Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Gamma waves are brainwave activity at a certain speed and have been linked to consciousness and seem to help coordinate activity in different parts of the brain. They have also been associated with processing of information, including sensory information. This week, researchers at Oxford University led by Dr. David Menassa explore gamma waves in the brains of autistic adults who perform better on a visual processing task than those without a diagnosis. Gamma waves are controlled by the coordinated activity of neurons in the brain, which are regulated by inhibitory interneurons which make sure excitatory neurons aren’t taking over. In a study using brain tissue of people with autism, it was found by another study at Oxford that there are fewer of these inhibitory interneurons to control this activity. Dr. David Menassa provides his own interpretation of the data on this week’s podcast.
I recently heard about a study wherein gamma waves were induced in mice with Alzheimer’s and this caused a reduction in their symptoms. I wonder if there could be a relationship with this and a possible autism therapy? It’s been established that gamma activity can be induced and I wonder if perhaps inducing the activity at certain frequencies could increase the efficacy of interneurons. I’m certainly no neuroscientist and there’s probably a flaw in my thinking. Hopefully someone can point it out.