Scientists in the United Kingdom have manipulated two prominent types of brain waves while volunteers slept, in an effort to develop better tools for studying critical neurological activities.
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Brain waves, referred to as alpha and theta oscillations, are closely associated with states of calm and relaxation, including the stage of loss of consciousness, also known as the REM phase.
Named for the jerky eye movements we experience during this stage of sleep, and coinciding with the onset of our most vivid dreams, the stage is also thought to play an important role in memory consolidation and cognitive enhancement, making any brainwave activity an attractive target for scientists.
A procedure called closed-loop acoustic stimulation (CLAS) has been successfully used to enhance or disrupt brain waves in non-REM sleep by precisely targeting the ebb and flow of brain waves through sounds delivered through headphones.
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The process had been applied rarely to individuals sleeping outside this phase, so researchers from the University of Surrey tried the method on volunteers to determine whether it could also be applied to waves generated during REM.
In tests involving 18 participants, the researchers changed both the speed and strength of brain waves as measured via electrodes on the skull.
Alpha waves (approximately 8 to 12 Hertz) and theta (approximately 4 to 8 Hertz) usually flow through the frontal region of the brain while we are in a relaxed state, such as when we are sleeping or deciding whether to get out of bed to start our day.
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In fact, these brain waves are quite similar whether we are awake or in REM sleep. We know that brain waves, the pulses of electrical activity fired by neurons, help the brain function healthily. If we can control them to some extent, it is potentially useful in making sure the brain is functioning as it should, as well as in slowing the rate of degeneration associated with dementia.
Source: sciencealert
