Bolles Sensory Learning Method

An underlying hypothesis of combining the frequencies of light sound and motion into one sensory experience is that this combination is present in the womb. As early as nine weeks the fetus feels gravity and later senses movement or vestibular stimulation when the mother moves.  Acoustic stimulation in the form of the mother’s heartbeat and voice as well as sounds from the environment both arouse and pacify the developing fetus. The electromagnetic frequency of magenta provides photostimulation of a vibrational nature in the womb experience.  Understanding that the womb experience does shape the structure and functioning of the developing brain and nervous system, I believe that similar sensory stimulation can reorganize and reintegrate the brain.

Both mild and profound brain dysfunctions are primarily sensory in nature.  Today there are many labels, such as autism, which are used for these different levels of dysfunction but they are all part of the same spectrum of sensory disorder. Well-modulated sensory motor activity in the brainstem area is instrumental in helping to maintain a calm, alert state.  Ineffective and irregular subconscious sensory processing in the brainstem area results in hypersensitivity, sensory overwhelm, slowed ability to process information, speech impairment, memory loss, lack of concentration, and visual balance disorder.  The child struggling with distractibility, hyperactivity, impulsivity and disorganization is often out of relationship with his environment because his Emergent Faculties are not fully developed (see Figure 1).  

Sensory Learning is different from many therapeutic approaches because it works with the brain from the bottom up instead of from the top down.  It is a non-cognitive approach and its effects take place below the conscious level optimizing brainstem organization and integration (see Figure 2).  Tutoring and counseling, teaching coping skills, and doing cognitive retraining are attempting to work from the top down.  Sensory Learning acknowledges physical functioning problems in the brainstem area and works from the bottom up to eliminate hypersensitivities, reestablish better timing and integration of sensory messages, and normalize neurological development. When sensory functioning is effortless and integrated, the individual is highly adaptive, body movements are well coordinated, learning is easy, and appropriate behavioral responses are natural outcomes. The therapy brings forth the ability to handle complex sensory activities and environments which were previously impossible and often overwhelming.

Sensory Learning has always had varying degrees of positive responses but in some cases the full potential of improvement may be compromised because the individual or the family of the child is not willing to look at the need for biological treatments, detoxification, or dietary modification.  The reverse is also true: boosting the immune system and improving digestion without a comprehensive sensory stimulation program to enhance emergent faculties can limit the possibilities of partially or fully resolving many sensory problems.