Targeted Manipulation of brain waves improves memory performance

The rhythm of the brain waves affects the memory

According to the latest research results, the targeted Rhytmisierung of brain waves (brain oscillations) may contribute to the memory of the people improved. This could be a key for the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

In the current joint study between the University of Birmingham, the Emory University Hospital in Atlanta and at the Ruhr-University of Bochum, it was found that by a targeted influencing of oscillations in the brain activity, the ability of the brain to the memory can be increased. The results of the study were published in the English journal “Trends in Neurosciences”.

The Manipulation of oscillations in our brain, has a positive effect on our memory. (Image: picture-waterfall/fotolia.com)

What is a rhythm to the brain oscillations results in

Oscillations in brain activity occur in neuronal processes, which are, for example, for the memory to be relevant. Approaches to influence the brain waves are aimed at the improvement of the memory. A Review of the research in this area has now shown that memory performance can be improved by rhythmic stimulation of nerves or to so-called Entrainment using a series of invasive and non-invasive techniques. The memory performance can be modulated by rhythmic neural Stimulation. This is as simple as a light in a certain rhythm of flickering, the nerve cells in the brain connect, would the authors of the study reports.

Further research is needed

It will require further research in this area, but it seems to be already clear that such a Manipulation of the brain the rhythm is a promising tool to improve memory both for healthy people as well as for patients who suffer from diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, explain the researchers. Brain waves can be controlled in various ways. They can be modulated with sound and image, as well as non-invasive electrical and magnetic vibrations. Neural oscillations can also be due to electrical deep brain stimulation is controlled.

Brain oscillations have an indirect effect on the memory

The researchers found that brain oscillations in specific neural mechanisms interact to influence the formation, maintenance, consolidation and restoration of memories. The study of how these mechanisms by the brain oscillations are affected, will be for the development of effective therapies for memory disorders is crucial, explain the researchers.

There are still some questions to answer in this field

The study also raises a number of key questions that neuroscientists need to urgently deal. For example, the question of what is the therapeutic potential of the treatment, such as different stimulation approaches affect the memory in Tests with Stimuli such as films, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, what neural mechanisms are affected by brain oscillations in different frequency bands and how they affect the formation and Retrieval of memories? (as)