Brain Activity Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Introduction: “Sajdah”, a prostration position, is part of Muslim daily prayers. It seems to have several effects on the brain and heart function. This study aimed to investigate the prefrontal brain activity after 10 seconds of Sajdah in... more

Introduction: “Sajdah”, a prostration position, is part of Muslim daily prayers. It seems
to have several effects on the brain and heart function. This study aimed to investigate the
prefrontal brain activity after 10 seconds of Sajdah in the direction of Qibla (the direction that
a Muslim prays) while putting the forehead on the ground.
Methods: Three women and two men participated in this pilot study. Linear (absolute and
relative power of θ (4-8Hz), α 1 (8-10 Hz), α 2 (10-12 Hz), β 1 (12-16 Hz), β 2 (16-20 Hz), β 3
(20-30 Hz), γ 1 (30-40 Hz), γ 2 (40-50 Hz) and non-linear features (approximate entropy, Katz
fractal dimension, Petrosian fractal dimension, spectral entropy, and sample entropy) from Fps
channel were calculated.
Results: The relative β to γ band, approximate and sample entropy, Petrosian fractal dimension
and mean of amplitude decreased in open eye state in women. While θ to γ bands in the closed
eye state decreased after Sajdah in women. The absolute γ bands in closed eye state and relative
β band in open eye state increased after Sajdah in men.
Conclusion: The pilot study showed that 10 seconds of Sajdah has effects on brain activity and
sometimes showed the opposite effect on genders.

Research was carried out on a geoglyph located in Kanda (Macedonia) by an international team using interdisciplinary methods (astronomy, philosophy, mythology, mathematics and physics). The research conducted on two occasions in 2014 was... more

Research was carried out on a geoglyph located in Kanda (Macedonia) by an international team using interdisciplinary methods (astronomy, philosophy, mythology, mathematics and physics). The research conducted on two occasions in 2014 was undertaken to establish all potential anomalies in the IS, US and EM spectrum with special attention to anomalies common to sacred sites, but as yet unexplained by standard physics.
We conclude the Geoglyph looks to be built on an artificial hill. This hill or mound also appears to be artificial from the aeroplane. The Geoglyph is visible only from the sky and is located in an oval ditch.
Some measurements suggest that there is chamber located below the surface. Research by different methods (infra-/ultrasound research, AMT measurements, binary algorithm synthesis from audio waves, data sonification and dowsing) also found that at the sacred enclosure primary water is located at the centre or at some point along its major axis. Furthermore, since the soil does not match the surrounding area, it would certainly appear that this mound has been carefully constructed with a specific purpose in mind. What exactly that purpose is remains to be investigated in future.

Brain research faced and is still facing the problem if neuronal and synaptic diversity. Brain functionality is based on physical-chemical processes, thus an alteration of these processes generates consequences in information processing.... more

Brain research faced and is still facing the problem if neuronal and synaptic diversity. Brain functionality is based on physical-chemical processes, thus an alteration of these processes generates consequences in information processing. The Integrative Strategic Model of the Self proposes an integrative vision of brain functionality by reconsidering the concept of internal working model (a concepts first used by Bowlby), neuronal maps and cortical modules. The hypothesis of this study is to prove that internal working models are innate; the objectives of the study resume to underlining internal working models on the psychological axes of the Model mentioned (Biological, Cognitive, Emotional, Psycho-dynamic, Familial and Existential axes) and to present the cortical activity from the perspective of internal working models (IWM), of neuronal maps (NM) from the Central, Plastic and the External Self. The study represents an integrative strategic perspective on brain activity.

This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with... more

How might one determine whether simple animals such as flies sleep in stages? Sleep in mammals is a dynamic process involving different stages of sleep intensity, and these are typically associated with measurable changes in brain... more

How might one determine whether simple animals such as flies sleep in stages? Sleep in mammals is a dynamic process involving different stages of sleep intensity, and these are typically associated with measurable changes in brain activity (Blake and Gerard, 1937; Rechtschaffen and Kales, 1968; Webb and Agnew, 1971). Evidence for different sleep stages in invertebrates remains elusive, even though it has been well established that many invertebrate species require sleep (Campbell and Tobler, 1984; Hendricks et al., 2000; Shaw et al., 2000; Sauer et al., 2003). Here we used electrophysiology and arousal-testing paradigms to show that the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, transitions between deeper and lighter sleep within extended bouts of inactivity, with deeper sleep intensities after ∼15 and ∼30 min of inactivity. As in mammals, the timing and intensity of these dynamic sleep processes in flies is homeostatically regulated and modulated by behavioral experience. Two molecules li...

the present paper has a threefold objective: (i) to present a sociocultural view on human cognition; (ii) to review studies on the impacts of learning to read on brain activity; and (iii) to draw a parallel between a Vygotskian view on... more

the present paper has a threefold objective: (i) to present a sociocultural view on human cognition; (ii) to review studies on the impacts of learning to read on brain activity; and (iii) to draw a parallel between a Vygotskian view on human cognition and neuroscientific evidence about the changes that take place in human brain activity as we learn to read. The reviewed studies show how learning to read changes brain activity, as well as how the brain reorganizes itself in order to accommodate new functions as a response to this process. From a Vygotskian stance, this illustrates how human cognitive development is fostered on the external plane, as we interact with socioculturally constructed artifacts.

The present study examined the combined influences of maternal depression and attachment security on infants’ brain activity and autonomic activity. Brain electrical activity, heart rate, and vagal tone were recorded from 159 13–15 month... more

The present study examined the combined influences of maternal depression and attachment security on infants’ brain activity and autonomic activity. Brain electrical activity, heart rate, and vagal tone were recorded from 159 13–15 month old infants of depressed, subthreshold depressed, and nondepressed mothers during a baseline and two social interaction conditions. Attachment behavior was observed during the traditional Strange Situation. It was found that infants of depressed mothers exhibited reduced left relative to right frontal brain activity during all conditions. Moreover, regardless of mother’s depression status, insecurely attached infants exhibited relative reduced left frontal brain activity. Infants of depressed mothers were also found to exhibit higher heart rates across all conditions. These results indicate that both maternal depression and attachment security are associated with alterations in infants’ psychophysiological responses.

In this paper an algorithm providing an interface communication with a computer and the brain was used according to the rhythms of alpha, beta and mu for a number of activities such as relaxation, logical thinking and imagination of... more

In this paper an algorithm providing an interface communication with a computer and the brain was used according to the rhythms of alpha, beta and mu for a number of activities such as relaxation, logical thinking and imagination of movement. For each activity the waveforms were recorded.

Fluorodeoxyglucose-F18 positron emission tomography studies (FDG-PET) have shown similar corticolimbic metabolic dysregulation in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, with hypoactive prefrontal cortex coupled with hyperactive anterior... more

Fluorodeoxyglucose-F18 positron emission tomography studies (FDG-PET) have shown similar corticolimbic metabolic dysregulation in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, with hypoactive prefrontal cortex coupled with hyperactive anterior limbic areas. However, it is not clear whether white matter metabolism connecting these regions is differently affected in the two disorders. Twenty-six patients with schizophrenia (mean age ± S.D.=30.23 ± 9.7 year-old; 19 males; mean weight ± S.D.=71 ± 3 kg) and 26 patients with bipolar disorder (mean age ± S.D.=48.73 ± 13 year-old; 18 males; mean weight ± S.D.=75 ± 15 kg) underwent an FDG-PET scan. Normalized datasets the two groups of patients were compared on a voxel-by-voxel basis using a two-sample t statistic test as implemented in SPM8, and adding age as covariate. Group differences were assessed applying a threshold of p<0.0005. White matter metabolic rates significantly differed between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, whereas no differences were shown for cortical activity. This is the first FDG-PET, to our best knowledge, directly comparing subjects with schizophrenia to those with bipolar disorder. It reports decreased activity in the center of large fronto-temporal and cerebellar white matter tracts in patients with schizophrenia in respect to those with bipolar disorder. This feature may characterize and differentiate the regional brain metabolism of the two illnesses.