Strange glow emitted by human brains discovered in study
The human brain, known for its high energy consumption, emits a significant amount of ultraweak photon emissions (UPE), accounting for approximately 20% of the body's total energy [1]. This fascinating discovery, made by Dr. Nirosha Murugan, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, Canada, could potentially revolutionise our understanding of the inner workings of the mind [2].
Dr. Murugan's research suggests that UPEs, which travel through the skull, might influence other brains in the environment [6]. The study found that these faint light signals, emitted as a byproduct of cellular metabolism and energy use, fluctuate depending on mental state changes such as opening or closing the eyes and listening to sounds [1][3][5].
In a groundbreaking finding, Dr. Murugan and her team discovered a correlation between the electrical signals and UPEs recorded from the brain. During cognitive tasks, UPEs change in rhythmic, complex patterns that closely mirror the brain's electrical activity [1][5]. This correlation could offer a non-invasive, passive method to track brain activity, a concept termed "photoencephalography" or "photoinsphilography" [1].
The potential uses of measuring brain light are vast. It could aid in diagnosing neurological disorders such as epilepsy, dementia, and depression, where altered brain activity is a hallmark [1][3][4]. Changes in UPE patterns might reflect oxidative stress, aging, or cell health—factors relevant to these conditions [1][3][4].
However, the technology is still in its early stages, primarily limited by the extreme faintness of UPEs, which are roughly a million times weaker than visible light, making detection challenging [4][5]. Ongoing research aims to refine detection methods and clarify whether UPEs can reliably differentiate normal from disordered brain states for clinical use [4][5].
Dr. Murugan hopes her team's findings will initiate new conversations about the role of light in brain function. She proposes that this light could be playing a role within the brain, rather than just being a byproduct of its function [6]. The prospect of detecting and deciphering light signals from the brain will inspire new questions, she suggests [6].
The study recruited 20 adults to measure electrical signals and light emitted from their brains while they carried out simple instructions, such as opening and closing their eyes and listening to sound recordings [1]. The brains emitted this light in slow rhythmic patterns, at a frequency slower than once per second, that seemed to steady over the course of each two-minute task [1]. These light emission patterns from the brain are constantly changing, oscillate, are complex, and carry information [3].
In summary, UPEs vary during cognitive activity and show promise as a novel brain-monitoring tool with potential applications in diagnosing and studying brain disorders, though it is not yet a clinical standard and requires further validation [1][3][4][5]. Dr. Murugan's appointment as a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Biophysics from Algoma University, also in Ontario, will further her research in this exciting field.
- The high energy consumption of the human brain, a key aspect of its physiology, is linked to the emission of ultraweak photon emissions (UPE), which account for about 20% of the body's total energy.
- Dr. Nirosha Murugan's research posits that UPEs, which pass through the skull, may impact other brains in the surrounding environment.
- The fluctuation of UPEs is linked to mental state changes, such as opening or closing the eyes, or listening to sounds.
- Dr. Murugan and her team found a correlation between electrical signals and UPEs recorded from the brain, potentially opening up the possibility for a non-invasive, passive method to track brain activity, known as photoencephalography or photoinsphilography.
- The potential applications of measuring brain light are expansive, potentially aiding in the diagnosis of neurological disorders such as epilepsy, dementia, and depression, where altered brain activity is a significant factor.
- Ongoing research in this field aims to refine detection methods and clarify whether UPEs can reliably differentiate normal from disordered brain states for clinical use, while simultaneously sparking new conversations about the role of light in brain function.
