At the 100+Living Health Centers, we’ve long taught that spinal health is more than just a pain issue—it’s a brain issue. Your spine is the highway of your nervous system, and when it becomes structurally imbalanced or dysfunctional, the quality of information traveling to your brain changes. But now, research is giving us an even clearer picture of just how deep that connection goes.
A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics by Dr. Frederick Carrick examined how manipulation of the cervical spine affects hemispheric brain activity—specifically, how spinal adjustments can actually reintegrate the brain’s hemispheres and improve function.
This is a game-changer for how we understand neurological health. Let’s unpack the findings, explore supporting research from CBP and Dr. Heidi Haavik, and show you how this science comes alive every day in our clinics.
The Study: 500 Subjects, Double-Blind Design, Measurable Brain Changes
Dr. Carrick’s study set out to answer a simple but profound question: Does adjusting the cervical spine change brain function?
To find out, he and his team conducted a large-scale, double-blind, controlled study involving 500 adult volunteers. Participants were divided into six groups and received specific adjustments to the second cervical vertebra (C2). Brain activity was measured before and after using physiological cortical mapping—a tool used to create reproducible maps of brain hemisphere function.
The researchers applied rigorous statistical standards, adjusting for multiple comparisons using Bonferroni’s theorem to ensure results were not due to chance.
Here’s what they found:
- Adjustments on the same side as an enlarged cortical map led to increased activity in the opposite hemisphere.
- Adjustments on the opposite side of the enlarged cortical map led to decreased cortical activity.
- The changes were statistically significant (p < .001) and specific to only one cortical hemisphere at a time.
What Does That Mean?
Essentially, spinal manipulation helped rebalance brain hemispheric function. If one side of the brain was overactive, adjusting the opposite side of the spine helped calm it. If one side was underactive, targeted adjustments could enhance its activity. This demonstrates that chiropractic care does far more than affect joints—it directly alters neurological integration.
Brain Hemisphericity and the Nervous System
Your brain’s left and right hemispheres don’t function identically. They each specialize in different aspects of thought, movement, and perception. However, for your body and mind to function optimally, those hemispheres need to be in sync—a concept known as brain hemispheric integration.
When spinal dysfunction distorts this communication, it creates neurological imbalances. These can show up as:
- Poor coordination or reaction time
- Trouble focusing
- Anxiety or mood swings
- Memory lapses
- Overactive fight-or-flight response
Dr. Carrick’s research reveals that precise cervical adjustments can restore balance in brain activity, which may explain the incredible improvements we see in patients dealing with mental fog, fatigue, or nervous system dysregulation.
Heidi Haavik’s Research: Reinforcing the Spine-Brain Connection
Dr. Heidi Haavik, one of the world’s leading chiropractic neuroscientists, has provided even more evidence for how adjustments influence brain function—particularly the prefrontal cortex, the region involved in:
- Executive decision-making
- Emotional regulation
- Motor planning
- Cognitive processing
Her 2016 study published in Neural Plasticity showed that chiropractic adjustments reduce prefrontal cortical activity, suggesting that the brain was using energy more efficiently and processing sensory input with less interference.
In other words, chiropractic doesn’t just make you feel better—it can help your brain work smarter.
Haavik also demonstrated that spinal adjustments lead to improved sensorimotor integration, which is how your brain interprets movement and posture. This supports Carrick’s findings and further establishes chiropractic as a form of neurological optimization.
CBP Research: Structure Governs Function
While Carrick and Haavik’s research focuses on neurological outcomes, Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) zooms in on the structural cause behind dysfunctional input: abnormal posture and spinal alignment.
The CBP Nonprofit, led by Dr. Deed Harrison, has published more than 250 peer-reviewed papers showing that poor posture—like forward head carriage, loss of cervical lordosis, or lateral shifts—distorts the spine’s biomechanics and stresses the spinal cord and nerve roots.
What happens when your spine is misaligned?
- The nervous system receives distorted mechanical feedback
- The brain responds with inefficient or compensatory signaling
- Over time, this contributes to chronic fatigue, decreased cognitive capacity, and stress overload
CBP aims to restore spinal alignment using mirror-image traction, postural rehabilitation, and neurologically driven adjustments. When the form of the spine improves, the function of the nervous system improves too—and that translates directly into better hemispheric brain balance.
Clinical Relevance: Real People, Real Changes
Let me share a story from our clinic.
Alex, a 38-year-old software developer, came to us with complaints of brain fog, poor memory, and irritability. He’d also been struggling with neck stiffness and headaches for years.
Postural analysis showed a 17mm lateral head shift and reduced cervical curve—classic signs of chronic upper cervical dysfunction. Alex was a perfect example of someone whose spinal misalignment was interfering with brain integration.
We implemented a CBP-based corrective plan focused on restoring cervical biomechanics and reducing stress on his upper spine.
Within three weeks, Alex reported improved sleep and mental clarity. By the second month, his headaches were gone, and he said he was “finally able to finish projects at work without losing focus halfway through.”
Stories like this are not unusual in our practice—and they mirror the mechanisms outlined in Carrick’s and Haavik’s studies.
Wider Neurological Support: Neuroscience Agrees
The concept that spinal joint mechanics influence cortical function isn’t limited to chiropractic. Neuroscientists have long understood that:
- The cervical spine contains dense mechanoreceptors that relay position and movement to the brain
- These receptors project to the cerebellum and prefrontal cortex
- Abnormal joint function creates noisy afferent input, leading to distorted central processing
A 2022 review in Frontiers in Neurology discussed how spinal afferent feedback directly influences postural reflexes, autonomic balance, and even limbic system (emotional) regulation.
This means chiropractic care may have an untapped role in supporting:
- ADHD and sensory processing disorders
- Post-concussion recovery
- Chronic stress and emotional dysregulation
- Performance enhancement in athletes
Recap: Why Cervical Spine Health Supports Brain Health
If you’re searching for answers about brain fog, focus problems, or chronic stress, here’s why cervical spine health should be on your radar:
- Spinal manipulation improves brain hemisphere integration
- Cervical alignment affects prefrontal cortex efficiency
- Structural correction reduces stress on the nervous system
- Targeted chiropractic care improves neurological communication
- Chiropractic BioPhysics optimizes posture to support long-term brain health
Whether you’re a parent trying to stay sharp, an athlete aiming for peak performance, or someone seeking relief from mental exhaustion, your spine may be the missing piece of the puzzle.
Conclusion: Adjust Your Spine, Reintegrate Your Brain
The research is clear. Adjusting the cervical spine doesn’t just change how your neck feels—it changes how your brain works. From Dr. Carrick’s hemispheric reintegration findings to Dr. Haavik’s prefrontal studies and the structural breakthroughs of CBP, chiropractic is emerging as a frontline tool for neurological optimization.
At 100+Living Health Centers, we specialize in exactly this kind of care. As one of only two Advanced Certified CBP clinics in Western Canada, we offer targeted care plans that combine structural correction with neurological restoration—so you can live longer, think clearer, and feel better from the inside out.
If you’re tired of living with mental fog, poor focus, or emotional fatigue, schedule a consultation today. Let’s find out if your spine is affecting your brain—and how we can help you reclaim your clarity.
Dr. Graham Jenkins
Founder, 100+Living Health Centers
Advanced Certified Chiropractic BioPhysics
Dedicated to structural correction, brain balance, and vibrant longevity
