Functional Neurology Meets Fashion

Unbeknownst to most people, our bodies give very subtle clues to how we’re handling almost any social situation. This is one of the most basic elements of the practice of functional neurology – how is your brain working to tell your body how it should behave.

From stress to sadness, anger and joy, our brains submit triggers to the rest of our bodies, alerting us how to respond. Typical reactions include an increased heart rate, changes in body temperature and breathing, and even perspiration on our hands and feet.

What’s truly fascinating is how these subtle involuntary mechanisms can be monitored and studied to help us determine an individual’s overall health and brain function.

For example, Mashable reported earlier this month on a dress that has been developed by a Netherlands-based fashion designer that turns clear when the wearer gets excited.

Called Intimacy, the project aims to explore the relationship between technology and the body’s interactions. The dresses, which are called ‘Intimacy White’ and ‘Intimacy Black,’ are made out of opaque smart e-foils. When the body gets excited and the heart races, the coils turn clear.

The smart foils have a blend of wireless technology, LED lights, copper and other materials. “Social interactions determine the garmentsʼ level of transparency, creating a sensual play of disclosure,” the company says on its site.

Additional garments using this technology are in the works, including a suit for men, which becomes transparent when they lie.

In a much less racy, although more practical way, we use the same type of technology and data as the dress designers to take an overall snapshot of your health. At Crevar Chiropractic, all new patients are required to undergo our stress evaluation test, which will provide me with information on everything from your breathing and heart patterns to muscle tension and brain wave readings.

The test is simple – each participant is exposed to a series of normal, ordinary situations, such as distracting noises and math questions, while sensors gather data on the changes in their body. Most people won’t even notice any of these changes themselves, but we will be able to provide valuable insight and tailored recommendations using the results.

Have you had a stress evaluation test? What did you learn about yourself and your body’s ability to handle various situations?