What is the connection between brain waves and the transfer of electrons between neurons?

[Vitani]

Is there one? How does it work?

[ecoli]

Electrical synapses exist in the brain, which are neurons linked by gap junctions. However, electrons aren't transferred directly, rather ions flow through gap junction channels.

 

For details and diagrams, see:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11164/

[Vitani]

Then I guess the question is - does the flow of ionic current have a connection to brain waves? Such as alpha, beta, etc. Thank you for the link

Edited January 6, 2017 by Vitani

[ecoli]

Then I guess the question is - does the flow of ionic current have a connection to brain waves? Such as alpha, beta, etc. Thank you for the link

 

Basically yes, but not exclusively. Coordination of chemical, electrical synapses, as well as action potential in individual axons result in neural oscillations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neural_oscillation

[Vitani]

Thank you that link is enough to branch out from here

[CharonY]

Actually, electrical synapses are rather rare. When thinking about brainwaves one usually considers coordinated oscillary patterns of whole populations of neurons. In that regard the connection between neurons and the way those circuits interact is relevant. But ion flow between cells is not really that relecant here. The major flux is due to action potentials and local changes in field potentials. Threre also oscillations on the cellular level (which are the basis for the coordinated patterns), but those are generally not what is meant with brain waves.