Dr. Robert “Rick” Wiegand graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1980 and entered into private practice. Early on in practice, he became intrigued with the question of how the human neural system processes very subtle types of stimuli. In 1982, Dr. Wiegand and a colleague, Dr. Ed Blumenthal, began investigating methods to help heighten awareness of subtle responses that are produced by the neural system, when it detects stimuli outside the standard range of conscious perception. Over the last 23 years, Dr. Wiegand has blended discoveries emerging from the cognitive neurosciences with cutting edge clinical applications. During this time he has been involved in the development of specialized enhancing tools and protocols that assist practitioners to rapidly gain access to subtler ranges of perception.
In an interview with The American Chiropractor (TAC), Dr. Wiegand describes the program he has developed to assist practitioners in integrating extended awareness skills into their existing procedures following a single weekend of training.
TAC: Could you give a quick overview on “primal perception”?
Wiegand: In a nutshell, the human neural system is exquisitely sensitive. It detects far more stimuli/information than we realize. This doesn’t just apply to internal stimuli. Recent research conclusively demonstrates that the neural system also detects certain types of “ultra-weak” stimuli from the environment, of which we are not consciously aware.
TAC: How can researchers be certain that a person’s neural system can detect a stimulus from the environment, outside of their awareness?
Wiegand: One way researchers can determine this is to connect a subject up to sensitive biofeedback devices so they are able to objectively monitor subtle neural responses. Then, the subject is exposed to various stimuli that are too weak to be consciously experienced (i.e., ultra-weak stimuli). When the subject is exposed to certain types of ultra-weak stimuli, his/her neural system will immediately react by producing subtle autonomic and central neural responses. When this occurs, researchers know that the person’s neural system detected the ultra-weak stimulus, and responded to it, even though the person was not aware of it.
TAC: How does primal perception figure into this?
Wiegand: Your neural system produces primal autonomic/central neural responses anytime it detects an ultra-weak stimulus. Most individuals can learn how to become aware of specific autonomic/central responses that are produced by their own neural systems. Once people are able to heighten their awareness of these primal responses, they can sense when the neural system is detecting, and responding to stimuli that they cannot experience directly through their standard senses.
TAC: What does primal perception have to offer to practitioners?
Wiegand: A practitioner can use primal perception to gain access to important supplementary information that their neural system is detecting outside of their normal range of conscious perception. For instance, a practitioner’s neural system constantly detects ultra-weak changes that occur in a patient’s physiology. By using primal perception, a practitioner can instantly sense very specific locations that their neural system has (unconsciously) detected, as being different. This information can be used to help a practitioner rapidly assess a person for areas of potential dysfunction. Primal perception also provides a practitioner with supplementary information that can be used to significantly increase the specificity of most techniques.
TAC: Does it take long to learn how to use primal perception?
Wiegand: It used to. In the past, practitioners often spent years in hit and miss efforts attempting to cultivate this ability. This was largely due to the fact that the process was not well understood. New discoveries have recently emerged from the neurosciences that provide pivotal insights. As a result of these findings, new training tools and protocols have been developed, which enable most individuals to acquire a working ability of these skills after a single weekend of training.
TAC: Sounds as though it has a lot of potential! Any parting thoughts?
Wiegand: Most practitioners overlook valuable information that their neural systems are detecting. Ancient perceptual pathways lie buried beneath the conscious senses. These sub-cortical perceptual systems respond to stimuli that are far too subtle to be perceived through the standard senses. So, GET PRIMAL! And discover how to convert primitive sub-cortical responses into valuable information. The process facilitates extra-ordinary perceptual abilities and trans-personal connectivity.
TAC: Thanks! See you at the Chiropractic’06 symposium in Panama!
Wiegand: I’m looking forward to it. It looks like it is going to be a great time!
Dr. Wiegand currently resides in Oregon where he continues his research, consulting and teaching pursuits. For more information, email [email protected]; call 215-674-9108; or visit www.AccessWorkshop.com.