Text waves get brain researchers’ attention

Text waves get brain researchers’ attention


What does your brain do when you’re texting?

Apparently, it may behave differently than at other times — at least in some people. That’s the finding of a new study published recently in the journal Epilepsy & Behavior.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine monitored brainwaves in 129 adults while they sent text messages. The monitoring revealed that 27 of the people, or 1 in 5, exhibited a unique set of brainwave activity during texting. This activity, the researchers said, is unlike any other brain pattern that has been observed.

Researchers also wanted to see if people with epilepsy showed the same “texting rhythm” as those without the disease. Epilepsy is a disease that causes seizures through abnormal surge patterns of electrical signals within the brain. The researchers did find the unique texting brainwave rhythm in some people who also have epilepsy, as well as in those who don’t.

The scientists tried to reproduce the brain’s texting rhythm by having the study subjects engage in other activities including phone calls, regular conversations and activities involving hand movements. None of the other activities led to a brainwave pattern like that of texting.

So what does the discovery of this new pattern mean? That remains to be seen, but given the amount of texting that occurs it warrants further research. The researchers said it may take years to understand why the phenomenon occurs and whether it has any negative side effects. Still, they said the finding that texting could alter brain activity in some people might give more credence to laws that ban texting and driving. In the meantime, much additional research is needed before we know what this means, so as long as you are not driving or performing some other potentially dangerous task that requires your full attention, keep enjoying your texting!

Related Episodes