Brainwave Research
Brain computer interface
These frequency bands are called delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma. For example delta has a frequency of 1-4 Hz. There are relationships between the amount of certain brainwaves and our mental activities and psychological states. You might read : much alpha means a more quit brain, but relations are not as simple as that. Read more...
Meaning of Brainwaves
We might want to influence brainwaves. For example to come to a more quit mindset or to control an external device like a wheelchair. To do so we need a brain computer interface (BCI). How it works: Electrodes on the head receive (measure) the electricity coming from the neurons, these signals are transmitted to a computer who calculates the amount of certain frequencies and visualize them on a screen. Read more...
Brainwaves and disorders
Specific patterns of brainwaves go along with mind processes like learning. Deviations of these patterns might indice a certain disease. Like learning problems may come along with a deminished amount of gamma waves. Read more...
Meditation and the EEG
There are different kinds of meditation. Some have a narrow focus like concen- tration on the breath, or a more wide angle focus like insight meditation (perception without excluding anything) or no-focus meditation like samatha (peace, no performance, mind-lessness). These different practices will have another effect on the mind and the EEG brainwaves. There are devices like the Muse-headset that measure the 'depth' of meditation. The question is what kind of meditation and what algoritms do they use. Read more...
Self referential system
Coming to a mindset with less stress, fear, negative thoughts and more happiness? As researchers found out hapiness is about: "being in the flow" and involved in a concentrated task without thinking about myself to much. In a state of daydreaming (mindwandering) there are more personal related thoughts (self referential thoughts) which do not seem to make us happy, especialy (negative) self statements. This selfreferential activity may be seated in the "default mode network" (DMN) in the brain. Mindfullness and meditation can “quit down” this DMN brain system.
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Asymmetrie of brainwaves
Sometimes it is not the total amount of brainwaves that makes the difference (in a mental state) but there division between left and rigt part of the brain. This is called the (a)symmetrie between the left and right hemisphere. For example front-brain alpha asymmetrie may be related to positieve feelings and engagement (attraction) versus negative engagement (fear and withdrawel).
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Mind Stuff ...
What is Mind
The word Mind stems from the Indo-European '-men' just like the word mental. The mind determines how we become aware of reality and how we experience it. The mind uses mental processes like selecting, remembering, analyzing, recognition, constructing, imagining, interpreting. The mind is also able to imitate others and experience there feelings as our own. All these processes create the mind-reality of which we are concious. Read more...
Self conciousness
A crow recognizes itself in a mirror and is aware of itself as being “ a different crow” . We humans have the same recognition but beside that we have a greater ability to mentalize (with words, concepts and imagines) and create a world that does not exist yet. And we use that ability to mentalise ourself and to create a concept and image of ourself. Read more ...
The mind as an illusionist
The mind makes every believe come true. With any believe, the mind says: "At your service!". And it will adjusts reality so that our faith is confirmed. If neccessary it creates a reality that fits our believe. For example with fysical and psychological trauma the mind often is stuck in a certain believe and will not let go of it. Read more...
Conciousness
We know the world and ourself only by the fact that we are concious. But what is conciousness? Do bees have it?
Do plants have conciousness? Is conciousness still there if a person is in coma? Read more...
Who wakes up in the morning?
A silly question as it seems, but in understanding conciousness it is a essential one. Waking up in the morning the first thing to wake up is presence: "he I am here again!". After that the mind-show starts with its thought, feelings and impressions. But who is witness to all that? That is “ pure presence” . Is this presence affected by the mindshow ? As neurologist Jan Koendering explains: Because awareness cannot be controlled mentally, it is pre-personal and pre-rational. It is more correct to say " there is awareness" than to say " I have awareness". Awareness is not personal and is not part of your experience. Read more...
