RESEARCH FOR NEXT PROJECT

As detailed in my last post, I went to Cambridge University for a lecture on neuroscience. The reasons for my visit were not only to get an insight into lectures at Cambridge, whihc will no doubt be different for Engineering, but also to sample information for my upcoming project. I have made some research notes, using some of the notes I took from the lecture. Whilst on the whole I can say that not much of it was particularly relevant for the device I have mentally designed, it set me off to a good start.

• The brain emits waves, but these are as a results of thousand of signals shooting through neurons. These waves are called brain waves, but are in fact magnetic signals.
• The intensity of the wave depends on how fast the signal is shooting through the neuron.
• The waves of our brains have varying frequencies. 
• The lowest of these are delta waves, which have a frequency of 1-4Hz. These are experienced during deep sleep, and are more dominant in females than males, which becomes more obvious mid 30s-40s.Thee waves are produced by the thalamus. We also experience them less as we grow, and they are most felt when we are in the deepest levels of relaxation.
• The following waves include Theta Waves (4Hz - 7Hz) are produced in deep relaxation, and when we are meditating. They are produced when we feel more emotional, and can help us tap into our creativity. The overproduction of theta waves however can cause depression. Alpha waves ((8Hz - 13Hz) are produced when we are calm, and our brains aren't necessarily engaged. Beta waves (14Hz - 38Hz) are produced when we are engaged in activity, and our minds are focussed. These are also referred to as high frequency low amplitude, and are emitted when we do school work, or when we writing or interacting. The last is gamma waves (39Hz-100Hz) are produced when we are engaged in high levels of thinking, such as problem solving and complex mental activity. They also play a large part in REM sleep, in which we experience vivid dreams, since these waves are closely linked to memory and learning. 
• The different parts of the brain can also affect how we act (obviously). The neocortex is the "top" part of the brain, in which the cerebral cortex exists. This area is where our logical thinking occurs. Under this, is the limbic system, whihc deals with emotion, memory and our arousal. The part below that is our reptilian complex which controls our instincts and our basic fight and flight systems, the things enable our survival. 
• The parts of the brain in the previous bullet point are all part of the TRIUNE BRAIN which is a model whihc explains the behaviour patterns and the general structures of the brain that are related to these functions.