10 Hz flicker improves recognition memory in older people?
From: JCMPelican
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 22:37:35 EST
Subject: Alz file....10 hz flicker improves recognition memory...Uk 2006
1: BMC Neurosci. 2006 Mar 5;7:21.
10 Hz flicker improves recognition memory in older people.
* Williams J, * Ramaswamy D, * Oulhaj A. *
OPTIMA, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, OX2 6HE, UK. Jonathan.Williams@pharm.ox.ac.uk
BACKGROUND: 10 Hz electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha rhythms correlate with memory performance. Alpha and memory decline in older people. We wished to test if alpha-like EEG activity contributes to memory formation. Flicker can elicit alpha-like EEG activity. We tested if alpha-frequency flicker enhances memory in older people. Pariticpants aged 67-92 identified short words that followed 1 s of flicker at 9.0 Hz, 9.5 Hz, 10.0 Hz, 10.2 Hz, 10.5 Hz, 11.0 Hz, 11.5 Hz or 500 Hz. A few minutes later, we tested participants' recognition of the words (without flicker). RESULTS: Flicker frequencies close to 10 Hz (9.5-11.0 Hz) facilitated the identification of the test words in older participants. The same flicker frequencies increased recognition of the words more than other frequencies (9.0 Hz, 11.5 Hz and 500 Hz), irrespective of age. CONCLUSION: The frequency-specificity of flicker's effects in our participants paralleled the power spectrum of EEG alpha in the general population. This indicates that alpha-like EEG activity may subserve memory processes. Flicker may be able to help memory problems in older people.
PMID: 16515710 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16515710&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum
Comment:
One can't help but wonder if a 10 hz flicker improves recognition memory WHY can't anyone prove other frequencies/oscillations/pulsations, etc. can actually cause harm? We know the answer, of course -- THEY don't want to acknowledge that which causes serious adverse health effects but rather, acknowledge only "biological effects" which are claimed to be meaningless!!! How much longer do scientists think they can continue to report therapies, etc. without admitting there are limits beyond which adverse health effects definitely occur?
Joanne C. Mueller Guinea Pigs R Us
731 - 123rd Avenue N.W. Minneapolis,
Minnesota 55448-2127
USA
Phone: 763-755-6114
Email: jcmpelican @aol.com
(11-28-06)
"The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice."
--Mahatma Gandhi
Re: Fwd: Alz file....10 hz flicker improves recognition memory...Uk 2006 From: Olle Johansson
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 09:01:58 +0100
To: JCMPelican
A very good and important comment, dear Joanne!
Best regards
Yours Olle
(Olle Johansson, assoc. prof. The Experimental Dermatology Unit Department of Neuroscience Karolinska Institute
171 77 Stockholm Sweden)
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 22:37:35 EST
Subject: Alz file....10 hz flicker improves recognition memory...Uk 2006
1: BMC Neurosci. 2006 Mar 5;7:21.
10 Hz flicker improves recognition memory in older people.
* Williams J, * Ramaswamy D, * Oulhaj A. *
OPTIMA, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, OX2 6HE, UK. Jonathan.Williams@pharm.ox.ac.uk
BACKGROUND: 10 Hz electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha rhythms correlate with memory performance. Alpha and memory decline in older people. We wished to test if alpha-like EEG activity contributes to memory formation. Flicker can elicit alpha-like EEG activity. We tested if alpha-frequency flicker enhances memory in older people. Pariticpants aged 67-92 identified short words that followed 1 s of flicker at 9.0 Hz, 9.5 Hz, 10.0 Hz, 10.2 Hz, 10.5 Hz, 11.0 Hz, 11.5 Hz or 500 Hz. A few minutes later, we tested participants' recognition of the words (without flicker). RESULTS: Flicker frequencies close to 10 Hz (9.5-11.0 Hz) facilitated the identification of the test words in older participants. The same flicker frequencies increased recognition of the words more than other frequencies (9.0 Hz, 11.5 Hz and 500 Hz), irrespective of age. CONCLUSION: The frequency-specificity of flicker's effects in our participants paralleled the power spectrum of EEG alpha in the general population. This indicates that alpha-like EEG activity may subserve memory processes. Flicker may be able to help memory problems in older people.
PMID: 16515710 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16515710&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum
Comment:
One can't help but wonder if a 10 hz flicker improves recognition memory WHY can't anyone prove other frequencies/oscillations/pulsations, etc. can actually cause harm? We know the answer, of course -- THEY don't want to acknowledge that which causes serious adverse health effects but rather, acknowledge only "biological effects" which are claimed to be meaningless!!! How much longer do scientists think they can continue to report therapies, etc. without admitting there are limits beyond which adverse health effects definitely occur?
Joanne C. Mueller Guinea Pigs R Us
731 - 123rd Avenue N.W. Minneapolis,
Minnesota 55448-2127
USA
Phone: 763-755-6114
Email: jcmpelican @aol.com
(11-28-06)
"The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice."
--Mahatma Gandhi
Re: Fwd: Alz file....10 hz flicker improves recognition memory...Uk 2006 From: Olle Johansson
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 09:01:58 +0100
To: JCMPelican
A very good and important comment, dear Joanne!
Best regards
Yours Olle
(Olle Johansson, assoc. prof. The Experimental Dermatology Unit Department of Neuroscience Karolinska Institute
171 77 Stockholm Sweden)
rudkla - 28. Nov, 09:43
