Chiropractic Research

Auckland, New Zealand

Research study accepted for publication

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Our study that recently won first place at The Parker Experience Seminars in Las Vegas, USA has been accepted for publication. The paper will be published in ‘Neural Plasticity’, which has an impact factor over 3.5. This is solid scientific evidence that adjusting the spine changes the way the pre-frontal cortex of the brain is processing information from the arm. It demonstrates we change the way the brain works and shows that spinal function impacts brain function.

study

This study furthers our understanding of how adjusting the spine alters brain function, by showing where in the brain such changes take place. In this study we showed for the 4th time that the N30 SEP peak changes following adjustments, and most importantly, we showed that these changes take place in the pre-frontal cortex. What is a real bonus with this study is all data was collected and analysed by scientists from Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark who had no preconceived ideas about chiropractic.

The study continues the line of research Dr Haavik started while doing her PhD at the University of Auckland in the early 2000’s, which was when she and Bernadette Murphy first found this N30 SEP peak change following chiropractic adjustments. This study was an international collaboration with Medical Professors and Bioengineers in Denmark and research colleagues in Canada and Australia. The study received grant funding from the Australian Spinal Research Foundation and the Hamblin Trust in New Zealand.

The research team:

Dina Lelic, PhD, Mech-Sense, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
Imran Khan Niazi, PhD, New Zealand College of Chiropractic and Aalborg University, Denmark
Kelly Holt, PhD BSc (chiropractic), New Zealand College of Chiropractic, New Zealand
Mads Jochumsen, PhD Fellow, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark
Kim Dremstrup, PhD, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark
Paul Yielder, PhD, University of Ontario, Institute of Technology, Canada
Bernadette Murphy, PhD DC, University of Ontario, Institute of Technology, Canada
Asbjørn Mohr Drewes, Professor, D.Med, PhD, MD, Mech-Sense, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
Heidi Haavik (corresponding author), PhD BSc (chiropractic), New Zealand College of Chiropractic, New Zealand

Dr Haavik & Team wins research award

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Dr Heidi Haavik and her team won first place at The Parker Experience Seminars in Las Vegas, USA, research poster based on the study Chiropractic adjustments alter sensorimotor integration in the pre-frontal cortex – A brain source localisation study.

Dr Heidi wins research award

Heidi was in Las Vegas to present 2 research studies and also speak at the conference and was delighted to accept the award on behalf of her team.

" We are delighted to have won this award. The team are doing some wonderful research and I would like to thank all of our supporters who’s donations have made this possible"

The research project:

Chiropractic adjustments alter sensorimotor integration in the pre-frontal cortex – A brain source localisation study

  1. Dina Lelic, PhD, Mech-Sense, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
  2. Imran Khan Niazi, PhD, New Zealand College of Chiropractic and Aalborg University, Denmark
  3. Kelly Holt, PhD BSc (chiropractic), New Zealand College of Chiropractic, New Zealand
  4. Mads Jochumsen, PhD Fellow, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark
  5. Kim Dremstrup, PhD, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark
  6. Paul Yielder, PhD, University of Ontario, Institute of Technology, Canada
  7. Bernadette Murphy, PhD DC, University of Ontario, Institute of Technology, Canada
  8. Asbjørn Mohr Drewes, Professor, D.Med, PhD, MD, Mech-Sense, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
  9. Heidi Haavik (corresponding author), PhD BSc (chiropractic), New Zealand College of Chiropractic, New Zealand

Somatosensory evoked potentials

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Somatosensory evoked potentials show plastic changes following a novel motor training task with the thumb

D. Andrew, H. Haavik, E. Dancey, P. Yielder, Bernadette Murphy

Objective: Accumulating evidence indicates that plastic changes can be maladaptive in nature, resulting in movement and neurological disorders. The aim of this study was to further the understanding of these neurophysiological changes in sensorimotor integration (SMI) using somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and concurrent performance changes following a repetitive typing task.

Methods: SEPs were recorded following median nerve stimulation at the wrist and performed pre and post intervention. 24 participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group which performed a 20 min repetitive typing task or a control group which participated in a 20 min period of mental recitation.

Results: The P22–N24 amplitude increased by 59.6%, compared to only 0.96% increase following the control. The P22–N30 SEP peak amplitude increased on average 13.4% following the motor training, compared to only 0.92% following the control. Significant improvement in reaction time when comparing performance of the motor task for the intervention group was observed.

Conclusions: The N24 increase supports the involvement of cerebellar connections and the N30 increase provides further support for changes in SMI following motor learning. Significance: Combining motor training tasks with electrophysiological techniques gives insight into the mechanisms of disordered SMI and whether the changes are adaptive or maladaptive.

Selective changes in cerebellar-cortical processing

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Selective changes in cerebellar-cortical processing following motor training

Heidi Haavik · Bernadette Murphy

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of varying stimulation rate and the effects of a repetitive typing task on the amplitude of somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) peaks thought to relate to cerebellar processing. SEPs (2,000 sweep averages) were recorded following median nerve stimulation at the wrist at frequencies of 2.47, 4.98, and 9.90 Hz from 12 subjects before and after a 20-min repetitive typing task.

Typing and error rate were recorded 2-min pre- and post-typing task. Effect of stimulation rate was analysed with ANOVA followed by pairwise comparisons (paired t tests). Typing effects were analysed by performing two-tailed paired t tests. Increasing stimulation frequency significantly decreased the N30 SEP peak amplitude (p < 0.02). Both the 4.98 and 9.90 Hz rates lead to significantly smaller N30 peak amplitudes compared to the 2.47 Hz (p ≤ 0.01). The N24 amplitude significantly increased following the typing task for both 4.98 and 2.47 Hz (p ≤ 0.025). In contrast, there was a highly significant decrease (p < 0.001) in the N18 peak amplitude post-typing at all frequencies. Typing rate increased (p < 0.001) and error rate decreased (p < 0.05) following the typing task. The results suggest that the N24 SEP peak amplitude is best recorded at 4.98 Hz since the N30 amplitude decreases and no longer contaminates the N24 peak, making the N24 visible and easier to measure, while still enabling changes due to repetitive activity to be measured.The decrease in N18 amplitude along with an increase in N24 amplitude with no change in N20 amplitude may be explained by the intervention reducing inhibition at the level of the cuneate nucleus and/or interior olives

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