| Abstract: | J. L. KENNEDY (SEE 35:2) HAS ARGUED THAT ALPHA RHYTHM RECORDINGS ARE ARTIFACTS CAUSED BY THE MECHANICAL PULSATION OF A GEL (THE LIVING BRAIN) WITH DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL POTENTIALS. KENNEDY'S HYPOTHESIS SEEMED INSUFFICIENTLY SUPPORTED, AND CONTRADICTED THE CONSENSUS CONCERNING THE ORIGIN OF ALPHA WAVES. SIGNIFICANT RECENT RESEARCH IS EXAMINED WHICH PROVIDES STRONG EVIDENCE THAT ALPHA WAVES REPRESENT A BASIC CELLULAR PROCESS PROBABLY RELATED TO EXCITABILITY. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT KENNEDY'S PHENOMENON BE EXPLORED FURTHER TO CLARIFY ANY EFFECT IT MAY HAVE ON STANDARD EEG RECORDINGS. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
