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 because of its iconic appearance or its ingenuity.

Among all its peculiarities is the transmission of acoustic waves (sonar), used to “see” what is around them, to communicate … and, for some time, also to provide therapy. Specifically, something called Dolphin Assisted Therapy .

Dolphin sonar

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

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

These animals produce both whistles for communication and clicks for orientation, 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 been investigating the consequences of sonar application on patients for years. Its founder, David Cole, offers a scientific explanation for the physiological changes these waves produce in humans.

It reveals that sonar is so powerful that it could cause a phenomenon known as cavitation (the formation of cavities full of vapour in the middle of a moving liquid). These bubbles are formed in the sea and are very fleeting, but they reach temperatures of 5500 ºC, which manages to alter the membrane potential of the nerve cell terminals in humans, producing changes in our cells and tissues.

The results of their investigations indicate that the effect of these waves in contact with the human being produce a synchronization of the cerebral hemispheres, (that happen to emit waves of frequency and similar phases) and a neurological answer similar to the one that occurs in states of anesthesia. That is, a brain activity appears in which alpha waves predominate, 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 of beta waves.

The specificity of this effect and its benefits have led to several attempts to artificially reproduce its therapeutic impact. Musical productions have been developed that try to imitate the echolocation of the dolphin, and also a step further by creating a device called ciberfyn, which by means of virtual reality tries to copy the effect of sonar.

Dolphin Assisted Therapy

The therapeutic session revolves around the application of sonar to 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 hoops and balls.

For the application of the sonar, 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.

Children are the ones who benefit most from this experience because their brain structures are more plastic and modifiable than those of an adult. Sonar emits electromagnetic sound waves that produce a stimulation in 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 which this therapy has been most applied.

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