Question

I'm genuinely looking for feedback on a train of thought I recently had. As I'm not an expert in any of the related fields I'm sure that my ideas have holes in them, but I obviously don't see them. So please feel free to point out issues - but keep in mind that I have a highly analytical mind and rigorous critical instincts.
I recently heard this story on NPR:
[sciencefriday.com]
It describes recent research wherein gamma wave activity was induced in the brains of mice with Alzheimer’s through exposure to strobing lights and sound at the 40 hz frequency range. While this may seem like psuedo-science it was actually concerning a real study done at MIT and there are valid reasons behind why the study was done. The surprising thing is the results:

"
mice given this treatment for a week showed significant reductions in Alzheimer’s signature brain changes—accumulations of amyloid plaques and tangles of a protein called tau (see videos below). Furthermore, the mice had marked improvements in cognition, memory, and learning.
"

I had also heard about research (one study was done at Oxford) exploring "gamma band abnormalities" as a bio-marker for autism (see [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] or [asfpodcast.org] for example). Apparently these "gamma band abnormalities" are generally common in autism.

So my thought is that perhaps, if gamma wave activity could be "entrained" (as the mice experiment seems to indicate) by external stimuli, could this same technique be used ameliorate "gamma band abnormalities" in autism (I include quotes because I do not mean to indicate a value judgment) as a means of reducing problems relating to over stimulation, over excitation, etc (a reduction in "melt-downs", frustration, etc)?

I'd really like to see some real science exploring this is or else something critically valid explaining why this doesn't make sense. I can't be the first person to put this together.

#videos

towkneed 7

Answer 1

You're not. I've been studying this field for years. Not in relation to autism, although I very very recently became obsessed with the topic.

Flashing lights and sound collectively are used in a device known as an audio visual integrator, or sometimes as a sound and light entrainment device, and colloquially as a mind machine.

Michael Hutchinson's book Megabrain is a good place to begin for an introduction to the topic.

While there is a lot of solid science behind the use of these devices, and even though they're used clinically in some cases, there's a lot of BS on the net regarding them, and a lot of fraudulent and extraordinary claims being made about them.

I have a lot of material, I'll put together some basic info and send to you.

Answer 2

With every case of autism being individual, the research will produce anomalies and ethical questions. Who would get the treatment?
I find the research interesting.
As an aside, my late wife had brain tumour. At times she presented with symptoms that mimicked autism very closely, only to then recover. Thus, could there be some sort of connection with some forms of treatment to 'normalise' cognitive ability.


Author	Author:
Type of abuse	I think this violates the community guidelines. Chat or rant, adult content, spam, insulting other members I think this is illegal. Harm to minors, violence or threats, harassment or privacy invasion, impersonation or misrepresentation, fraud or phishing, etc.
Additional Details If Needed

Post a comment Author sometimes replies/likes Reply Author sometimes replies/likes Add Photo

Enjoy being online again!

2 comments

Recent Visitors 23

Photos 18 More

Members 140Top

Moderator

Related Groups

Share this post with your group