[Article] Brain Activity Can Propagate Using Electric Fields

[nullspaceM]

All you guys interested in neuroscience may want to take a look at this article:

http://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-discover-new-method-of-brain-wave-transmission-electrical-fields

 

Researchers in the US have recorded neural spikes travelling too slowly in the brain to be explained by conventional signalling mechanisms. In the absence of other plausible explanations, the scientists believe these brain waves are being transmitted by a weak electrical field, and they've been able to detect one of these in mice.

 

While the field is of low amplitude (approximately 2–6 mV/mm), it's able to excite and activate immediate neighbours, which subsequently activate more neurons, travelling across the brain at about 10 centimetres per second.

 

Thoughts anyone?

Edited January 17, 2016 by nullspaceM

[NotBrad]

So... Does this mean I shouldn't lick windows?

Edited January 17, 2016 by NotBrad

[nullspaceM]

So... Does this mean I shouldn't lick windows?

 

I don't get it.

[NotBrad]

Silicon, is a good insulator and would inhibit electromagnetic waves quite well, and windows are made from silica sand. The joke was that licking windows might harm my intelligence.(but get it? I am licking windows?)

 

Never mind.

[Punti]

Could this be useful for VR?

[nullspaceM]

Could this be useful for VR?

 

Perhaps. We still don't know the extent of activity that uses the waves - as the article states it's a type of secondary propagation, and its slow, and apart from the blocking field it's unclear what kind of external effect it could have on the brain.

 

 

Silicon, is a good insulator and would inhibit electromagnetic waves quite well, and windows are made from silica sand. The joke was that licking windows might harm my intelligence.(but get it? I am licking windows?)

 

 

Silicon is a semiconductor, not to mention electrical conductivity (or lack thereof) has nothing to do with blocking or passing EM waves. Faraday cages can be made of metal, yet they do not allow EM waves through.

Electromagnetic waves can pass through glass, otherwise windows wouldn't work. 

 

 

Never mind.

 

K. 

Edited January 18, 2016 by nullspaceM