1: Int J Neurosci. 1992 Apr;63(3-4):221-7. Related Articles, Links
Alpha rhythm and the pineal gland.
Sandyk R.
Democrition University of Thrace, Department of Medical Physics,
Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Alpha rhythm is classically described as a bilateral posterior rhythm of
substantially constant frequency in the range of 8-13 Hz which is enhanced
by mental relaxation and blocked by attention. Since the full expression of
alpha rhythm has been shown to occur coincident with puberty, it is possible
that the establishment of alpha rhythm is subject to neuroendocrine
influences which govern psychosexual maturation. There is ample evidence to
indicate that the pineal gland is implicated in cerebral maturation and
psychosexual development. Nocturnal plasma melatonin levels have been shown
to decline progressively throughout childhood reaching a nadir at puberty.
Since administration of melatonin has been reported to block alpha rhythm,
it is proposed that the progressive decline in melatonin secretion during
childhood facilitates the maturation of the alpha rhythm. Consequently, the
presence of alpha rhythm could be used as a neurophysiological marker for
the activity of the pineal gland and disorders associated with absent or
delayed maturation of the alpha rhythm such as autism, dyslexia, personality
disorders, epilepsy, Tourette's syndrome, and schizophrenia might be related
to disturbances of pineal melatonin functions in early life. Moreover, since
the EEG patterns associated with cerebral immaturity (i.e., slowing, absence
of alpha activity) are more pronounced in the left hemisphere, this
hypothesis implies differential influence of the pineal gland on hemispheric
maturation potentially accounting for the vulnerability of the left
hemisphere to cerebral insults.
Publication Types:
Review
Review, Tutorial
PMID: 1304557 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Link to article:-
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1304557&dopt=Abstract
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