It is known that in the human brain there are innumerable synaptic connections that provide our higher nervous activity. The neurons themselves - the main brain cells - from 10 billion to 50 billion. Depending on various reasons, the neural network is damaged, and then various diffuse changes in the bioelectric activity of the brain begin to progress.
Bioelectric activity of the brain: basic rhythms
Bioelectric activity is literally the electrical vibrations of the brain. Neurons that create a huge network in it have their own electric wave. These waves are recorded by the EEG, and the data obtained through the study can tell a lot about the state of health and the psyche of the individual.
Biowaves (or rhythms of brain activity) are divided depending on the amplitude and frequency:
- beta waves - 14-40 Hertz, amplitude - up to 20 μV;
- alpha - 8-13 Hz, wave amplitude - 5–100 μV;
- gamma - above 30 Hz, occasionally up to 100 Hz, amplitude - up to 15 μV;
- delta - 1-4 Hz, amplitude - 20-200 μV.
There are other, less studied waves, we list only the main ones. And what happens if during the study light diffuse changes in the bioelectric activity of the brain are found? Now we will consider this issue.
Diffuse changes: symptoms
How are mild diffuse changes in the bioelectrical activity of the brain? Symptoms of changes will be noticeable even at the slightest change in the normal activity of the biocomputer. As a rule, they are as follows:
- Dizziness
- slowness, weakness.
- with increasing changes, headaches and cramps appear.
The psyche also changes under the influence of changes in the brain. The person has a sharp change in mood, his behavior begins to seem surrounding hysterical. The circle of interests narrows, motivation for action disappears. It is becoming increasingly difficult for a patient to remember new information.
If these symptoms make themselves felt for a long time, you need to urgently consult a doctor and make a diagnosis. Diffuse changes in the bioelectric activity of the brain are a very serious disease. More precisely, his harbinger. If nothing is done, the condition worsens very quickly.
Pronounced and moderate changes
Moderate diffuse changes in the bioelectric activity of the brain do no harm, at least right away. But the ultra-precise harmony of the universal system is already violated, and soon these changes are likely to grow into more serious problems.
It happens that along with impaired brain activity, impaired functioning of its basic structures is detected. This means that the thalamus or hypothalamus can be affected. As a result of such disorders, various endocrine or neurological syndromes occur.
The fact that marked diffuse changes in the bioelectrical activity of the brain begin, is evidenced by the onset of seizures. A person may develop a convulsive syndrome that has not previously bothered. Or more and more often pressure rises for no reason. Seizures are a rather alarming symptom; this can lead to the development of epilepsy.
Irritative changes
The term "irritation" belongs to the science of neurology. Under this name is a large number of potential damage to brain structures. Irritation itself is neither a syndrome nor a disease; it serves as an indication of irritation of certain brain structures.
Diffuse irritative changes in the bioelectrical activity of the brain lead to a change in the perception of one's own body or to speech dysfunctions. Problems with the hypothalamus explain the psychic phenomenon of depersonalization. This is a personality disorder in which a person perceives himself from the outside. However, these are complex irritative disorders. Light deviations are characterized only by a deterioration in overall health and some mood swings.
Reasons for change
Diffuse changes in the bioelectric activity of the brain are not inherited and do not arise from anywhere. These abnormalities are a consequence of a violation of certain brain processes, and sometimes damage to neural connections. What else leads to disruption of the central nervous system:
- Anemia (anemia). Little oxygen enters the brain, and starvation of cells - neurons - occurs.
- Atherosclerosis of the vessels of the brain.
- Inflammation due to infection (meningitis, encephalitis, arachnoiditis).
- Associated violations. Often the fault of this condition is a persistent metabolic disorder and lack of sleep.
With gross changes in brain activity during the examination, they usually find:
- necrotic processes;
- scarring;
- brain edema.
The causes of such serious conditions are injuries, bruises. All changes must be strictly monitored by a neurologist. Do not let such a disease on its own.
Changes in the cortex
Damage to the fields of the cerebral cortex leads to various disorders of behavior and consciousness. After all, this area is responsible for our higher nervous activity.
So, sometimes one zone is damaged, and sometimes several. Consider the following examples:
- If the occipital lobe is subject to any changes, bouts of hallucinations are observed.
- Central gyrus - there are epileptic seizures that begin with twitching of the arm or leg.
- The posterior central gyrus. The patient has sensations of numbness or tingling in the body.
- Adverse field - seizures with loss of consciousness.
These are local signs of cortical irritation. When it is not possible to determine the localization of various seizures during the study, and the EEG shows abnormalities of the rhythms, diffuse changes in the bioelectric activity of the cerebral cortex are evident. A consequence of this is also hearing or vision impairment, olfactory hallucinations. Various attacks of twitching of the head or other parts of the body are observed when the convulsive threshold is significantly reduced.
Diagnosis and treatment
To establish a diagnosis, the patient must undergo a set of diagnostic procedures and give the doctor a comprehensive history (history of symptoms that disturb the person). The first study is EEG, then rheoencephalography (REG) is needed. REG is an examination of the vessels of the brain necessary to find out if there is any stagnation of blood. MRI is also needed. Tomography will give an accurate answer to the doctor's question about the presence of a tumor. And if it is, then what kind.
As for the treatment of such patients, diffuse changes in the biological activity of the brain are treated only in the clinic under the supervision of an expert neurologist.
An immediate visit to a neurologist increases the chances of a full recovery, even if such departments as the pituitary, pineal, pineal, thalamus or hypothalamus (diencephalic structures) have been affected. It will take almost a year. Unexpressed changes are treated much faster - only within 2 or 3 months.
EEG decoding
If something in the brain is disturbed, then what does EEG show? The specialist immediately sees diffuse changes in the bioelectric activity of the brain. Indeed, violations in normal rhythms are significant:
- They manifest themselves in the form of asymmetry of waves.
- Visible violations in the distribution of basic rhythms (alpha, beta, gamma). Their usual frequency and amplitude go beyond the normal range. When, for example, a 2–3-fold increase in beta rhythm is recorded on the EEG against the background of some foci of epileptoid activity, there is about a 50% chance of the onset of epileptic seizures.
- Brain activity is polymorphic and polyrhythmic.
All 3 pathological aspects are required for the diagnosis to be approved.
With EEG, photostimulation is mandatory. Signs of norm during brain stimulation with light flashes include the appearance of a wave rhythm equal to the frequency of flashes. Exceeding 2 times is also considered the norm. However, if the rhythm is lower than the initial frequency of flashes or is repeatedly exceeded - this is a clear sign of deviations.
The amplitude of the waves is measured from one peak to another. In this case, the isoelectric line is not taken into account. The frequency of brain waves on an EEG is determined using a rhythm index. All normal indicators and those that characterize the waves of people with various diseases (Parkinson, autism) are in a special database.
For specialists in working with these brain problems, it is important to train for a long time in “reading” encephalograms using such databases. By correlating the patient's indicators with normal, the doctor draws up a conclusion.
Prevention
The most common cause of diffuse changes is circulatory failure due to vascular atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis develops against the background of malnutrition. Some drugs can strengthen the vascular walls, one of them is Ginkgo Biloba. And drugs of the class of statins are now able to lower cholesterol. Fibrates reduce the ability to synthesize fats, thereby preventing the development of atherosclerosis.
And, of course, you need to take care of your head, because diffuse disorders after blows and head injuries are treated for a long time and hard. But if you keep a harmonious system of synaptic connections, monitor your diet and give yourself time for a good rest, the brain will be impeccable and accurate for a long time.