Alastair and Barbara, I am sorry that I have not been following all of your posts. Don't know if this relates or not, but there is a whole body of thought called edu- kinesiology or brain gym that relates to patterning and more efficient cognition. Alastair, I am thinking that what this sort of patterning and other sorts of exercises do, as a for instance, in children with learning disabilities or tramatic brain injury is to retrain the neural pathways. I'm sure that this sort of thing must help the production or flow of certain neural transmitters. As I, a special educator, am so early in my process of learning about this, I cannot speak with any authority whatsoever. Umpteen years ago, Domin and Delacotto (can't remember the spellings of their names) felt this to be the key and when it wasn't a panacea, it fell into disfavor. What I am now wondering is if the problem was that they didn't go far enough. They and others didn't take into account the complexity of the whole deal and tried only this w/o trying other things, too, at the same time, as though this were the complete answer. It may be that we lost a lot when we totally abandoned this, too. Not having followed a single thing here, I am probably so far out in left field that the list will throw me out. If so, be kind. Will try to follow this discussion and look for you two. Sincerely, Barb B. 53 cg Art 56 1 year