, will be explored as part of the Center for Lifelong Learning and Individualized Cognition: a research collaboration between Cambridge and Nanyang Technological University , Singapore.electrical activityThe team took alpha waves readings. The mid-range of the brainwave spectrum, this wave frequency tends to dominate when we are awake and relaxed.
Scientists used these readings to create an optical"pulse": a white square flickering on a dark background at the same tempo as each person's individual alpha wave. The learning rate for those locked into the right rhythm was at least three times faster than for all the other groups. When participants returned the next day to complete another round of tasks, those who learned much faster under entrainment had maintained their higher performance level.
Importantly, entrainment pulses need to chime with the trough of a brainwave. Scientists believe this is the point in a cycle when neurons are in a state of"high receptivity". The brain activity over time of a study participant, recorded at several different locations on the scalp by the EEG cap as part of the experiment. Credit: University of Cambridge
They argue that potential applications for brainwave entrainment may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but are increasingly achievable."While our study used complex EEG machines, there are now simple headband systems that allow you to gauge brain frequencies quite easily," said Kourtzi.