Web MD Video

Here is a video posted on line about IM.

More Data Speaks from Across the US

The Children's Therapy Center has posted some very nice parent evaluations of what Interactive Metronome has done for their children. You can see other clinics are seeing the same type of gains that I am. They also include some handwriting samples. Excellent! Click on the children's therapy link to see the parent's letters.

Timing's Strong Relationship to Intelligence

Dr. McGrew's site has just posted information about how timing in the brain is related to intelligence. A quote from the abstract reads, "In the present study, the relationship between performance on temporal (timing) and pitch discrimination and psychometric intelligence was investigated in a sample of 164 participants by means of an experimental dissociation paradigm. Performance on both temporal(timing) and pitch discrimination was substantially related to psychometric intelligence (r = .43 and r =.39). The present study yielded further evidence for a functional relationship between psychometric intelligence and temporal as well as pitch discrimination acuity"

Autism: A Fraction of a Second Delay

"We found that signatures of autism are revealed in the timing of brain activity," Dr. Roberts said. "We see a fraction of a second delay in autistic patients." Read entire article here.

Missing Recess for Misbehavior

A mom came today concerned because her son's teacher reported that the child was missing almost all of his recesses for incomplete assignments. The teacher had even expressed to the mom, "He probably needs recess the most." Though the child's teacher innately understood the value of recess for this child, wanting desperately to find a way to help the child succeed, she had resorted to the standard practice of taking recess away. I believe this is often actually more harmful than helpful. The TEACHER's gut instinct understood that too! Let me explain.

It may not seem like much, but it's a BIG DEAL!

Two parents emailed me this week using the phrase, "It may not seem like much, but ...."

Why? Why would a parent say, "It may not seem like much.." when it's a change that they are thrilled to see?

Maybe because most other children that age do the noted behavior fairly easily. It's not hard for most children. Most parents haven't specifically taught, made charts, read books, or searched online about "ordinary" skills other children acquire so easily.

Your child didn't pick it up typically. For your child there was a gap between expectations and performance. The behavior was one you just expected your child to have, but he/she didn't. Every time the gap showed itself, you felt frustrated, saddened... Maybe even a little like you failed in parenting somehow. It's such a simple easy thing... Why doesn't he/she just do it? It is an area of struggle, failure, shortcoming, or simply missing the fullness of life.

Now - all of a sudden - your child acts "normal" in that area. It's so exciting! You're thrilled! Though, it's just being "normal," I don't discount those gains. They're HUGE. Every time I see a parent a few years out of IM and hear their child is "typical," "normal," or "doing fine," I am SO EXCITED! Every child should have a chance at a "normal" life! Through my own son's experience and five years now with IM, I believe IM helps children reach that goal, or at least get closer to that goal.

Here are the two "It-may-not-seem-like-much" statements I received:

Two days ago: I am seeing some gains that I didn't expect to see. He is starting to ask what words mean. For example if I use a word he is not familiar with he is asking, "What does that mean?" instead of dismissing or ignoring it. Also, last night he had homework - he put it off for quite a while then he got frustrated with me asking him and he snarled at me then took his pencil and his paper and went to his room. When he came back out, he had actually done almost the whole page and asked me to check them. I was amazed. This might not seem like much, but for him it is a big deal.


Today's Email: I think this is VERY significant! The one thing that (my son) has never been able to do is show affection. Has never been one to give us a kiss goodnight…no hugs…unless forced, really. This morning, he came up to me to give me his lunch box from yesterday – he laid it in front of me explaining what was in it and said “Okay, mom,” patting me lovingly on the arm. This may not seem like a big deal….but it brought tears to my eyes. He just never touches in that way. So, a “major” break through.

For Brad, I often said, "It may not see like much to most people, but for Brad it was huge... He took out the trash for the first time in his life without being prompted." Yes, a 17 year old ought to be able to initiate taking out the garbage! We were hugely concerned that this extremely bright child who scored a 34 on his ACT would end up living at home until he was 30 because he couldn't take out the garbage (just a sign of the struggles he was having)! Guess what! He's been independent since 8 months after his first round of IM and at 23 is in grad school now!! That's why, yes it may not seem like much.... BUT IT'S HUGE!

The Motor Cortex of the Brain

A good video showing the sensory motor parts of the brain that IM tasks work, one of many regions worked. When you focus on hand movement, leg movement, trunk or hip movement, you build a different neuro-network.

How do we get from intention to action?

How is it that we intend to not eat that chocolate, yet when it appears before us, we drop it into our mouths? What is intention's connection to action? Dr. Ann Graybiel's UC Davis MIND Institute's October, 2008 Distinquished Presenter discusses this question. During her 6 pm presentation, my mind was firing wildly on how this new research is deeply connected to IM. The Basal Ganglia, shown by Dr. Neil Alpiner to be one of the deep structures in the brain activated by IM, has long been known to be the area of release and inhibition of movement.