<p>Yes they do.</p>

<p>That is to say, light conditions do not generally affect <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_wave" rel="noreferrer">alpha waves</a>, only the eyelids do (and other factors).  This has led to alpha waves being interpreted as reflecting an active inhibitory process in the visual cortex (relaxation) rather than a reduction of stimulus (resting).</p>

<p>The following image is from an Israeli study published in 2013 called "<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23216771" rel="noreferrer">The dark side of the alpha rhythm</a>":
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/42uxf.png" alt="Alpha Waves">
Notice how all the graphs show no significant difference between light and dark conditions in both eyes open and eyes closed cases.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20972777" rel="noreferrer">Mounting evidence</a> from studying blinking, saccades, and stimulating the retina from behind the eyelids (through the oral cavity) suggests that closing the eyes initiates an inhibitory process that actively blocks visual processing (rather than passively relying on darkness), so darkness is not necessary, only shutting the eyes is sufficient.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-22T17:33:21.763Z
Great answer...
Christian Hummeluhr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-25T10:24:41.357Z
Wow this is a truly enlightening answer. +1
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-22T17:22:28.833Z
2015-03-22T17:49:59.643Z
2015-03-22T17:49:59.643Z
Arnon Weinberg
<p>Alpha brain waves show up in your <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroencephalography">EEG</a> when you close your eyes. </p>

<p>Do they vanish when I open my eyes in a dark room?
To put it in a different way: Is it necessary to have your eyes shut or that you don't see anthing?</p>

<eeg><brain-waves>
Do alpha waves vanish when I open my eyes in a dark room?
draks ...
# Do alpha waves vanish when I open my eyes in a dark room?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-03-18)

Alpha brain waves show up in your [EEG](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroencephalography) when you close your eyes.

Do they vanish when I open my eyes in a dark room?
To put it in a different way: Is it necessary to have your eyes shut or that you don't see anthing?

**Tags:** eeg, brain-waves


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-03-22. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

Yes they do.

That is to say, light conditions do not generally affect [alpha waves](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_wave), only the eyelids do (and other factors). This has led to alpha waves being interpreted as reflecting an active inhibitory process in the visual cortex (relaxation) rather than a reduction of stimulus (resting).

The following image is from an Israeli study published in 2013 called "[The dark side of the alpha rhythm](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23216771)":
![Alpha Waves](https://i.sstatic.net/42uxf.png)
Notice how all the graphs show no significant difference between light and dark conditions in both eyes open and eyes closed cases.

[Mounting evidence](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20972777) from studying blinking, saccades, and stimulating the retina from behind the eyelids (through the oral cavity) suggests that closing the eyes initiates an inhibitory process that actively blocks visual processing (rather than passively relying on darkness), so darkness is not necessary, only shutting the eyes is sufficient.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Great answer...  
> **username_3**: Wow this is a truly enlightening answer. +1  

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