Two recent findings increase the likelihood that oscillations are related to specific mental states. The most well known are theta waves, produced by the brain centers for memory and emotion, specifically regions that seem to be related to the brains calculations of exact locations, time intervals, and future directions. Also different studies show different waves for the same cognitive activity. While each appears to be associated with different mental states, it’s unclear why or how. The four best-known frequencies of brain wave are alpha, beta, gamma and theta. The brain waves we can measure are the sums of millions (or billions) of neurons sending electrical signals at the same time and direction. However, we cannot yet measure individual neuron cycles. Interneurons, which connect different brain regions, have the most visible oscillations. Local regions of the cortex have oscillations. Loops of neurons, such as those involved in a sensory input-muscular movement loop, can also create oscillations. Individual neurons have electrically charged channels that create oscillations with the neuronal signal producing rapid increase and decrease of electricity along the cell membrane. Waves Measure Millions of Neurons at Once While these oscillations are associated with sleep, most other brain oscillations are not clearly correlated with mental states. Currently, it is believed that these oscillations help to synthesize and filter the previous day’s memories. Even with no outside input, the brain creates spontaneous oscillations a well-known example is the one, connected to the thalamus and cortex, that occurs during sleep. Feedback properties affect the oscillations by either continuing the give and take of the two forces or changing them in various ways. This dynamic can either come from two different cortical layers or a cortical and subcortical layer. Oscillations in the brain occur because of an interplay between two forces, such as stimulation and inhibition. Brain waves have been observed for more than a hundred years, but it is still not clear exactly what they are and what they have to do with the function of the brain and the mind. It is the synchronous waves from different regions, that is, those that are beating at the same rate, that are believed to be important for the connection of different brain regions. One of the major current theories of consciousness is that brain oscillations, also called brain waves, correlate with specific mental states.
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