What Makes Functional Neurology Different?
Functional neurology is a well-rounded, multi-modal approach based around the brain's amazing ability to adapt and change. Using this concept, known as neuroplasticity, functional neurology aims to identify the root causes of symptoms, and then build the brain's framework upon the new, healthier and more solid foundation. In this blog post, we’ll address what makes functional neurology unique, what conditions functional neurology can support, and how we, at Synergy, want to help!
What Makes Functional Neurology Different?
Functional neurology takes advantage of the brain’s ability to adapt and change in response to new inputs, a concept known as “neuroplasticity.” Using a multi-modal neuro-rehabilitative approach, functional neurology can effectively change brain function permanently. Not at all intended to replace each of the following individual therapy methods, functional neurology combines principles of physical therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, biofeedback, speech therapy, vision therapy, and more to specifically target and challenge the areas of the brain that need to function better and more efficiently. So what makes functional neurology different? In short: the approach, alongside the efficacy and longevity of the results.
What is the Difference Between Neurology and Functional Neurology?
More often than not, neurology involves medicine. Neurologists use specialized imaging and testing to come to a diagnosis and create a treatment plan involving medications and therapy to either slow the progression of a diagnosis or to attempt to resolve the symptoms. Very rarely does it involve improving a condition beyond symptom resolve. (It’s important to note that I’m not talking about neurosurgery here.)
Functional neurology uses a thorough assessment, objective diagnostic tools, and a varied amount of therapies to address the source(s) of the symptom and create noticeable change in the area(s) contributing to each patient’s condition. Results with functional neurology vary depending on a number of factors, including dietary and environmental factors, age of the patient, stage of development, presence of genetic or metabolic conditions, and medical history, among many others.
What is Neuroplasticity?
Just as the body is adaptable and capable of change, so is the brain - this is quite literally the neuroplasticity definition. In my last blog post, we discussed the fact that the brain controls all of the functions within the body - from immunity, to emotional regulation, to hormone production. The brain’s controls and signals it sends out change as we grow and change. But how does it do that? It’s all in neuroplasticity.
As the brain learns, it grows and creates new neural networks. Structurally, this looks like a big map of neurons coming together and growing more robust, with a lot more connections forming to process more information faster and more efficiently. As the brain develops and learns, it makes very small or very large changes in response to its environment and the signals coming in from the world around us.
However, neuroplasticity decreases as we age, which is why pediatric patients tend to demonstrate faster results. That doesn’t mean that adults are ‘locked in’ to the brains they have now - it just takes more time and effort to see the same lasting changes. By understanding brain development, and knowing how to utilize it to create lasting changes in brain function, we can harness neuroplasticity to create new networks within the brain. By definition, these changes improve brain efficiency, as seen in the change of symptoms associated with an improved quality of life. Change the brain for the better, and life gets easier.
How You Can Change Your Brain
This might get a little science-y, but bear with me, because this is fundamentally what makes functional neurology different than everyone else. The brain interprets inputs in two ways - through top-down processing and bottom-up processing. I’ll explain the difference in a minute, but first I want to explain why it’s important. The brain loves efficiency. Therefore, the way that you work with the brain to change how it works matters. You can either start from the bottom and work your way up, building from a foundational level (bottom-up processing), or start at the top and try to work your way down to the foundation (top-down processing). They both work, but in different ways and at very different speeds, with very different levels of efficacy.
Bottom-up processing is how the brain learns to understand and interpret the world. Bottom-up processing is built like a pyramid: it uses all of the signals and inputs from the world to develop a foundation with which it learns to interpret everything else. After the foundation is built, the brain then goes on to build smaller but equally important interconnected systems on top of it. Approaches that work bottom-up (like functional neurology) are foundational or developmental in nature - compare it to learning how to add and subtract so that you know the basics of mathematics before learning calculus. Bottom-up approaches tackle the source first to affect how the brain processes the information and spits out a symptom. Source first - this is functional neurology.
Top-down processing is the context in which the brain interprets information from the world. Top-down processing is built like an upside-down pyramid: it uses the higher-level cognitive processes (planning, modeling, ideation, expectation, executive function) to interpret inputs and act accordingly. Top-down systems typically target one symptom or thought or problem, and use those to try to regulate a whole system underneath it controlling that symptom. Symptom first - that’s neurology.
Approaches that work top-down, like biofeedback or neurofeedback, very heavily depend on the foundation with which the brain was built. If the foundation is rocky, the interpretation up above it is inconsistent and inefficient. It’s like trying to do higher-order calculus when you don’t understand how to add or subtract. How can you expect the brain to interpret information appropriately, if you don’t teach it the basics, to give it a good foundation with which it can interpret the rest of the world?
Functional neurology focuses on creating, building, and strengthening a strong foundation for the brain to build the rest of its functions upon. If we can give the brain the proper foundation with which it can apply knowledge and context and reason and logic to the rest of the world around it, then we give kids and adults a much better chance at being able to handle higher-order thought, emotional regulation, and behavioral consistency.
What Conditions Can Functional Neurology Support?
First of all, allow me to make my perspective on health clear: I’m not in the camp of believing that diagnoses are life sentences, especially when it comes to pediatric conditions. However, we do not want to misrepresent our work using the words ‘treat’ or ‘cure’, so we will continue to use the word ‘support’ when appropriate in discussing the improvements that functional neurology creates.
We can use functional neurology to support and create sustainable change to a wide range of diagnoses, including but not limited to:
Childhood Developmental Delays
PANS/PANDAS
Autism Spectrum Disorders
ADD/ADHD
OCD
Dyslexia
mTBI/Concussions
Vertigo/BPPV
Migraines
Tourette’s/Tic Disorders
Cerebral Palsy
Anxiety
Depression
Personality Disorders
CRPS
At Synergy, our goal is to harness your child’s neuroplasticity to make great changes to their brain’s functionality, daily performance, and quality of life. Our goal is to empower families to advocate for the things they know can change, rather than feeling defeated by labels and diagnoses and a lack of hope from those that might not know that an option for change exists.
We are proud of the time and effort we’ve put into our education, and even prouder of the leaders in our field that have devoted their lives to understanding brain function and development, and teach us how to use it to create lasting change. We’ve had the honor of witnessing some amazing developments in some of our patients in just a few short months of practice, and we can’t wait to see what more we can do. We’d love to see if we can help your family. If you’d like to learn more about how functional neurology can help your child, click this link to request more information from our team.
