[NoId]

Something I noticed when I started taking dexedrine after a period of having not taken it was that it felt like there was a brain wave being blocked. The brain wave which is origin of my discomfort and liability. It didn't even seem like it had totally vanished but that it was unable to affect me anymore. Moving cars appeared to move smoothly rather than jumping forward.

I drank some orange juice last night and I woke up with half an ADD. Started around three o'clock am. I was in a dream state from there on. I slept well as I had intended anyways. But I would associate the dream state with the brain wave that causes my ADD.

It appears that this brain wave would most likely be the "Theta wave".

What is the current science on brain wave thing? I'd love to know why my brain is so effected while other people are continuously normal. I'll probably answer my own question but please discuss.

[Skeezyks]

Hello NoId: I see this is your first post. Welcome to PsychCentral! PC is a great place to gain support, as well as to obtain mental health related information. There are many knowledgeable & caring members here. The more you post, & reply to other members' posts, the more you'll get out of the time you spend here.

I'm afraid I don't know anything about the science of brain waves. So I can't comment on that. Perhaps there are other members, here on PC, who know about such things & will yet comment on your Thread.

[NoId]

Thank you for welcoming me.

I don't know much about brain waves myself. From what I do know is that brain has electrical impulses which can be observed with instrumentation. They appear as waves but I don't know that there is anything really wave like in the biological function.

The impulses come from different parts of the brain. The waveforms could be associated with a part of the brain and/or the functional operation the brain preforming. Sometimes the clock speed of region changes and this would indicate a different operation is being preformed, often related to states of consciousness.

Wikipedia say that theta wave may come from the medial septal which works in conjunction with the nucleus accumbens. Amphetamine is said to effect the nucleus accumbens which in turn, I assume, regulates the medial septal.

Ordinarily there would be no need for "pleasure" in order for the medial septal to be regulated (I base this on the observation of "normal" people). It may just be that the nucleus accumbens or the medial septal defaults to the theta wave mode. Perhaps in such a way that there is no worldly stimulus or life experience that can turn the theta waves off. Then instead of reducing theta wave activity theta wave activity increases.

If that is true it may be possible to observe this with electrodes.

[Nike007]

Hello. I am doing a project in school on brainwaves so I can tell you all I know about it. From what I know about brainwaves, the waves are caused by neurons by a process called action potential. Action potential is what creates the wave. In order to get into action potential, you need some type out stimulus to trigger the brain reaction. Most of the time, the neuron is at resting potential, which has a charge of -70 mV (milivolts). This charge is caused by isotopes from different elements in the neurons. The most common isotopes are sodium, potassium, calcium, and chlorine. When the stimulus is triggered, the charge decreases up to -55 mV before action potential starts. When it starts, the sodium ports of the cell open up and all the sodium rush into it because the cell has a negative charged and sodium has a positive charge. Soon, too much sodium rushes into the cell so the sodium ports close and the potassium ports open, which also has a positive charge, so they rush out of the cell, trying to balance it, but it drops down to -70 mV. This all happens in .005 seconds (5 milliseconds). This also happens simultaneously between multiple different neurons at the same location. There are trillions of neurons inside the human body. So when you say a brain wave is being blocked, that can't be correct because medication can't control brainwaves, but you must mean the different ports in your brain. Each section of the brain branches off and from the central nervous system, which is where neurons come from and to. When the certain chemicals like dopamine and seratonin go to the brain, it causes certain things to happen. Well, normally it should keep you functioning, but if levels are low, then it can cause things like depression, anxiety, and even AD/HD. When the chemical is added into your body, the neurons have more of the chemical added in, which is sending it to the brain I think. It could be that the chemical blocks ports in a section of the brain, mainly the prefrontal cortex, I'm not sure. But anyways, because of more or less of the chemical in your body, it makes the brain back to "normal". I think people with AD/HD lack the chemical, so I am not sure why the chemical would block the ports, but I'm not entirely sure. Anyways, so this is what the medication should do. Sorry this was really long to explain, but if you have more questions, ask me. Hope this helps.

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[NoId]

It may be that I was anticipating a reaction or an interference. That made me feel as though it was still there. It could be that it was turned off entirely.

One instance of the problem is when I am typing something from a dictation -- someone records by voice a letter and I listen to the recording and type it. Auditory input to short term memory to translation to motor cortex -- repeated every 3 seconds or so. This process shuts down my faculties regardless of how well/effortlessly I am able to preform this task. It happens between the 2:30 minute mark and 3:15 minute mark. This is when I am trying my hardest to prevent this from happening.

Similarly notes taken in a class room environment appear as though the note taker lost interest or developed a negative attitude towards the whole concept of education.

I blame this on the inability to block the theta wave. It should be there perhaps, as a part of the normal functioning of the brain (from what I understand it is involved in short term memory storage) but it becomes erroneously amplified and passed down the line.

It effects my eyesight, my visual cortex. Eventually the audio becomes ominous. Ultimately my motor cortex refuses to type. SO, it is possible there is enough of a shutdown signal for it to be registered on an EEG as being erroneous.

One of the ways I dealt with this growing up was to selectively acknowledge things or select environments that did not present an opportunity for this to occur. In this case I don't think that it would be registered.

An instance of this is when I am driving I get into accidents. A particular accident is when a car is in front of me and I have to look for traffic else where. I would just not record the car in front of me in short term memory -- I rear end the car in a rather careless and rude fashion. Likewise I would use any wiggle room available to my advantage in order to achieve the goal without "putting forth the effort" (why should a pariah bother?) or by completely disassociating material and then re-associating it.

The disassociation thing is where I have gotten into some trouble. In order for this to work in the real world all concepts have to be based upon reality. Real life experiences. My attitude is very down to earth. All concepts have to have a practical purpose in my life. So fantasy, religion and maligned ideas have to be rejected. I can't follow rules if they do not apply as well formed methods. This means deleting many things learned or projected to me. If I have to scrutinize every concept prior to using it then I do not appear to be behaving in a seamless manor. The methodology makes me an invaluable asset but the acceptance of others is usually based upon ability not disability. Take away the motivation and enthusiasm and I am outed pretty quickly.

So anyways if I am not careful and I pick up the bible for instance or I come up with some cockamamie idea -- say while I am taking medication. When I go off the medication I revert to my older means and ways (after all there is nothing else I can do). Now I believe that fiction is fact and I begin to pursue this.

Even worse is when I apply the concept to something for which it is not appropriate. This leads also leads to disaster in relationships. I try to explain that just need to rework the formula, many apologies. Other people don't see this as an acceptable response.

[Nike007]

Try looking up How ADHD medication. Here is an article about how it works from Psych Central: http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/11...ork/47500.html


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[Miswimmy1]

I think the poster is talking about waves in regard to the sleep cycle.

Beta waves occur during waking hours.

Alpha waves occur just before sleep occurs.

Theta waves characterize the first and second stages in the sleep cycle. This is when you have first fallen asleep. It is easy to wake up. This might be when you are just dosing in class.

Delta waves categorize sleep stages 3 and 4. This is deeper restorative sleep.

Lastly is REM sleep (rapid eye movement). During this stage is when you dream the most. This is also the stage in which sleep paralysis occurs yet the brain is extremely active.

I'm not sure what you mean by blocking the theta waves. Because if that was happening, you wouldn't be able to fall asleep. In addition, ADHD medication affects neurotransmitters which work on the central nervous system. I believe sleep would be considered part of the endocrine system. The two systems are related but the first works with electrical impulses and action potentials and the other with hormones.

[NoId]

What I am saying is that theta waves would ordinarily be blocked from a part of the brain when a person is awake. That part of the brain is responsible for sleep paralysis.

Theta waves are also involved in the short term memory event. They probably increase in magnitude during the short term memory event. (you'd have to google some brain wave charts to see the fluctuations)

Since the channel to the sleep mechanism is open or partially open the theta event registers in the sleep part of the brain. Given enough events registering (say 40 events), the sleep mechanism switches on fully.

Eventually the mechanism looses it's effectiveness and subsequent theta impulses receive an impotent response but the events continue to interfere with the normal functioning of the brain.

Sometimes the theta event that is passed to the sleep mechanism is rejected. This results in an anti-sleep response due to the perceived error. The anti-sleep response invokes a rejection of the present state. Depends the lifestyle and environment. Non-rejections types are probably more meditative where as rejection types are more structured.

This is a model which is very distinct from the concept of "brain stimulation" or an overall lack of neurochemicals. For that reason it rejects the concept of partially medicating or taking medication breaks. Most of the sedation or other concurrent symptoms come from the neurochemical release of the sleep mechanism. Once the pathway is blocked there is no need for further stimulation. It is only when the medication is not effective enough to block the channel that there are manifestations of symptoms.

[NoId]

I'd also question whether or not a mixed salt amphetamine is going to leave the channel partially open. Ratio's not being equal I guess it is like two steps forward and one step back.

It seems unfortunate that dexedrine is a CNS stimulant. But is usually a worn out drug after a few days. The agitation that arises may be due to there being enough stimulation to illicit the rejection response rather than the sleep response. You can work that out on your own time.

Fully blocking the mechanism would result in a very undisturbed peaceful world. Very much different from the fabled amphetamine overdose. The adverse effect only occurs when a fault arises in the chemical blockage of the pathway.

When sleeping, ultimately delta waves take over. This occurs when the sleep mechanism seduces the medial septal and it's pathway (it should be a quick and potent release to fall asleep quickly). The medication should have no effect on sleep whatsoever. REMEMBER this isn't supposed to be turned on by theta waves. The theta waves are mimicking delta wave. This distinction is not important -- the system is broken is what is important. There is a dualism in this function of the brain. In needs to stay that way.

[NoId]

How do you wake up? Violently and with difficulty or naturally rise? Do you remain sleepy for a period of time? If someone asks you a question immediately after you wake up is this disturbing or sleep inducing? Do you ever feel like you could pass out early in the morning?

Most people are able to wake up on time and stay awake (almost everyone). Even if there is still sleeping to be done. The wake up and do not display signs of sleepiness -- even without coffee. This is because the channel to the sleep mechanism is readily blocked. If it isn't then something has to trigger a sleep-rejection signal or the neurochemicals for sleeping have to be depleted. That could mean that a sleep rejection signal is sent all night long and you keep pressing the snooze button.

Not many adults with ADD. Disease could kill you.