Neural Organization Technique (NOT)

Presentation

The Neural Organization Technique (NOT) is a therapeutic system developed in the 1980s by Dr. Carl Ferreri, an American chiropractor from Brooklyn, New York. This approach is based on the principle that the central nervous system is organized around four fundamental survival programs inherited from evolution, and that any health dysfunction can be traced to a disorganization of one or more of these systems. NOT combines elements of applied kinesiology, cranial chiropractic and functional neurology to identify and correct neural disorganization patterns.

Dr. Ferreri developed NOT by observing that many patients with learning disorders, particularly dyslexia, shared common patterns of cranial dysfunction. His research led him to hypothesize that these disorders resulted not from brain lesions but from a "disorganization" of neural circuits responsible for visual and proprioceptive information processing. NOT is practiced by chiropractors, kinesiologists and osteopaths specifically trained in this method, primarily in North America, Europe and Australia.

Fundamental Principles

NOT rests on the central concept that the nervous system organizes hierarchically around four primary survival systems. The Fight/Flight system manages danger responses via the sympathetic nervous system. When disorganized, individuals may remain locked in hypervigilance. The Feeding system encompasses the entire digestive chain and includes visual coordination needed to "seek food" — linking it directly to reading and learning disorders. According to Ferreri, dyslexia is frequently associated with feeding system disorganization affecting visual centering. The Reproduction system governs reproductive hormones and fertility. The Immune system ensures pathogen defense and immune self-regulation.

These systems follow a strict hierarchy: fight/flight overrides everything (immediate survival), followed by feeding (short-term survival), reproduction (species survival), and immunity (long-term survival). When a higher-ranking system is disorganized, it cascades disruption to all lower systems. This hierarchy guides treatment order.

Technical Details

Full name

Neural Organization Technique (NOT)

Creator

Dr. Carl Ferreri, DC (Chiropractor)

Origin

Brooklyn, New York, USA

Year of creation

1980s

Therapeutic family

Specialized kinesiology, cranial chiropractic, functional neurology

Session duration

45 to 90 minutes

Recommended frequency

1 to 2 sessions per week initially, then progressively spaced

Target audience

Children, adolescents and adults (age-adapted protocols)

Required training

NOT certification through the official organization (multi-level post-graduate training)

Main Indications

• Dyslexia and reading disorders (visual centering disorganization)
• Academic learning disabilities (dyscalculia, dysorthography)
• Idiopathic scoliosis (cranial postural receptor imbalance)
• Attention deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD)
• Stress-related functional digestive disorders
• Chronic anxiety and hypervigilance (locked fight/flight system)
• Sleep disorders and insomnia
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction
• Hormonal and menstrual disorders (reproduction system)
• Weakened immunity and recurrent infections
• Mild traumatic brain injury sequelae
• Ocular convergence and binocular vision disorders

Session Process

A NOT session begins with a thorough evaluation using muscle testing as a neurological diagnostic tool. The practitioner systematically assesses the four survival systems by testing specific indicator muscles in precise positions. Cranial evaluation is a central element: the practitioner palpates cranial sutures to identify "cranial faults" — mobility restrictions at joints between skull bones. These restrictions reportedly result from trauma (birth, falls, impacts) or chronic stress and disrupt cerebrospinal fluid flow and cranial innervation.

Corrections combine precise cranial adjustments at identified sutures with simultaneous contacts on specific body points (neurovascular, neurolymphatic or meridian points). These corrections are gentle with no cracking. The practitioner retests immediately after each correction to verify neurological function restoration. Treatment order strictly follows the survival system hierarchy: fight/flight first, then feeding, reproduction, and finally immunity.

Variations and Sub-techniques

• NOT Dyslexia Protocol: specific program targeting visual centering, ocular convergence and hemispheric dominance
• NOT Scoliosis Protocol: correction of cranial postural receptors and righting reflexes
• Pediatric NOT: adapted protocols for infants and children including birth trauma correction
• NOT and Allergies: specific immune protocol for allergic reactions and intolerances
• NOT and Hormonal Disorders: reproductive system protocol for hormonal imbalances

Contraindications

• Recent or non-consolidated skull fractures
• Diagnosed intracranial tumors
• Untreated hydrocephalus
• Meningitis or active cerebral infections
• Known cerebral aneurysms
• Recent post-cranial surgery (less than 6 months)
• Severe osteoporosis affecting cranial bones
• NOT does not replace medical diagnosis and should be used as a complement to conventional care