Anyone who’s soothed a fussing baby knows that gentle rocking often does the trick. The vestibular (balance-related) stimulation that rocking creates is certainly a part of that.
Equally important is the rhythm that comes with rocking. That’s because rhythm, when steady and comfortably paced, has a calming effect on the human nervous system, and a regulating effect on the human brain.
What this rhythmic movement actually regulates is the lower, more primitive region of the brain: the brainstem.
The brainstem comes from our reptilian ancestors. Not only is it the first region to develop, but throughout our lives it acts as the gateway for most incoming and outgoing transmissions. This means that very little travels to or from the higher regions without going through the brainstem.
Share This Post!
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Traumatic Events
CSF written article Your Content Goes Here By Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center Children and adolescents are exposed to a number of different traumatic events that can spark a [...]
Trauma screening may help connect children to specific mental health services
CSF written article Your Content Goes Here By Penn State Each year between 200,000 and 270,000 children and youth enter foster care placements with child welfare services, and many [...]
The Mental Health of Minority and Marginalized Young People: An Opportunity for Action
CSF written article Your Content Goes Here By Vivek H. Murthy, Surgeon General Mental health is an essential part of overall health. It not only affects the ability of [...]
How to Break the Cycle of Childhoold Trauma? Help a Baby’s Parents
CSF written article Your Content Goes Here By Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR Teresa Cox-Bates was only 11 years old when her father died, an event that dramatically altered her family's circumstances [...]
Supporting Children and Teens During the Holiday Season
CSF written article Your Content Goes Here Provided by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network This fact sheet provides tips that parents can use to talk to their children and [...]
How a History of Trauma is Affecting the Children of Gaza
CSF written article Your Content Goes Here By Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR Researchers say the cumulative trauma of chronic ethnic-political violence has a profound and lasting impact on children's mental health [...]