Dolphin Assisted Therapy: acoustic waves that heal

The dolphin is a peculiar animal characterized by its intelligence, its sociability, its character, its creativity and its lifestyle. But this cetacean is not interesting simply for its iconic appearance or its ingenuity.

Among all its peculiarities, the transmission of acoustic waves (sonar) stands out, used to "see" what is around them, to communicate... and, for some time now, also to offer therapy. Specifically, something called Dolphin Assisted Therapy.

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The sonar of the dolphins

Acoustic waves have been carved out by the evolution of dolphins to allow them to interact with a medium in which the naked eye has access to a very limited amount of information due to the lack of light.

These waves are used by dolphins to see, since they interpret the echo produced in the objects hit by these waves. But the sonar is also essential in communication, and its sound-producing apparatus uses frequencies 4.5 times higher than those of the human being and emits 4 times more information per unit of time than us.

These animals produce both whistles to communicate and clicks to navigate, this whole range of sounds is known as echolocation and is what makes them unique therapists.

The therapists of the sea

The Florida-based Aquatought Foundation has spent years researching the consequences of sonar application on patients. Its founder, David Cole, offers a scientific explanation for the physiological changes that these waves produce in humans.

It reveals that the sonar is of such power that it could cause a phenomenon known as cavitation (the formation of cavities filled with steam in the bosom of a liquid in movement) these bubbles are formed in the sea and are of very fleeting life, but they reach temperatures of 5500 ºC, this manages to alter the membrane potential of the nerve cell terminals in humans, producing changes in our cells and tissues.

The results of his research indicate that the effect of these waves in contact with the human being produces a synchronization of the brain hemispheres, (which begin to emit waves of similar frequency and phases) and a neurological response similar to that which occurs in states of anesthesia. That is, a brain activity appears in which the alpha waves, as occurs in states of relaxation. On the other hand, when in a state of concentration, the electrical activity produced by the brain is mainly beta waves.

The specificity of this effect and its benefits have led to various attempts to artificially reproduce its therapeutic impact. Musical productions have been produced that try to imitate the echolocation of the dolphin, and there has also been a step further by creating a device called cyberfyn, which through virtual reality aims to copy the effect of Dream.

Dolphin Assisted Therapy

The therapeutic session revolves around the application of sonar in different parts of the body. This is complemented by various activities between the child and the dolphin that improve their relationship and create a bond, such as feeding the dolphin, performing motor exercises or playing with rings and balls.

For the sonar application, the patient remains floating in the water (a life jacket is used and the collaboration of a trained therapist), while the dolphin applies its sonar to different parts of the body.

The children are the ones who benefit the most from this experience since their brain structures are more plastic and modifiable than those of an adult. The sonar emits electromagnetic sound waves that stimulate the entire central nervous system, connecting neurons that are less active than normal. this effect is crucial in the treatment of autism, one of the disorders to whom this therapy has been applied the most.

It has also been used in patients with a chronic and/or terminal illness because it improves immune activity and causes the release of endorphins, which act on pain and mood.