White Paper (2025)
Once integral to the physically demanding lives of hunter-gatherer societies, regular activation of fast-twitch muscles and their associated vibrations have significantly diminished due to modern lifestyle shifts. Supported by findings from evolutionary biology, cellular mechanics, and public health research, this research paper proposes the reintroduction of critical physiological rhythms through targeted physical activities and therapeutic practices such as whole-body vibration (WBV) to improve physical and mental health.
Wood acknowledges that 100% of the research and writing for this paper was performed by AI systems (OpenAI Pro 01 Deep Research, Grok3 Deep Research) enabling the exploration of a complex scientific topic inspired by personal contemplation - underscoring the transformative power of artificial intelligence.
LOST VIBRATIONS: The Evolutionary Decline of Fast-Twitch Muscle Activity and Its Role in Modern Health Disorders
LOST VIBRATIONS: The Evolutionary Decline of Fast-Twitch Muscle Activity and Its Role in Modern Health Disorders
18 pages
The decline in fast-twitch muscle use and the associated loss of muscle vibrations—once routinely experienced by our hunter-gatherer ancestors—may contribute to chronic physical and mental health conditions prevalent today, including osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, and mood disorders. This white paper examines the biological significance of these vibrations and presents evidence-based strategies for restoring them.
This research is part of the "discomfort practice" proposed in luxuriate in discomfort (2018-2020), informing ongoing exploration of somatic protocols addressing teenage mental health.
