A question on neural anatomy

[Kain]

Here's a question that I've had for years, perhaps someone here knows the answer to it so here goes...

From what I gather, the left side of our body is neurally connected to our right brain hemisphere and the right side to our left side hemisphere. Is this correct?

Now, assuming that it is, what about the neural network of our cranium, not including the brain itself? For instance the nerves at the skin and flesh around the skull. The cerebral area. Are they subject to the same rule or are they, due to proximity, connected directly to the part of the brain closest to them?

I am asking due to the fact that I have for a very long time observed occurances on the nerve and muscle system that in a way belonged to mental and emotional occurances taking place at that particular time on the "appropriate" hemisphere, however I have also had many quite profound effects on my upper head area (from mild energy burns to various other effects) that I am not sure how to decipher.

Any help would be appreciated,

Kain

[oak]

i'm not sure, i'd guess they're "mapped" to the same side?

these may be helpful though:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Illu_cranial_nerves.jpg

Cranial nerves (wiki) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranial_nerve)
Brainstem nuclei of the Cranial nerves (http://thalamus.wustl.edu/course/brstem.html)

[Radiant Star]

Not sure it can be totally divided up between right and left because there seem to be interconnections and not everyone has text book nervous systems.

Looking at this diagram of nerves, you can see that there is potential for most areas to be connected.

anatomy atlases plate25 (http://anatomyatlases.org/atlasofanatomy/plate25/02supnervesneckl.shtml)

anatomy atlases plate25 (http://anatomyatlases.org/atlasofanatomy/plate25/index.shtml)

The head is very sensitive and I also get a lot of sensation at times. I think it may be that we have such a high input in other areas of our body that our brains normally cut out the more subtle feelings there. What I noticed was that as soon as you start developing in energy work, that you become more attuned to sensations in other parts of the body; I became very aware of some head sensations and it seems natural especially for people who meditate – they become aware of many other kinds of input internally and externally.

Cranial osteopathists can pick up things and work with the body from just a very light touch and it might be helpful to research in that area.

Hope you find something useful to do more research on in this.

[Kain]

Thanks a lot oak and Ricci! Most interesting information...not quite found an answer to my original question but that's material that gives me ideas of further research. What I noticed was that as soon as you start developing in energy work, that you become more attuned to sensations in other parts of the body; I became very aware of some head sensations and it seems natural especially for people who meditate – they become aware of many other kinds of input internally and externally.Most certainly...this is a well documented phenomenon in energy work, often referred to technically as "mindfulness". Mindfulness on all fields gradually grows the longer one works on such subjects. Conscious perception of changes that occur becomes subtler and picks up things previously fully undetected. A most interesting phenomenon, deeply connected with the aim of the Work itself I think...

Kain

[Naomi]

From Sandoz Course: Cranial Nerves Wilson-Paulwels Akesson Stewart medical textbook.