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Snake Brain?

Headaches and neck pain image.

At the core, the very center of our brains…we are reptilian. Also called the “basal brain,” the “reptilian brain” is the most primitive part of the human brain. It includes the brainstem and the cerebellum and it is called the reptilian brain because in animals, the brainstem and the cerebellum are the dominant parts of the brain. The brainstem also consists of the:

  • medulla – which controls many autonomic reflexes, such as respiration, heartbeat and digestion.

  • pons – which connects the cerebellum, spinal cord and the "advanced" brain areas.

  • midbrain – which helps control all motor function.

The reptilian brain actually begins to grow at conception. Since the brain grows in three stages, starting with the reptilian brain, it is the most mature, followed by the limbic system, the “emotional brain” and then the neocortex or “thinking brain.”

The reptilian brain keeps our heart pumping and our nervous system functioning. It controls our body movements and is responsible for the development of the five senses of smell, taste, touch, hearing and sight.

Since the reptilian brain is filled with primitive memories, it is also ritualistic and rigid. It is very mechanistic as well, repeating the same behaviors again and again, never learning from past mistakes. Yet, it may also be the same part of the brain that requires a big hug, because it controls all the senses – including touch.

So…have you hugged your “reptilian brain” today?

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Dr. Layn Asks some important questions of interest to Fountain Valley residents - Chiropractor Fountain Valley Dr. Layn Asks...

If you have a fever, are you sick or healthy?
Chiropractors love asking this question because it gets to the root of the chiropractic difference. Turns out fevers, vomiting, coughing and even sneezing are all healthy responses. It means your body is working correctly. Taking medications to suppress these natural processes can actually prolong your recovery.
What controls every cell, tissue and organ of your body?
DNA? Wrong. Immune system? Wrong? Hormones? Wrong. It's your nervous system, consisting of your brain, spinal cord and all the nerves of your body. When a chiropractor sees a Fountain Valley patient with say, stomach problems, we want to know why the brain is unable to properly control and regulate the stomach. Which prompts us to examine the nervous system—the focus of chiropractic care.