Irregular electrical activity in the brain, as measured by EEG. Made up from brainwaves of low amplitude and high frequency.

    When many neurons fire at irregular times, the EEG will show smaller waves and more peaks and troughs. Desynchronised EEG can be compared to a big room full of people talking loudly to each other, out of synchrony. Each person is a neuron firing when he speaks. The opposite would be that all the people were humming the same word repeatedly. That would be a description of the alpha rhythm.

  • Desynchronised EEG is associated with active wakefulness (e.g. problem solving), and contains beta waves (13-30hz)
  • Is also associated with the ever-fascinating REM sleep.

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