PGO Waves - Future Research

Future Research

The next big area to research regarding this topic is to understand what processes PGO waves are beneficial for in both states of sleep as well as consciousness. Although PGO waves are noticeably present during NREM sleep, some scientists believe they are also present during waking cycles. There is a possibility that PGO waves are essential for image correction of the eyes, since PGO waves are signals on a pathway that allow the motor cortex of the brain to interface with the vision system.

The other future interests in research of this topic are what PGO waves are precisely doing for us while we are dreaming. Some scientists theorize that PGO waves are essential for stabilizing the images that we have in our dreams. This theory comes from the eye movements that coincide with the readings from electrodes picking up PGO waves.

Also, scientists seek to discover how the presence of these signals fits in with the overall dreaming process. Research in PGO waves is of broad importance to neurophysiology because it involves the coordination of entire regions of the brain working together—coming from many different systems—to create our dreams, memories, and other experiences that we have.

Another area of potential research interest involves PGO waves during lucid dreaming.