Our brain processes everything through brain waves, which are comparable to electrical frequencies. These currents can be measured, allowing natural voltage fluctuations on the cortex of the brain to be evaluated. Since these evaluations can tell a lot about a person’s mental and physical state, these measurements are used in medicine and also research.
What are brain waves?
Our brain processes everything through brainwaves, which are comparable to electrical frequencies. The brain, much like a radio or TV, sends information on different frequencies to convey it. Among other things, the brain sends information to the parts of the body, to the cells and to the organs. However, the waves that the brain generates in the process differ from one another depending on the physical and also mental state. This means that the brain waves can be used to evaluate, among other things, whether a patient is asleep or awake, whether he is lying or telling the truth, or whether he is relaxed or stressed. The brain works with four different types of brain waves: alpha, beta, theta and delta waves. And these waves can now be measured, displayed and thus evaluated by means of an electroencephalogram (EEG for short). The EEG measures the brain waves and displays them graphically, so that the electrical signals sent by the brain can be evaluated accurately. On the basis of a measurement, medicine and research can therefore see which processes have taken place in the brain during the measurement phases. It is not only possible to determine whether the patient was awake or not during the measurement, but also to find out numerous details. For example, whether the brain perceived and converted sounds, images or touch during the measurement phase. This means that today it may be possible to better assess the condition of a patient who is in a comatose deep sleep, for example. Brain waves can be precisely measured and evaluated. This makes it possible to determine whether things are happening in the body that were intended or not intended. Many diseases, such as tumors, occlusions of vessels or tumors also leave their traces in the brain waves – especially if they are close to the head or at least indirectly stress or influence the brain. For this reason, brain waves and the EEG are now important diagnostic tools, for example, also in the promising field of neurofeedback.
Function and task
Any information that the brain receives, processes, or sends generates electrical impulses – including thought processes or dreams. However, depending on what type of information and process it is, the brain uses four different brainwaves, according to current findings, which can be fundamentally compared to electrical frequencies. The brain waves represent only a small researched part of the brain activity. However, the ability to evaluate them has brought incredible progress in medicine and research. Today, brainwave measurements make it possible to detect numerous diseases earlier, to better classify physical conditions, and thus, under certain circumstances, to treat them more effectively. 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 might only be temporary. The human brain has been shown to use four different types of waves. These differ fundamentally in the cycles they go through per second. For example, the brain uses the beta waves when awake. So when 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 alert and active and needs 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 occur during daydreaming and sleep. Here the brain transmits in 4 to 7 cycles per second, but they are mainly used for thinking processes. Therefore, during these phases, people are more mentally creative, find solutions to problems faster and have the best intuitions. The brain uses delta waves exclusively in deep sleep.It transmits in only 1 to 3 cycles per second, but these are primarily for physical and organic processes. Since there is no dreaming during this phase, the brain is in a state of rest and recovery, so to speak.
Diseases and ailments
Many diseases and physical conditions, such as epilepsies and strokes, but also tumors and, of course, brain diseases, show up in the brain waves. For this reason, EEG is now an important part of the diagnostic process when certain diseases are to be identified or ruled out. EEG is a risk-free examination that has no side effects. This means that this method can also be used without hesitation in pregnant women and children. To measure the brain waves, the doctor only has to place a few electrodes on the patient’s head, which can be attached and removed without any pain. In addition, an EEG takes about 30 minutes – only rarely is a 24-hour measurement of brain waves necessary.
