Researches of relationship between learning and memory with using brain waves

ABSTRACTNumerous research on the relationship between brain waves and learning&memoryfunctions are being reported during the recent years. It?s know that alpha wavesindicates mental resting condition whereas beta waves represents the alert state ofmental activity. In recent studies it has been reported that the amplitude of alphawaves decrease in dementia. In our study we aimed to show the relationship betweenalpha waves and learning&memory function in mentally normal patients. For thispurpose, students aged between 17-27 with different universty access scores inmedical, nursing, and forentry faculties were included in the study. Students aredivided into 3 groups according to their faculties. EEG recordings of the studentswere taken for about 10 minutes for each student using superficial occipitalelectrodes connected to a PowerLab/8SpAD digital recording setup. All students areinformed before EEG recordings. For all subjects, the avarage test scores during thelast educational year were also recorded. Recorded brain waves were then comparedwith each individulas test scores.There was a significant relationship between frequency (p=0,005) of medicalfaculty, forestry faculty and nursing school. It was also apparent that the frequenciesof the stıdents of medical faculty and nursing schools different from each othersignificantly. (p=0,017). It was also evident that the medical faculty students havesignificantly higher frequency mean values. Except this situation there was nosignificant frequency differences. When amplitude measurements are evaluated, it?sfound that nursing school students have lower amplitudes than medical (p=0.022)and forentry faculty students and somehow similar amplitude values when comparedto forestry and medical faculty students. As a result, any increase or decrease inalpha wave frequency or amplitude may be not related to educational success anduniversity exam scores.Key Words: Electroencephalography, brain waves, learning and memory,frequency, amplitude.