Evening star., 1938-04-01
NEW ANGER WAVES
FOUND IN BRAIN.
Results of Experiments Are
Revealed at Conference
of Scientists.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

StoA WI ASepOAdSAt ~ AAo CtdIs
BALTIMORE. April 1.--Anger waves
In the top of the brain we're reported
before the American Physiological So
ciety meeting here today
They are large, slow electrical os-
citations in the cerebral cortex known
as delta waves" which occur at the
rate Of three or four a second. Pre-
sumably they are identical with waves
observed when a person is falling
asleep or becoming unconscious
through lack Of oxygen.
They make their appearance almost
instantly, it was reported by DR., Hud-
son Hoagland of Clark University,
when person gets mad. He told of
experiments with dementia precox
patients in New England insane hos
pital. Electrodes were fastened to the
heads OF these persons and the charac-
terlstlc brain wave patterns of the in
diVlduals obtained. These consisted of
the Well-known alpha waves at the rate
OF about 10 second and the beta
waves at rate of about 18 second.
Patients Insulted.
Then the patients, whose life his.
tories were we'll known to the hospital
authorities. were deliberately insulted
by references to their past lives. As
soon as subject had grasped the sig
nlf1cance OF such remark an unnnis-
taxable train of delta waves would
occur. Another manifestation Of
anger was an increase in the heart
rate. This also could be brought about
by exertion or by any difficult problem
presented to person. Exertion or
hard problems, however, did not cause
delta waves.
he Is confident, DR.. Hoagland said
mat this phenomenon is not con-
nned to the insane, but 1t is difYicult
10 investigate in other persons who
cannot be made mad at will. A normal
individual would realize that an OK
pertinent was underway and would
not become really angry at the most
insulting remark-of if he did it might
De dangerous for the experimenter.
Or. Hoagland and his assistants
trleo out nurses at the hospital and
tne results, so far as real anger could
oe elected. seemed about the same as
with the insane. They obtained ex-
cellent delta waves by proving" one
applicant for a job who submitted to
having the electrodes placed on his
head when he was told 1t was part of
routine examination for all who were
hired. Then the doctors proceeded to
poster him. In return he got the lob.
New Explanation Offered,
Or. Hoagland offered a new explana-
ton OF the alpha waves. found in
nearly everybody, as products of tho
brain cell metabolism. He found that
their rate was markedly affected nv
administration of thyroxin and other
drugs which speed up general BODY
metabolism and also that they follow.
after a brief interval the level of
blood sugar. They also are markedly
affected when insane patients are given
neat treatment which raises the BODY
temperature.
Sugar, Dr. Hoagland said, is probably
the brains only fuel. It is burned
with oxygen in the brain cells to pro-
vide energy with which they do their
work OF thinking. The more sugar
and oxygen the hotter the fire" and
hence the greater production of brain
waves. A brief interval is required for
blood sugar to change into brain sugar.
and this Is accounted for on the brain
wave chart.
The alpha brain waves in victims of
paresls, the infection of the brain
which is the final manifestation of
syphilis, differ markedly from those
OF normal persons. There have been
found in the brains of such persons
DR.. Eoagland said, tiny specks of iron
which are believed to be due to the
breaking down of an iron compound
which exists in normal brains. This
iron compound forms one Of the neces-
sary factors in brain metabolism.
When it is not present the respiration
OF the cells is slower and consequently
there Is q slowing up OF the brain
waves
DR.. Hollowell Davis of Harvard Uni
versity described brain wave changes
when persons were placed in chambers
with very low oxygen, equivalent to
q heighth Of about 10000 feet. Under
these conditions they lost consciousness
after a period of mental confusion.
Each was provided with pencil and
paper and asked to write his impress
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