Bilateral Course (3)

The Bilateral Meter

Since the left hemisphere of the cortex usually controls speech, logical action, and symbolic functions, while the right hemisphere is responsible for spatial and holistic processes, there is clearly value in having a simple device to monitor and differentiate the arousal of each hemisphere.

With the Bilateral Meter complex phenomena can be easily and clearly measured, whereas prior to the invention of the Bilateral meter, such results could only be obtained with an expensive and sophisticated Electroencephalograph, by making a detailed analysis of the brain rhythms recorded from different locations on the scalp.

A left-handed deflection of the needle indicates lowered resistance of the right hand, and since the control of the hands crosses over from right to left in the brain - this shows the activity is taking place in the left hemisphere. Whether a person is left or right-handed, the above statement holds good in most cases, but in some left-handed persons, different reactions will occur, because brain functions are reversed.

If the subject is asked to visualise a familiar scene, some place well known to him, such as the living room of his home, or perform mentally a spatial operation, like trying to tie a knot, then the meter needle should move to the right, indicating that the right hemisphere of the brain is activated. Similarly, a verbal or sequential task 'thinking' task such as mental arithmetic, explaining a principle or telling a lie, will cause a read to the left.

Because we live in a mainly right-handed, left-hemisphere culture, some people will cause the needle to move to the left for a right hemisphere operation, but with much less amplitude than for a verbal left hemisphere task. This is a learned disability.

In a large number of people, the left hemisphere is very dominant. Usually, such persons are easy to detect, because they are not very good at tasks involving visualization or spatial location. When the left hemisphere has this extreme dominance it will try to snatch away a right hemisphere task.

Each hemisphere of the brain does have a limited capacity for performing the tasks appropriate to the opposite hemisphere. Thus there is in the left hemisphere a limited capacity to function on spatial or holistic tasks. For many people this limited capacity is the one they habitually use in their waking moments. The clumsy professor who cannot mend a fuse, or the academic who cannot manage to knot a bow tie are the usual examples.

Some subjects will cause the meter to deflect to the right, irrespective of the task they are asked to perform. This class of persons is right hemisphere dominant, so this hemisphere will therefore try to snatch tasks appropriate to the left side of the brain. Extreme examples of this type can usually be detected, because they have reading difficulties (dyslexia), or speech disorders (aphasia) - stutterers, etc. They are frequently left-handed. However, unless there is extensive brain damage, people with extreme hemispheric dominance on either side can be trained with the Bilateral Meter to activate the appropriate hemisphere for each task.

Using the Bilateral Meter for Biofeedback Monitoring

A Guru or Yogic teacher could be described as a complex programmable biofeedback device, since in essence such a teacher undertakes a long discipline of mental control, which sharpen and attune his senses to the point where he can detect minute signals from his student, which will give him clues as to the student's personality and mental development. On the basis of these observations, the Guru can proceed to prescribe exercises, which will expand the capabilities of that student.

The same can be said of the trained psychoanalyst. People as far apart as Sigmund Freud and Norbert Weiner were intuitively aware of the use that psychoanalysts make of minute signals from their patients, which they interpret and amplify as biofeedback material.

Until comparatively recent times the most important survival factor in human society was the ability to monitor our output into an external environment, so we are poorly adapted to the perception of our inner universe, our unconscious motivations and emotional drives. Detailed introspection is the last of the mental faculties to evolve in a modern and technological society, and in many primitive societies it may never arise at all.

Biofeedback devices allow us to circumvent this poorly organized feedback loop; they act as crutches until we reach a goal of internal reorganization, then the crutch can be dispensed with. With the aid of the crutch of biofeedback devices, humanity can pick itself up by its own bootstraps; without this crutch, the majority of the population would not even be able to start to make progress in the field of self enhancement.

To recapitulate briefly, the left hemisphere of the brain is specialized for language and serial processing. The right hemisphere is equipped better for spatial and pictorial tasks, it gives a complete overview of the situation without regard to detail. Most common tasks will involve both of these specialized functions. Listening to music, for example, requires some serial processing, appropriate to the left hemisphere, in order to be aware of the development of a theme, and some holistic conception of the mood and phrasing of the piece. A good example of holistic perception of music is in the recognition of the same tune when played in different arrangements and in different keys or with different instruments or by players having different degrees of skill.

The point of issue however, is that although both hemispheres may share in a perception and interpretation activity, they do not share equally. The malfunction of learned dominance often leads to an over activity of one of the hemispheres. As already remarked, reading and writing involve both sides of the brain. Words and letters have spatial qualities for which the right hemisphere is specialized. The same words and letters have to be strung together sequentially to define meaning, and this serial processing involves the language functions of the left hemisphere. Therefore, for the purpose of fluent reading and writing the two hemispheres must co-ordinate their functions in intricate, high-speed linked programs.

Operating Instructions for the Bilateral Meter

Measurements of the difference of the psycho-galvanic resistance of the skin between the palms of each hand, which is balanced between the two double electrodes plugged into the left and right hand sockets.

A Balance Control knob has a scale in each of Left and Right directions, which enables the differential resistance reading of the needle to be balanced at the center of the Meter Dial. Or, in the case of automatically re-balancing meters, there is simply a Balance LCD Display; whenever the needle moves off one edge of the dial, it automatically re-sets the needle and adjust the Balance reading accordingly; alternatively the needle can be re-set manually.

A Gain Control is provided for increasing the Sensitivity of the Meter. To make measurements of differential resistance, a rough guide is to set the Sensitivity at the same numerical reading as the accompanying GSR Meter. Note: A higher basal resistance (Balance Point) requires greater sensitivity, on both types of Meter.

When both double electrodes are plugged in to the Bilateral Meter, the Balance Display represents the ratio in arousal between Left and Right Hemispheres of the brain, with the mid-point of equal arousal indicated at 0.0.

In this case a swing to the Left by the Meter needle indicates that a task has been taken by the Left hemisphere of the brain and vice versa. A failure to balance at the midpoint of 0.0 shows that more activity is going on in one hemisphere than the other; imbalance in the range L 2.0 - R 2.0 is normal; however a continuing balance beyond outside this range indicates a neurotic or, in the extremes, a psychotic disposition. (To verify that readings are in the correct direction get the subject to squeeze each electrode in turn - squeeezing the left hand should cause the needle to move to the right).

Preparation

Note: The Bilateral Meter will not read accurately if the subject reads outside the range 2.0 - 5.0 on the GSR Balance Scale. At the higher readings the subject will be unresponsive and a high level of sensitivity will be required; at the lower readings, the subject will be in a state of high arousal such that readings would be unreliable.

Reading the Bilateral Meter

Type 1. An instant reaction, which occurs in less than 0.4 of a second. This is a conditioned response to a stimulus, without thought. A large flick of the needle is possible, if one hits a trigger item of that kind.

Type 2. A normal thinking response, of around one scale division, occurs after about 0.5 second.

Type 3. A conscious awareness reaction, occurring at 1.5 seconds or more, which is related to the arousal state which follows appraisal of the stimulus. This reading can be of varying size, and it can be in either direction.

The relative speed of the needle movements will clearly distinguish which Type of reaction one is dealing with. It should be noted that the initial needle movement caused by Type 1 or 2 above may be followed by another movement later in the same or opposite direction caused by a Type 3 reaction. The subject will not necessarily know why they produced a reaction of Type 1 or 2.

This shows why it is desirable - with the exception of clients new to the use of a meter or who find it difficult to maintain concentration on the session - that the person on the Meter is able to see the meter movement in response to a word or question. The fact that they do not know what caused a Type 1 or 2 reaction will act as a spur to discover its cause. The feedback from seeing the reaction to something they are thinking will cause the Type 3 reaction to increase. If the Meter readings are concealed from the client there may be active resentment, which will confuse readings, and they will not learn from the biofeedback information that the Meter provides.

This is frequently not practical, however, and so the direct observation by the client can be replaced by the practitioner informing the client promptly of reads to left and right; when educated as to their significance, this can be fast and non-evaluative.

Connecting to both the Bilateral and GSR Meters simultaneously permits the practitioner to monitor a subject in differential and overall resistance modes at the same time. In both of these modes there are at least 15 distinguishable meter reactions, so this gives a potential of 225 permutations when both meters are being used.

The following is a list of meter reactions that can be observed in the Bilateral mode:

The above movements of the GSR and Bilateral Meters, correspond to 'spatial' readings. The second, but equally important dimension of 'temporal' readings, which takes account of the time delays between GSR and Bilateral reads, is summarised below.

The following descriptions refer to instant, reactive reads, which occur between 0.2 to 0.7 second after an item is reactivated:

Summary of Instructions for Using the Bilateral

To connect the meters together, you use the supplied special double set of electrodes plugged into the Bilateral, and the supplied cable to link from the Bilateral into the GSR Meter. This gives you an electrode from each hand to measure both the GSR and Bilateral responses.

To set up the meters for use, ask the subject to hold both electrodes, one in each hand, with a relaxed but steady grip, holding each electrode in the same position relative to the hand. Then you balance the needle on both dials by using the calibrated knobs on each meter or the manual Reset buttons (if available on your model). When the subject squeezes the left hand, the needle should move to the right of the dial. If this isn't the case then swap over the electrodes between hands. There should also be a fall of the needle on the GSR Meter.

It is also important to ensure that the electrodes are held with the index finger and thumb at the correct ('live') end of the electrode. If you try it both ways round, you will find that the needle is much more responsive with the index finger at one end: this is the correct way round. It is normally the end that the lead trails from.

When you have established a correct set up, it's a good idea to use small colored stickers to mark the corresponding left and right electrode/lead/socket orientations, if this is not already in place on your model.

Set the Sensitivity of the Bilateral to the same position as on the GSR. This position is determined by the normal 'Sensitivity Test', i.e. starting with an average Sensitivity of 5 on the GSR, the subject should gently squeeze the electrodes and you see how far the needle moves to the right on the GSR. If more than half of the dial, reduce the Sensitivity; if less than half of the dial, increase the Sensitivity. Then re-test and adjust accordingly.

Using this set-up, the balance point is up to a division higher on the GSR than with single electrodes, due to the reduced surface area of hand contact. This should be taken account of when judging the session progress: 2.5-3 becomes a low balance point and 5.5 a high balance point, whereas with normal electrodes this would be 2.0 and 4.5 respectively.

As you use the meters in session, if you do not have automatic reset function then you need to manually adjust the needles to their central Set position. The GSR balance position indicates the basal resistance; the Bilateral balance position indicates exact L/R hemispheric balance. As the needle moves to the left or right in response to a question or a called item, this is a relative reading - even if the overall balance is to the left or right, a response of the needle to the left or right nevertheless means that the left or right brain is relatively more aroused in response to the question or item. As the needle moves to the right (corresponding to left-brain arousal) or to the left (corresponding to right-brain arousal), you re-balance as necessary.

An overall balance position far to the left indicates a state of unreality or schizophrenia, at least as regards the subject area being addressed; a reading between midway to the left indicates a neurosis; slightly to the left or right is a normal variation; a reading midway to the right indicates a neurotic stat; and a reading far to the right indicates a disturbed state of catharsis or manic depression.

In the course of a session, the subject may approach a topic or experience quite defensively in a left brain dominant way (the GSR balance will tend to be higher). As he or she starts to confront the material the balance will tend to move towards the right overall (the GSR balance will tend to be lower as there is more emotonal involvement). When the truth is fully experienced and can be viewed with equanimity, the balance should be near central, with a gently 'floating' needle on both the Bilateral and GSR meters (the GSR balance will tend to be midway).

Left responses indicate that there is an element of fabrication in the way the subject is viewing. This is defensive. There may be rationalization, justification and blame expressed. One needs to direct the subject to look in a new direction.

Right responses indicate contact with real experience or deeply held beliefs but also a degree of emotional charge that is being suppressed. The right brain cannot lie! One needs to direct the subject to look further in the same direction: "Is there more to it?"

If there is no left nor right response, then there is no charge on the topic beinng examined that arouses thought (of a left or right brain nature) in the cerebral hemispheres. At the client's current state of awareness, responsibility and confront there is no accessible charge to clear; later on this situation may change. Unblocking procedures may be used to clear bypassed charge in the area. Even when the Bilateral is not responding, there may be a response on the GSR corresponding to lower brain (brain stem) deeply imprinted reactive programming; the appropriate action in this case is to indicate that the item that produced this reactive response is imprinted material, so that the client may have some distance from it and not be so identified with the concept.

With experience, the client will become educated in the significance of Left or Right needle reads and be prompted to look in the appropriate direction just by pointing out the reads, 'Left' and 'Right'.

When the needle responds to an addressed item with an instant response of significant length, this means that reactive mental mechanisms are in play, rather than the more delayed and smaller responses to normal thought processes.

A withheld communication may go first to the right (the truth) then to the left as a lie is fabricated. Left reads generally relate to intellectual defenses of one kind or another.

When assessing various items as to their suitability for further handling, those items that read to the right will be the most accessible and relate to real experiences with which the client has emotional contact.

When asking a question repeatedly to provoke the client to examine a topic in depth, when right reads begin to occur, you know the client is confronting the truth of the matter and the process is bearing fruit.

When going over a past experience to unburden it of charge, when the overall balance moves to the right, you know that the experience is being confronted directly. Catharsis may move the balance well over to the right, but as the charge comes off, the balance will return to normal as relief occurs.

The Bilateral meter can be used on its own (with the GSR connection lead left unattached) if the GSR function is not required, for example when checking overall balance for psychological diagnosis, but usually the two types of meter are best used simultaneously.

When used in conjunction with a GSR Meter, the practitioner has valuable insight into two dimensions of the client's mental response to the issues addressed: firstly on the GSR, the overall level of brain arousal and reactive arousal in response to specific items mentioned; and secondly on the Bilateral, the overall hemispheric balance and reactive hemispheric response to specific items mentioned.