Neural oscillations in the frequency range of 8–12 Hz
Not to be confused with Alpha particle.
For the 3D platform video game, see Alpha Waves.
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Alpha waves
Alpha waves, or the alpha rhythm, are neural oscillations in the frequency range of 8–12 Hz[1] likely originating from the synchronous and coherent (in phase or constructive) electrical activity of thalamic pacemaker cells in humans. Historically, they are also called "Berger's waves" after Hans Berger, who first described them when he invented the EEG in 1924.[2]
Alpha waves are one type of brain waves detected by electrophysiological and closely related methods, such as by electroencephalography (EEG) or magnetoencephalography (MEG), and can be quantified using quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG). They can be predominantly recorded from the occipital lobes during wakeful relaxation with closed eyes and were the earliest brain rhythm recorded in humans.[3] Alpha waves are reduced with open eyes and sleep, while they are enhanced during drowsiness. Occipital alpha waves during periods of eyes closed are the strongest EEG brain signals.[4]
Historically, alpha waves were thought to represent the activity of the visual cortex in an idle state. More recently, research suggests that they inhibit areas of the cortex not in use, or alternatively that they play an active role in network coordination and communication.[5] Whether they are inhibitory or play an active role in attention links to their direction of propagation, with top-down rearward waves being inhibitory, and forward bottom-up ones aiding visual attentional processes.[6]
An alpha-like variant called a mu wave can be found over the primary motor cortex.[citation needed]
^İnce R, Adanır SS, Sevmez F (September 2021). "The inventor of electroencephalography (EEG): Hans Berger (1873-1941)". Child's Nervous System. 37 (9): 2723–2724. doi:10.1007/s00381-020-04564-z. PMID 32140776.
^Berger H (1929-12-01). "Über das Elektrenkephalogramm des Menschen". Archiv für Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten (in German). 87 (1): 527–570. doi:10.1007/BF01797193. hdl:11858/00-001M-0000-002A-5DE0-7. ISSN 1433-8491. S2CID 10835361.
^Jensen O, Mazaheri A (2010). "Shaping functional architecture by oscillatory alpha activity: gating by inhibition". Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 4 (186): 186. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2010.00186. PMC 2990626. PMID 21119777.
^Palva S, Palva JM (April 2007). "New vistas for alpha-frequency band oscillations". Trends in Neurosciences. 30 (4): 150–158. doi:10.1016/j.tins.2007.02.001. PMID 17307258. S2CID 9156592.
^Alamia A, Terral L, D'ambra MR, VanRullen R (March 2023). "Distinct roles of forward and backward alpha-band waves in spatial visual attention". eLife. 12. doi:10.7554/elife.85035. PMC 10059684. PMID 36876909.
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activity. Alpha blocking is a phenomenon where the active brain, normally presenting beta wave activity, cannot as easily switch to alphawave activity...
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