16/8/2016

Ideomotor Action, Part 3 | Dimon Institute

Ideomotor Action, Part 3

Aug 14, 2016

Our recent post on ideomotor action has inspired a few questions on the emotional aspects
of use, and the ways in which ideomotor action a ects the psychophysical system as a
functional whole. In particular, we were asked whether emotions have an e ect on our
physical responses as conveyed through ideomotor acts, and if there are broader
repercussions than were described previously. The past two blog posts explain that
ideomotor acts translate ideas into action via a single neural pathwaythat is unconscious
and cannot be easily broken. This connection isnt emotional in nature, but rather a function
of automatic neuromuscular processes. However, emotions can and do greatly impact the
condition and functioning of the system. To be sure, anxiety and other emotions will excite
the nervous system in a variety of ways, most often by creating a state of hyperactivity that
heightens our reactivity to stimuli. This condition intensi es the ideomotor response,
making the associated behaviors more readily apparent to those of us who teach this work.
For example, if I, as a teacher, raise a students arm and ask her not to help me, the
neuromuscular circuit connecting idea to action often compels the student to engage her
arm and help me. The student will grip in the forearm and move her arm in space along
with my hand simply because the idea has been suggested to her. If, however, the student is
anxious because we dont know each other well, or emotional due to a personal exchange
that occurred earlier in the day, her psychophysical system might be in an over-reactive
state and, as a result, her arm may positively jump out of my hand and into the air. The
ideomotor response and the neuromuscular pathway is the same, but the level, or decibel,
of the reaction in response to the stimulus is magni ed.
An intense emotional state can excite any system, regardless of the quality of general use,
into hyperactivity temporarily. It doesnt necessarily follow that we are functioning optimally
when our systems are not overwhelmed by emotional states. In fact, if levels of hyperactivity
are sustained over long periods consciously or unconsciously it can ossify ideomotor
pathways and trap the person within a larger condition of heightened reactivity. The
resulting behaviors can be detrimental to the coordination and balance of the
psychophysical system, further entrenching rigid habits of poor use. This cyclical pattern has
http://dimoninstitute.org/2016/08/14/ideomotor-action-part-3/

1/5

16/8/2016

Ideomotor Action, Part 3 | Dimon Institute

established a condition of hyperactivity as the new norm of human conduct. Many of us

live in states of hyperactivity and are completely unaware of the erosive impact that our
daily use and behavior has on us. The prominence of stress-related psychophysical medical
conditions such as anxiety disorders is, therefore, unsurprising.
The consequences of a disturbed psychophysical state can manifest themselves in a variety
of ways. The impact this state has on our lives is much broader than its interference with
the way in which we perform basic motor actions, like how we move an arm or sit in a chair.
Its important to note that, while all of the following examples (adapted from The Undivided
Self) are common with a psychophysical imbalance, they can also be linked with other
emotional or psychological disorders and that each case must be assessed individually.
In one example, we might see a person who has an apparently calm demeanor and is not
reactive at all, but who is pulled down and seemingly weighted down by extreme muscular
tension throughout his body. In another example, we might see someone who is truly
emotionally disturbed, anxious at all times, prone to panic attacks, and hyper-reactive to
stimuli. While the manifested psychoemotional symptoms are very di erent, both cases will
share a condition of physical deterioration, resulting in the loss of motor control and
coordination. There will be added tension and strain in the system that can result in physical
(back, neck, hip, e.g.) problems and, in some cases, a decrease in muscle strength and the
overall loss of health and vitality.
Another consequence might be an inability to sit still and a jitteriness that many of us have
experienced to some extentimagine that friend who cant stop bouncing his knee under
the table when youre out at a restaurant. This sort of response is born out of the habits of
rushing and excessive multi-tasking, and can develop into a situation where the person is
unable to stay focused on a single idea or task and seems generally distracted and agitated
at all times. This inattentive state makes it very di cult to hear and process new ideas, and
has a concrete and enduring e ect on a persons mental state.
In contrast to the extreme multi-taskers, a similar mental preoccupation can result from a
hyper focused state, which is often connected to highly intellectualized work. Lawyers,
writers, computer programmers and scientists, for instance, who exercise cognitive faculties
in excess, can become disconnected from their environments and their physical selves. This
psychophysical imbalance results in a di erent kind of distractedness, where the person is
constantly lost in thought.
We often see many of these hyperactive states resulting in a compulsiveness in speech.We
have surely all witnessed individuals who compulsively interrupt or cut other people o in
conversation. Theyarelikely unaware of this behavior and unable to stop doing it, due to
the same ideomotor response mechanisms. Years of compulsive speaking, aside from
a ecting social interactions, can create tension and malcoordination in the muscles of the
neck, back and torso, impair breathing and have an e ect on posture overall.

http://dimoninstitute.org/2016/08/14/ideomotor-action-part-3/

2/5

16/8/2016

Ideomotor Action, Part 3 | Dimon Institute

Finally, many of these reactive states can lead to health-deteriorating conditions like
insomnia. Neuromuscular activity that is associated with chronically over-active mental
processes such as writing can persist even during periods of rest. Insomnia often results
from the brains inability to stop performing an earlier action and quiet down, and, in this
sense, is an imbalance of the psychophysical state.As Dr. Dimon explains in The Undivided
Self, Common to all of these manifestations is a disintegration of the ideomotor pathway,
and each individual manifestation re ects how we react to di erent types of activities.

earch

Explore
Explore Our Content
Publications
Frank Pierce Jones Archives

Categories
Articles
Alexander
Neurodynamics
Videos

Tags
Alexander Technique
Atlas

attention

consciousness
health
Monkey

awareness and health

da vinci project

ideomotor action
movement

PNR system
stress

anatomy of directing

neck re exes

prevention

stretch re exes

biosynergetics

design

inhibition

directing

Neurodynamics

http://dimoninstitute.org/2016/08/14/ideomotor-action-part-3/

direction

distraction

knees

education

leg spirals

re exes

Vertical Monkey

atlanto-occipital

child development

neuroscience

psychophysical

tension

article

Books

kinesthetic thinking

primary control
tensegrity

antagonistic action

mindfulness

performance
ribs

skill

skull

video

3/5

16/8/2016

Ideomotor Action, Part 3 | Dimon Institute

The Dimon Institute

356 West 123rd Street
New York, NY 10027
USA
Telephone: +1 212 222 1665
Please send general inquiries to:
info@dimoninstitute.org

Our Philosophy
The Conservatory
What We Do
Programs
Curriculum
Alexander Technique
Talks & Workshops

Research
Research in Action
Columbia U Partnership
Explore
Explore Content
Publications
Frank Pierce Jones Archives

Contact Us
Donate to the Institute

http://dimoninstitute.org/2016/08/14/ideomotor-action-part-3/

4/5

16/8/2016

Ideomotor Action, Part 3 | Dimon Institute

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

The Dimon Institute is a non-pro t, tax exempt 501(c)3 organization and selects students of any
race, color, national and ethnic origin, and sexual orientation and does not discriminate on the
basis of any of these factors in the administration of its admission policies.

Copyright 2016 Dimon Institute

http://dimoninstitute.org/2016/08/14/ideomotor-action-part-3/

5/5