Directional fractionation is a state that can be monitored in individuals while responding to external stimuli. The stimulation will range from typically positive and affirming stimulants to negative and disturbing stimulation. An individual suffering from directional fractionation will exhibit similar physical responses to the entire range of stimuli, revealing a literal fracture between mental states and physical states. As a result, an individual can be mentally disturbed by an image without exhibiting any of the regular symptoms associated with it.
While an individual is seated in a chair, a doctor or psychologist will monitor his heart rate and other primary body functions. The doctor will play a video of a father hearing the news that his child has just died in an accident. If the patient is suffering from directional fractionation, his skin receptors may give off a typically sympathetic response, such as increased skin conductance. Despite this, his heart rate will decrease, which is a typically unsympathetic characteristic.
While an individual suffering from directional fractionation may show two differing physical responses to the same stimulation, certain changes in the experiment can help to remedy these inconsistencies. Oftentimes, once a doctor asks the individual to verbalize what he is feeling, his body will begin to respond to the stimulation in a typical way. As a result, the directional fractionation was only limited to nonverbal responses.
Before deciding if you or a friend suffers from directional fractionation, it is important to consult a therapist or doctor to get a professional diagnosis. Often times the process of diagnosis may take several visits in order to deliver a conclusive result. While the state is atypical, it does not traditionally put any individuals in physical danger. In addition, the condition is often remedied through verbalization or other alternative forms of expression.