Evening star., 1951-10-29
Old Mems Bruin Waves
Under Observation
Effects Of Aging on Nerves
Remain Uncertain
By Thomos R. Henry

By Thomos R. Henry
Old mems brain waves will be studied
in a three-year research project Just
announced by the Public Health Serv.
ices Institute Of Mental Health.
The object of this work, which will
be carried out by DR.. Ewald w. Busse at
the University of Colorado, will be to
determine If aging has marked effect
on the normal human central nervous
system. The electrical waves given
OF by the brain constitute an indicator.
At present the subject is in consider
able confusion. Notable changes have
been reported-chiefly q marked slow
ing down of the brain waves, sluggish
responses to stimuli which usually start
them, and lack of q consistent pattern.
Subjects Are Not Well.
The picture generally reported is such
as to suggest progressive central nerv-
Gus system breakdown in later life.
which is likely to be reflected in the
behavior of older men and women.
There is. however. considerable question
as to the validity of such q conclusion
since brain wave observations have
been made mostly on persons who were
either pathological cases, or bordering
on such. Often such subjects have
shown signs Of Senility.
But there are lots of older men and
women who appear and act perfectly
normal to the ends of their lives. Very
little is known about these. DR.. Busse
will make his brain wave studies on q
group OF elderly professional people who
are functioning adequately from day to
day. Will they show the same changes
as do those with something peculiar
about their behavior?
Except in few special instances
brain waves, per sc. are not an accurate
criterion Of the way the mind is func-
tioning but pathological behavior, in old
or young, often is accompanied by path
illogical patterns. A marked breaking
down Of the normal pattern would indi-
cate deterioration Of the central nerv-
Gus system, whether or not this showed
in behavior.
Traits of Old People.
In cases where there Is marked slow
ing OF the brain waves, it has been re-
ported, there is likely to be irritability
and confusion. Other reports have in
dicated impairment Of creative. faculties,
shallow emotional life, tendency TO
Childhood reactions. and demand for
immediate qualification of desires. It
has been natural, although perhaps
quite mistaken, to correlate these char
acteristics with the brain wave pattern.
Certainly. all old people do not show the
same traits.
A hitherto unknown kind of "black.
out" has been found among atom bomb
blast survivors at the japanese cities Of
Hiroshima and NagaSaki.
Complete loss Of memory for several
days following a severe shock is not
uncommon. These people, however, now
have no memory Of what happened sew
eral days before" the bombs fell.
Earlier memories. however, appear to be
unimpaired.
The periods Of complete forgetfulness
before and after the blasts appear about
equal In length.
This curious phenomenon has Just
been reported by DR.. Earle L. Reynolds,
Antioch College anthropologist, who is
carrying out an extensive survey for the
Atomic Energy Commission on the
A-bombs aftermaths among children.
Study for Hidden Changes.
with the exception of scars from
burns or other injuries" DR.. Reynolds
says. lit is not possible to simply look
at child and tell whether or not it
went through the A-bomb blast. II
there are hidden changes, extensive
study and research will be required to
find them"
A corps of pediatricians, especially
trained for the purpose, are examining
20 A-bomb children day. A full year
will be required to examine all 5000 and
denominations then will be made an
nually.
In carrying on the project, DR.. Rey-
noldS says. many obstacles which grow
out OF Japanese culture must be over
come. One of these arises in obtaining
photographs. Although japanese are
nation Of camera enthusiasts it is diff
ficult to get them to pose for medical
pictures. A second difficulty arises out
Of the fact that most children in Japan
are born in the home with the mothers
attended only by mid-wives. Hence re-
porting Of births is not dependable and
it has been necessary to set up system
of rewards to get accurate reports.
A third handicap. DR.. Reynolds says,
IS the japanese habit of politely saying
only what they believe the listener
wants to hear Doctors and others inter-
viewing patients must always stay on
the alert for this polite kind of lying.
Because Of this. every person examined
in the project is interviewed at the end
of the examination by native Japanese
to check on the information they have
given. This also serves to determine
whether the individual has been Of
Tended by the examination. Avoiding
such offense is necessary to assure re-
turn for further checkups.