brain wave

noun

plural brain waves
1
a
: rhythmic fluctuations of voltage between parts of the brain resulting in the flow of an electric current
b
: a current produced by brain waves
2
: a flash of inspiration : brainstorm sense 1a
We invited the Hill Holliday ad agency in Boston to collaborate on our cover shoot, and its creative director, Lance Jensen, had a brain wave: wouldn't it be eye-catching for our pages to reflect not just the editorial look of the '60s but also the advertising idiom of the time?Tina Brown

Examples of brain wave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Meanwhile, a cap of sensors on their head measured their brain waves. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 27 Jan. 2024 In their Current Biology paper, the researchers tracked and monitored three captive but freely moving octopuses, analyzing their brain waves for the first time. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Ars Technica, 8 Apr. 2023 Wagner and her colleagues used noninvasive electroencephalography (EEG) electrodes placed on the heads of four reindeer to monitor brain waves under three different lighting conditions: constant light, constant dark or half-dark and half-light to mimic equal day and night hours. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 22 Dec. 2023 But about 40 percent then experienced electrical activity that reemerged at some point with normal to near-normal brain waves that were consistent with consciousness. Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 14 Sep. 2023 That led her to sing in an MRI machine a few years ago, so the National Institutes of Health could study her brain waves. Adam Bell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2023 Abnormal brain waves Davenport looked into previous concussion research and found a specific brain wave that spiked during unusual circumstances: delta waves. Dallas News, 21 Feb. 2023 Some have claimed that electrical stimulation of brain waves can induce lucid dreams. Michael W. Clune, Harper's Magazine, 4 Mar. 2022 The cool thing is that studies have found that creativity is heightened during the alpha brain wave state. Kristine Jepsen, Parents, 6 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brain wave.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of brain wave was in 1890

Dictionary Entries Near brain wave

Cite this Entry

“Brain wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brain%20wave. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

brain wave

noun
: rhythmic changes in voltage between parts of the brain

Medical Definition

brain wave

noun
1
: rhythmic fluctuations of voltage between parts of the brain resulting in the flow of an electric current
2
: a current produced by brain waves compare alpha wave, beta wave

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