections on Sound and Music Alliance Symposium 2010

Published May 4, 2010 music , personal Leave a Comment
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A couple weeks ago I trekked to Wisdom House Retreat Center in Litchfield, CT to join in a weekend symposium for the newly formed Sound and Music Alliance (SAMA).  This was  a weekend like no other as I spent it with 100 of the most influential forces engaged in the intentional use of sound and music. SAMA is a technically a non-profit membership organization, but I feel it is best described as a community in the most real sense. People who care about a common cause, and are willing to invest themselves into the betterment of the community as a whole before their own self interests.

I had the opportunity to reunite with old friends, current colleagues, leaders who I have always wanted to meet, and bright young stars who will help us propel the awareness of the transformative power of music and sound for coming generations. Physicians, pediatric therapists, music therapists, listening therapists, psychotherapists, musicians, product developers, and a host of other specialists shared their vision, ideas, and creative wisdom to envision the future of this diverse field. What is the vision? From my seat in this very wide circle of influence it is clear… the unequivocal acceptance and understanding that the right sound and music can profoundly change your life.  That incorporating  sound health practices into your daily diet can help you to achieve wellness, happiness, and a longer, more fulfilled life.

There is much more to say, but for now I will share I am truly inspired by that weekend, and as I write listening to a Haydn String Quartet performed by the Arcangelos Chamber Ensemble and recorded by my dear departed friend and  former Music Director for Advanced Brain Technologies Richard Lawrence that I compel you to take note of the sound in your life and see its potential to change it for the better.

Please visit SAMA online and consider supporting the work of this fine organization by becoming a member.

Girls with Rett Syndrome Benefit from The Listening Program

Published April 29, 2010 The Listening Program , brain research , music research 1 Comment
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Rett syndrome is a unique developmental disorder first recognized in infancy and is generally seen in girls. It is often misdiagnosed as autism, cerebral palsy, or a developmental delay. Caused by mutations in the X chromosome it occurs in 1 of every 10,000-23,000 female births. Rett syndrome causes problems in the brain affecting; learning, communication, sensory processing, movement, breathing, cardiac function, chewing, swallowing, digestion, and more.

The host of challenges that come with a Rett syndrome diagnosis affect the family as a whole, with most individuals requiring assistance in most every aspect of their life. The needs vary through the four stages of Rett syndrome from Early Onset, Rapid Destructive, Plateau, and on to Late Motor Deterioration.

A British research study showed that 5 girls with Rett Syndrome benefitted from listening to a music listening method developed by my company Advanced Brain Technologies called The Listening Program®. The findings show improvements in a number of areas with the strongest trend toward increased engagement and decreased anxiety. Sensory processing appears to be improving which is consistent with outcomes of other studies.  These findings were presented by the investigator Helen Francis at the International Rett Syndrome Congress in Paris back in October 2008.

We are encouraged by these results and the potential to improve the quality of life for those with Rett syndrome. A larger controlled trial should be conducted, and I am hopeful this study will help make that happen.

Review the research poster and learn more about Rett syndrome at the International Rett Syndrome Foundation.

RIP Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D.

Published April 28, 2010 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D. passed away yesterday and what a great loss this is. A true visionary and advocate for our children, he will be missed for the man he was and the countless lives he changed.

I had the fortunate opportunity to consult with Dr. Greenspan while working with a number of his patients in the 90′s. He was a great supporter of sound and music based methods to help children with developmental problems.

RIP Dr. Greenspan, I am sorry to see you go, but what what a legacy you have left.

Here is an announcement from the ICDL, the organization he co-founded.

It is with great sorrow that we share with you the news that Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D. died on April 27, 2010.  Dr. Greenspan was the Founder and Chairman of the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL), founding member and past board president of Zero To Three: National Center for Infants,Toddlers, and Families and former director of the National Institute of Mental Health’s Clinical Infant Developmental Program and Mental Health Study Center. As the world’s foremost authority on clinical work with infants and young children with developmental and emotional problems, his work continues to guide parents, professionals and researchers all over the world.



50 Best Blogs for Neurology Students

Published April 21, 2010 brain awareness Leave a Comment
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The brain is a vast frontier, with neurology students as our future pioneers on the front lines helping those with nervous system disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain injuries following 12 years of concentrated studies, internships and residency.

To help these dedicated students in their exploration the 50 Best Blogs for Neurology Students has been complied. This is a must read for anyone with even a passing interest in the wondrous brain! Some of my personal favorites are included, such as Renegade Neurologist, the blog of David Perlmutter, MD, a pioneer himself in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disease.  Did I mention The Brain Understanding Itself made the list?  A nod to Suzane Smith for letting me know.

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