Medicalxpress reports that chronic pain can be troublesome for most people. It’s been estimated that about 20-50% from the overall population experience it. In the UK, around 62% elderly people suffer from it. This can be a combination of recurrent acute or the chronic persistent kind. There are only very few forms of treatment available for the elderly.
The nerve cells coordinate with each other at a certain frequency which depends on the brain’s current state. There are alpha waves that are tuned at 9-12 cycles per second. These are highly related to the function of dominant parts in the brain that would have the influence to control other parts.
Scientists Successfully Tune The Brain To Alleviate Pain
Further studies are required to test the effectiveness in patients with different conditions but the simplicity and low cost of the technology should facilitate such clinical studies. Read more…
NDTV says that this could pave the way for a simpler and safer form of treatment for those affected with the condition. Alpha waves are linked to placebo analgesia and it’s possible that it may have a greater effect on how other parts of the brain perceive pain.
The researchers explained that this led them to thinking that if we fine-tune the brain to emit more alpha waves, it is likely that pain might be reduced especially to those who experience it in relation to their existing conditions.
Tuning-In’ Brain Can Treat Chronic Pain, Say Scientists
They found that this can be done by providing volunteers with goggles that flash light in the alpha range or by sound stimulation in both ears phased to provide the same stimulus frequency. Read more…
Pain News Network says that the discovery of this method can potentially present visual and sound treatments to alleviate these conditions. Professor Anthony Jones, director of the University of Manchester Pain Consortium says that it’s quite promising as this is a safe and simple method that can be trailed in patients.
The research involved 64 volunteers who wore goggles and headphones. They were subjected to flashing lights and sounds. On the back of their arms, heat pain was generated with a laser. Those who were exposed to the alpha frequency of 9-12 cycles reportedly experienced less pain.
Scientists Use Light and Sound to Reduce Pain
Jones and his colleagues say nerve cells in different parts of the brain communicate with each other using different frequencies. Read more…
The experiment is still fairly new and there are tests needed to be conducted in order to determine the effectiveness of the alpha wave therapy. Even if this is the case, it’s still considered as newfound hope for affected people.
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