What are P waves?

P waves, originally termed Pgo waves, are excitatory events that originate from the brain stem, specifically from the pons. They project throughout the cortex and are notable for their role in brain plasticity and the modulation of sleep phases, particularly REM sleep. The "P" in P waves stands for the pons, with these waves initially traveling to the geniculate nucleus of the thalamus and the occipital area where they were first discovered. Now it's understood that these waves permeate various areas across the brain, not just the occipital area.

P waves are associated with the release of glutamate, a key neurotransmitter involved in learning and neural plasticity. These waves, in conjunction with sleep spindles, facilitate brain plasticity. Interestingly, the behavior of P waves during REM sleep contributes to the seemingly random and vivid experiences in dreams. The randomness of P waves is thought to be a factor in the pseudo-randomness of REM sleep dreams, which could foster random but creative links between different thoughts or memories. This is why these dreaming states might have to do with the fostering of creativity or 'insight' moments, as the brain is linking different concepts in new ways 1.