A recent study reported in the Chiropractic Journal of Australia has found that chiropractic adjustments may enhance creativity and divergent thinking. Ten subjects between 10 and 62 years of age were assessed for spinal misalignments and adjusted. The majority of subjects received both cervical and thoracic adjustments, while some also received jaw, upper extremity, and lumbar adjustments as well.
The main outcome measurement was performance on the “alternate uses test” both before and immediately following one treatment session. The majority of the subjects were found to have enhanced scores on the post-administered test indicating a short-term improvement in creativity. A number of possibilities exist to explain why these subjects performed better following an adjustment, including: reduced anxiety and emotional stressors, as well as enhanced blood flow to specific regions of the brain with mild ischemia (ischemic penumbra).
As Chiropractors, we realize that misalignments of the spine are linked to interference with the nervous system’s ability to function. Creativity of the Mind is a primary component of the nervous system’s functional capacity. If your nervous system is functioning optimally, you are better able to think creatively – its that simple. I look forward to future studies with more rigorous methods and larger samples, and it would be interesting to see long term changes as well. Nonetheless, another good reason to keep your nervous system functioning at its best with Chiropractic adjustments.
References:
Chiropractic Journal of Australia 2010; 40: 57-62
