The perception that dolphins could have a healing capability
is not a novelty; this has been known since ancient times. Communication
skills of the dolphins are akin to or even superior to those of
humans; they possess special chemicals in their melons which are not found
in other mammals. As it is said 'they see with their ears, hearing
reflected lights' because of their large acoustic nerve. Studies have been
conducted about their effect in patients with spinal injury and learning disability.
The authors imply that the mechanism involved in
this healing effect of the dolphins is obscure, at best apriori. In
1947, Arthur Mcbride presented evidence that the atlantic bottlenose
dolphin may detect objects underwater by echolocation(Mcbride 1956). The
acoustic fields of the different species of dolphins differ and their
ability to carry out different tasks depends on the characteristics of
their sonar signals and, on how these are emitted; target detection varies
across species ; when dolphins emit a signal, they wait until it is
reflected before emitting a new one; the number of clicks and the click
interval depends on the distance between the dolphin and the object
amongst other things. When confronted with a strange object, the dolphin
emits a audible signal but emits none when in contact with a familiar one
and, they can also increase the amplitude of their signals for
enhancement. So, it was quite surprising why the authors in writing such a
paper did not dwell on this; even, a cursory look at the internet will
give a lot of information: David Cole wrote about the formation of
cavitations in the brain that lead to the creation of regions of
compressions and expansion forming bubbles in cell membranes that
eventually facilitate the movemnt of molecules; an encounter with a
dolphin is said to lead to pain reduction, increased ease of
breathing, muscle relaxation, feeling of euphoria, etc
As the efficacy of non-biological treatments for depression and
other mental illness has been proven, this particular mode of treatment
though, not going to be readily available, is a welcome addition to our
armamentarium in psychiatry.
The sonar of dolphins.Whitlow W L,Au .Spinger-Verlag.1993.pg 2-
4,115,137.
Echolocation in Whales and Dolphins.PE Purves;GE Pilleri.Academic
press1983.pg114,249.
New Oxford Textbook of psychiatry,M G Gelder et al. vol.1 Oxford
university press.2000 pg 14
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
08 December 2005
ABDULKADR MUSA/Dr.
postgrad student in mental Health studies,iop,,king's college ,London
9th Floor, Capital House,42 Weston street, London,SE13QD
Rapid Response:
How do the dolphins accomplish this?
The perception that dolphins could have a healing capability
is not a novelty; this has been known since ancient times. Communication
skills of the dolphins are akin to or even superior to those of
humans; they possess special chemicals in their melons which are not found
in other mammals. As it is said 'they see with their ears, hearing
reflected lights' because of their large acoustic nerve. Studies have been
conducted about their effect in patients with spinal injury and learning disability.
The authors imply that the mechanism involved in
this healing effect of the dolphins is obscure, at best apriori. In
1947, Arthur Mcbride presented evidence that the atlantic bottlenose
dolphin may detect objects underwater by echolocation(Mcbride 1956). The
acoustic fields of the different species of dolphins differ and their
ability to carry out different tasks depends on the characteristics of
their sonar signals and, on how these are emitted; target detection varies
across species ; when dolphins emit a signal, they wait until it is
reflected before emitting a new one; the number of clicks and the click
interval depends on the distance between the dolphin and the object
amongst other things. When confronted with a strange object, the dolphin
emits a audible signal but emits none when in contact with a familiar one
and, they can also increase the amplitude of their signals for
enhancement. So, it was quite surprising why the authors in writing such a
paper did not dwell on this; even, a cursory look at the internet will
give a lot of information: David Cole wrote about the formation of
cavitations in the brain that lead to the creation of regions of
compressions and expansion forming bubbles in cell membranes that
eventually facilitate the movemnt of molecules; an encounter with a
dolphin is said to lead to pain reduction, increased ease of
breathing, muscle relaxation, feeling of euphoria, etc
As the efficacy of non-biological treatments for depression and
other mental illness has been proven, this particular mode of treatment
though, not going to be readily available, is a welcome addition to our
armamentarium in psychiatry.
The sonar of dolphins.Whitlow W L,Au .Spinger-Verlag.1993.pg 2-
4,115,137.
Echolocation in Whales and Dolphins.PE Purves;GE Pilleri.Academic
press1983.pg114,249.
New Oxford Textbook of psychiatry,M G Gelder et al. vol.1 Oxford
university press.2000 pg 14
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests