Awareness Blog

WHAT´S A BRAINWAVE?

Our brains are a complex network of wires connected by synapses which produce an electromagnetic field when they pass signals from one to another. This created field is large enough to be measured by equipment like an EEG. The speed at which synapses send signals is called brainwave frequency.

WHY DO WE HAVE VARIOUS BRAINWAVES?

Different brainwave frequencies are being used for different types of activity. Depending on what you are doing certain frequencies can be more active than others. Your dominant brainwave frequency will change naturally throughout the day.

DELTA 0,2 Hz –  4 Hz

While being in Delta state your body can repair it self. These are the slowest band of brainwaves. You will not remember anything while in Delta. These waves are important for your overall health. They are found most often in infants as well as young children. As we age, we tend to produce less delta even during deep sleep. They are associated with the deepest levels of relaxation and restorative, healing sleep. They have also been found to be involved in unconscious bodily functions such as regulating heart beat and digestion. Adequate production of delta waves helps us feel completely rejuvenated after we wake up from a good night’s sleep.

THETA 4 Hz – 8 Hz

This is a deeply meditative state with heavy relaxation. This state is important to release anxiety and stress and helps to activate the subconscious mind. You could also be in a very light sleep state while consciously dreaming. Your senses are withdrawn from the outside world and you start to dream and see vivid images. Theta waves are connected to us experiencing and feeling deep and raw emotions.  Theta has its benefits of helping improve our intuition, creativity, and makes us feel more natural. It is also involved in restorative sleep. As long as theta isn’t produced in excess during our waking hours, it is a very helpful brain wave range.

ALPHA 9 Hz – 13 Hz

This is the classic flow state while you are awake but still relaxed and not actively overthinking. This state is the connection between the conscious and the subconscious mind. Experienced meditators have increased Alpha activity shown in studies monitoring the EEG activity. It increases the ability to recall memories, lessens discomfort and pain and reduces stress and anxiety. This state is used in hypnosis as well.  In other words, alpha is the frequency range between beta and theta. It helps us calm down when necessary and promotes feelings of deep relaxation. 

BETA 13 Hz – 38 Hz

This is the wide awake default mode state. A balanced beta activity is required to stay focused, emotional stable and concentrated. It is also the frequency that requires the most amount of energy, which can manifest as stress and fatigue. Betawaves are involved in conscious thought, logical thinking, and tend to have a stimulating affect. Having the right amount of beta waves allows us to focus and complete school or work-based tasks easily. Having too much beta may lead to us experiencing excessive stress and/or anxiety. The higher beta frequencies are associated with high levels of arousal. When you drink caffeine or have another stimulant, your beta activity will naturally increase. Think of these as being very fast brain waves that most people exhibit throughout the day in order to complete conscious tasks such as: critical thinking, writing, reading, and socialization.

GAMMA > 38 Hz and above

In this state your mind is capable and tuned to mental performance. It is associated with the formation of ideas, language and memory processing.These are involved in higher processing tasks as well as cognitive functioning. Gamma waves are important for learning, memory and information processing. It is thought that the 40 Hz gamma wave is important for the binding of our senses in regards to perception and are involved in learning new material. It has been found that individuals who are mentally challenged and have learning disabilities tend to have lower gamma activity than average.