Have you ever met someone that you just simply don’t understand? Their way of thinking just doesn’t line up with your way, or really anyone else you know. Why they make the decisions they do, and how they guide (or don’t guide) their life is just baffling. They are very hard to deal with, and may seem like they are going nowhere in life. It could be they are just a jerk, or it could be that their frontal lobe just isn’t working the way it was designed.
The brain is an incredible machine, so complex that researchers still can’t tell you what every little neuron does, or exactly how it all works. In general terms though, it can be broken down and fairly easy to understand. The brain is divided into 4 main lobes. In the next 4 weeks we will look at each lobe, and how over or under-activity of that lobe can affect brain function, and as a result, our ability to function.
First, let’s look at the frontal lobe. It is located exactly where it sounds like it is—in the front area of the skull, right behind our forehead. The frontal lobe is largely responsible for who we are and how we live.
Signs and symptoms of frontal cortex dysfunction:
- Slower movements of muscles
- Depression
- Mental sluggishness and laziness
- Poor impulse control
- Poor social behavior and judgment
- Poor handwriting
- Poor cognitive function, such as poor math or planning skills
- Poor cognitive learning, such as math, new languages, or philosophy
- Poor muscle-coordinated learning such as dancing and playing sports
(List taken fromWhy Isn’t My Brain Working by Dr. Datis Kharrazian)
Poor frontal lobe function is seen in kids with ADHD. The lack of impulse control or behavior modification, and the ability to “read the room” socially can all be caused by an underdeveloped or under-functioning frontal lobe. In children this is an even bigger issue because the frontal lobe isn’t fully developed until the mid 20’s. The lack of full development along with poor function compounds the problem.
If you have ever known anyone that was involved in an accident, and then had a very different personality after it, a frontal lobe injury is likely the reason. If this area is damaged in a head injury, personality traits can change dramatically. Often these people also struggle with tasks at work/school that previously were not difficult.
I had a young man come to me with a history of being a straight A student on his way to an engineering degree, until he suffered a concussion. After the concussion, he began to fail classes and had to drop out of college. Following relatively few upper neck adjustments, he felt the brain fog lift, and I am happy to say he is back on track at one of the most difficult engineering programs in the country and is doing well.
There are multiple factors that can go into frontal lobe development and function. Things like environment, nutrition, exercise and supplements/medication. One of the most overlooked is the health of the brainstem. The brainstem is the lower portion of the brain that extends into the second bone in the neck, then transitions into the spinal cord.
The frontal lobe receives sensory information from the body to help make decisions. Pressure on the brainstem (the lower portion of the brain that extends slightly into the upper neck) due to an upper neck bone being out of position, can distort this information, and cause the frontal lobe to malfunction .
That bone can be pulled out of position during a difficult birth, as a child learns to walk, car accidents or any of the many ways we find to hurt ourselves as we live life.
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the symptoms of frontal lobe dysfunction listed above it makes sense to have the upper neck checked to find out if a misalignment is the reason for altered brain function and thinking.
Dr. Lee Angle
“I enjoy the fact that I can help others feel better or be at their best thru upper cervical care.” — Dr. Lee Angle
Dr. Lee Angle is originally from southern West Virginia. After having his life changed through Upper Cervical Care he chose to pursue it as a career. He is an alumnus of Virginia Tech, and later completed his Chiropractic education at Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, SC . He has been practicing Upper Cervical Chiropractic for over nine years. Dr. Angle previously worked as a certified personal trainer. This background allows him to educate his patients on proper movement and exercises to speed their recovery and enhance their Upper Cervical Care. In his free time, Dr. Angle likes to exercise and spend time with his loving family.
12651 McGregor Blvd Ste 102 Fort Myers, FL 33919
Phone 239.243.8810 • Fax 239.243.8804
https://uppercervicalfortmyers.com/
Email uchcfortmyers@gmail.com
