Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MSc)

Department

Health Science

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

First Advisor

Nirosha Murugan

Advisor Role

Supervisor

Abstract

Ultraweak photon emission (UPE), and by extension light, has long been thought to be a modality of communication in nature. Prior studies have already identified that UPE can depend on cell type and can be used to discern between malignant and benign cells. However, besides theoretical models, not much effort has been made to identify possible biological structures that would allow for light to be used as a method of communication in the human body. According to the framework set by Shannon’s Information Theory, for communication to be possible at minimum a transmitter, a transmission channel, and a receiver are required. This project investigates the possibility of a transmitter-channel axis in the human brain, alongside evaluating if UPE correlates to cellular states in the intensity domain.

Chapter 2 uncovered through UPE that tryptophan, by itself, could convert chemical energy into light providing support for its proposed role as part of a transmitter system. However, when embedded in the physiologically relevant unit, a microtubule, results were inconclusive. Chapter 3 assessed myelin and the myelin sheath’s ability for signal propagation. While results in both cases were inconclusive, myelin showed a non-significant increase in relative transmission, suggesting a possible favourable role in light transmission. Finally, Chapter 4 looked at the correlation between UPE and cellular states independent from the transmitter-channel axis. Here, a strong increase in UPE was observed due to oxidative stress, while temozolomide (TMZ) produced no immediate changes. This suggests that UPE can be a viable marker for cellular states.

All together, these results provide indications for the possibility of light to be used as a method of communication in the human brain.

Convocation Year

2027

Convocation Season

Spring

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