SPP Institute

Publications

Scholarly publications

Peer-reviewed journal articles by SPP Institute researchers and official open-access publications issued by SPP Institute.

Within each category, works are listed in reverse chronological order. Only publicly issued works are included; manuscripts under review and forthcoming conference outputs are not listed.

SPP Institute Position Papers

Official monographic series

Continuing open-access series · Online ISSN 3029-9683

No. 2 (2026)Version 1.0

Axial Organ (AxO): A Position Paper on Definition, Boundaries, and Functional Organization

and

SPP Institute Position Papers · No. 2 · Online ISSN 3029-9683

Defines the Axial Organ as a pelvic-to-cranial anatomical–physiological system, distinguishing included structures, shared functions, regional interactions, and the principles of developmentally appropriate examination.

Živný, B., & Živná, K. (2026). Axial organ (AxO): A position paper on definition, boundaries, and functional organization (SPP Institute Position Papers, No. 2). NeuroCentrum. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22737933

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No. 1 (2026)Version 1.0

Axial Block (AxB): A Position Paper on Definition, Terminology, and Pathophysiology

and

SPP Institute Position Papers · No. 1 · Online ISSN 3029-9683

Terminological and hypothesis-generating framework defining the Axial Organ, Axial Corresponding Functional Unit, Axial Block, multiple Axial Blocks, AxBb Chains, and distinct processes involved in AxB/AxBb resolution.

Živný, B., & Živná, V. (2026). Axial block (AxB): A position paper on definition, terminology, and pathophysiology (SPP Institute Position Papers, No. 1). NeuroCentrum. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22050239

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Series information and archive

Journal articles

Peer-reviewed publications

Hypothesis and TheoryOpen access

Persistent Afferent Bias: a mechanistic link between somatic disruption and autonomic dysregulation

Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience · Volume 20 · Article 1848233

Mechanistic framework proposing Persistent Afferent Bias as a state-dependent alteration in sensory weighting that links sustained somatic disruption to changes in autonomic regulation.

Živný, B. (2026). Persistent Afferent Bias: A mechanistic link between somatic disruption and autonomic dysregulation. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 20, 1848233. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2026.1848233

Publisher pagePDFDOI
Hypothesis and TheoryOpen access

Somato-Psychic Pathway: a universal developmental trajectory linking somatic structural–functional integrity, autonomic regulation, and the emergence of mind

Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience · Volume 20 · Article 1771123

Foundational developmental framework proposing that somatic structural–functional integrity and autonomic regulation constitute upstream layers shaping emotional, cognitive, and social development.

Živný, B. (2026). Somato-Psychic Pathway: A universal developmental trajectory linking somatic structural–functional integrity, autonomic regulation, and the emergence of mind. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 20, 1771123. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2026.1771123

Publisher pagePDFDOI
Research ArticlePeer reviewed

Self-regulation at one month predicts language development at 12 months of age

, Mariana Sousa, Adriana Sampaio, and Sara Cruz

European Journal of Developmental Psychology · Volume 23 · Issue 2 · Pages 193–210

Longitudinal study examining whether self-regulatory abilities at one month of age predict cognitive and language outcomes at 12 months. Early self-regulation predicted language development, but not cognitive performance, one year later.

Zivna, V., Sousa, M., Sampaio, A., & Cruz, S. (2026). Self-regulation at one month predicts language development at 12 months of age. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 23(2), 193–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2025.2607718

Publisher pageDOI

Conference presentations and abstracts

Conference contributions

Conference posters, presentations, and published abstracts are documented separately from peer-reviewed journal articles. SPP Institute records serve as the institutional point of reference; external repositories remain linked as secondary sources.

Poster presentation · SP161AACPDM 2026

Autonomic Imbalance as an Organizing Principle of Mental Functioning and Development: A Developmental Extension of the Somato-Psychic Pathway

and

AACPDM 80th Annual Meeting · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Presented posterLocal archival PDFPoster DOIPublished abstract in DMCN

This poster examines the proposed developmental role of autonomic imbalance within the Somato-Psychic Pathway (SPP). Retrospective routine-care observations from 136 children were analyzed in two age strata: 2–6 years (n = 94) and 6–12 years (n = 42).

Published conference abstract SP161: Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 68(Suppl. 4), S196–S197. Published online 24 September 2026.

Contribution recordView posterDownload PDFDOIResearchGateAbstract citationPublished abstract SP161
Poster presentationAACN 2026

Somatic and Autonomic Dysregulation as Pathophysiological Constraints on Higher Brain Function — Neuropsychological Outcomes After Manual Therapy for Axial Dysfunction with Secondary Autonomic Dysregulation: Results from 135 Children in Two Cohorts Aged 2–6 and 6–12 Years

and

American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology 2026 Annual Conference · Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Presented posterLocal archival PDFPoster DOI

This poster examined whether persistent somatic dysfunction and associated autonomic dysregulation may act as state-dependent constraints on higher neuropsychological functioning. The retrospective cohort comprised 135 children aged 2–12 years; parent-reported outcomes covered attention, sleep, anxiety, mood, and behavioural regulation.

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Poster presentationAANS 2026

Axial Dysfunction and Neuropsychological Outcomes in Children: Effects of Noninvasive Treatment — Neuropsychological Outcomes After Manual Therapy for Axial Dysfunction with Secondary Autonomic Dysregulation: Results from 159 Children in Two Cohorts Aged 2–6 and 6–12 Years

and

American Association of Neurological Surgeons 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting · San Antonio, Texas, United States

Presented posterLocal archival PDFPoster DOI

This poster reported pre–post neuropsychological outcomes in 159 children across two age cohorts following individualized manual therapy directed at axial dysfunction. It also framed the findings for pediatric and adolescent operative neurosurgery and for outcome evaluation in spinal care.

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Poster presentation with published abstractNAN 2025

Somato-Psychic Syndrome and Somato-Psychic Autonomic Dysregulation as a Pathophysiological Bridge Between Body and Mind

and

45th Annual Conference of the National Academy of Neuropsychology · Los Angeles, California, United States

Presented posterLocal archival PDFPublished abstractPoster DOI not assigned

This poster introduced Somato-Psychic Syndrome and Somato-Psychic Autonomic Dysregulation as a proposed clinical and pathophysiological framework. It reported a retrospective clinical cohort of 135 children aged 2–12 years and parent-reported pre–post outcomes after at least five therapeutic sessions.

Contribution recordView posterDownload PDFResearchGatePublished abstractAbstract DOI
Keynote lecture and oral presentationBMU 2025

Somato-Psychic Syndrome (SPS) and Somato-Psychic Autonomic Dysregulation (SPAD) as a Pathophysiological Bridge Between Body and Mind

and

Body–Mind Unity Congress (BMU 2025) · Prague, Czech Republic

Keynote lectureOral presentationAuthor-prepared abstractLocal abstract PDF

The author-prepared English abstract associated with this keynote and oral contribution presents SPS and SPAD as a proposed body-to-mind framework and summarizes preliminary observations from a retrospective cohort of 135 children aged 2–12 years.

Contribution recordView abstractDownload PDF
Poster presentation · Related Developmental ResearchICP 2024

The Association between Self-regulation Abilities at One Month with Cognition and Language Development at One Year of Age in a Sample of Portuguese Infants

and Sara Cruz

33rd International Congress of Psychology · Prague, Czech Republic

Presented posterLocal archival PDFRelated developmental researchRelated peer-reviewed article

This developmental-science poster examined whether self-regulatory abilities at one month predicted cognitive and language outcomes at one year. In the reported models, state regulation significantly predicted receptive language. It is included as related developmental research rather than as a core SPP conference contribution.

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