Our brain processes everything Brain wavesthat are comparable to electrical frequencies. These currents can be measured, which means that natural voltage fluctuations on the cortex of the brain can be evaluated. Since these evaluations can say a lot about the mental and physical condition of a person, these measurements are used in medicine and research.
What are brainwave waves?
Similar to a radio or a TV set, the brain sends information on different frequencies in order to transmit it. The brain sends information to the body parts, to the cells and to the organs, among other things. The waves that the brain generates in the process, however, differ from one another depending on the physical and psychological state.
This means that the brain waves can be used to evaluate, among other things, whether a patient is sleeping or awake, whether he is lying or telling the truth, or whether he is relaxed or stressed. Because the brain works with four different types of brain wave: the alpha, beta, theta and delta waves. And these waves can now be measured, displayed and thus evaluated using an electroencephalogram (EEG for short).
The EEG measures the brain waves and reproduces them graphically so that the electrical signals that the brain sends can be precisely evaluated. With the help of a measurement, medicine and research can see which processes in the brain have taken place during the measurement phases.
It is by far not only possible to determine whether the patient was awake or not during the measurement, numerous details can be found out. For example, whether the brain perceived and converted noises, images or touch during the measurement phase. As a result, it may now be possible to better assess the condition of a patient who is in a deep comatose sleep, for example.
Brain wave waves can be measured and evaluated precisely. This makes it possible to determine whether things happening in the body that are intended or not. Many diseases, such as tumors, occlusions of blood vessels or growths, also leave their traces in the brain waves - especially when these are near the head or at least indirectly burden or influence the brain. For this reason, brainwaves and the EEG are now important diagnostic tools, for example in the promising field of neurofeedback.
Function & task
Every piece of information that the brain receives, processes or sends generates electrical impulses - including thought processes or dreams. Depending on the type of information and process involved, according to current knowledge, the brain uses four different brain waves that can basically be compared with electrical frequencies.
The brain waves represent only a small researched part of the brain activity. However, the possibility of evaluating them has brought incredible progress in medicine and research. With brain wave measurements, numerous diseases can be detected earlier today, physical conditions can be better classified and therefore better treated under certain circumstances.
A drastic example: Today, an EEG can usually be used to find out relatively reliably whether a person is brain dead or whether a comatose state may only be temporary.
The human brain has been shown to use four different types of waves. These differ fundamentally in the cycles that they go through per second. The brain uses beta waves, for example, when they are awake. So if the person is conscious, the brain sends its information in 13 to 15 cycles per second. Beta waves are mostly sent when the person is very attentive and active and has to do many things at once.
Alpha waves, on the other hand, consist of 8 to 12 cycles per second. In this state, the person is conscious, but relaxed. Many creative actions and learning processes are coordinated by the alpha waves.
Theta waves usually arise while daydreaming and while sleeping. Here the brain sends in 4 to 7 cycles per second, which are mainly used for thinking processes. Therefore, in these phases, people are more spiritually creative, find solutions to problems more quickly and have the best inspirations.
The brain only uses delta waves during deep sleep. It transmits in just 1 to 3 cycles per second, which are primarily intended for physical and organic processes. Since there is no dreaming in this phase, the brain is in a state of rest and relaxation, so to speak.
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Many diseases and physical conditions, such as epilepsy and strokes, but also tumors and, of course, brain diseases, show up in the brain waves. For this reason, the EEG is now an important part of the diagnostic process when certain diseases are to be identified or excluded.
The EEG is a risk-free examination that has no side effects. This means that this method can also be used with pregnant women and children without hesitation. In order to measure the brain waves, the doctor only has to distribute a few electrodes on the patient's head, which can be stuck on completely painlessly and thus easily removed again. In addition, an EEG takes about 30 minutes - a 24-hour measurement of the brain waves is rarely necessary.
