Sensorimotor rhythm

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Image:Eeg SMR.svg The Sensory Motor Rhythm (SMR) is also called mu rhythm (find a more detailed article there). It is a 12 - 15 Hz oscillatory spindle rhythm of the EEG, MEG, and ECoG that appears over the sensorimotor cortex.

It is associated with a reduction of motor output and sensory input. It is thought by some that people with learning disabilities,^[1] ADHD,^{[citation needed]} epilepsy,^{[citation needed]} and autism^{[citation needed]} may benefit from an increase in SMR activity via biofeedback/neurofeedback. Neurofeedback practitioners believe - and have produced experimental evidence to back up their controversial claims^[2] - that regulation of the SMR can be learned. The existence of the SMR spindle is not well known outside of neurofeedback circles.

Phenomenologically, when a person is producing high amounts of SMR they are in a calm and alert state of consciousness.

See also

• Electroencephalography
• Delta wave
• Theta wave
• Alpha wave
• Beta wave
• Gamma wave

References

1. ↑ PMID 6542077
2. ↑ Tobias Egner and M. Barry Sterman, “Neurofeedback treatment of epilepsy: From basic rationale to practical application,” in press

Further Reading

• Robbins, Jim (2000). A Symphony in the Brain. 
• M. B. Sterman and W. Wyrwicka, “EEG correlates of sleep: Evidence for separate forebrain substrates,” Brain Research, vol. 6, 1967, pp. 143–163.
• W. Wyrwicka and M. B. Sterman, “Instrumental conditioning of sensorimotor cortex eeg spindles in the waking cat,” Physiology and Behavior, vol. 3, 1968, pp. 703–707.
• Warren, Jeff (2007). "The SMR", The Head Trip: Adventures on the Wheel of Consciousness. ISBN 978-0679314080. nl:SMR