Brain Waves and Brain Harmony
Your brain is a miraculous organ with complexity that reaches far beyond what's visible to the naked eye. In fact, much of your brain activity comes down to "waves" of electrical energy that flow through the brain tissue, much like a wave on an ocean.
When these brain waves are balanced and working in harmony, your body and mind flow through states of consciousness and unconsciousness easily and naturally. When your brain waves are disorganized or out of balance, however, the impact can be felt throughout the mind-body system.
In this article, we'll dive into the different types of brain waves, how they work, what they're responsible for, what it looks like when they're out of balance, and what you can do about it.
What Are Brain Waves?
Your brain contains 100 billion neurons, which are nerve cells that act as messengers connecting and communicating with one another. As these neurons fire their messages, it generates oscillations in your brain, known as brain waves. These waves of communication are electrical voltages (also known as neural oscillations) that have a rhythmic or repetitive pattern[1].
Research suggests that brain waves are the drivers behind the wiring in your brain, which connects the different parts of your brain and nervous system and lays down the foundation for your neurological function[2].
Beyond their role in brain wiring, researchers have also linked brain wave activity to cognitive function, memory, attention, and even consciousness[3].
Furthermore, different brain waves, which occur at different rates of repetition, are linked to different states of the brain. In other words, the rate at which these electrical oscillations or currents occur can impact how you think and feel.
What Are The Different Brain Waves?
There are five recognized brain waves, including gamma, beta, alpha, theta, and delta. Each has its own frequency and produces a unique impact on your brain. Frequencies are measured in hertz, which is equal to one cycle per second. Therefore, if something measures 100 hertz (or Hz), it has a frequency of 100 cycles per second.
Gamma
Gamma brain waves are the fastest waves with the highest frequency ranging from 32 to 100 Hz. When your brain is firing off gamma waves, it indicates that you are in peak concentration mode, with a highly focused brain that's actively engaged.
High levels of gamma activity in your brain are correlated with high IQ, compassion, memory, and overall happiness. Serious meditators like Buddhist Monks are known for their consistently high levels of gamma waves.
Low levels of gamma waves, on the other hand, are correlated with poor memory, learning difficulties, and impaired mental processing[4].
Beta
Beta brain waves are the next step down in frequency from gamma waves, with oscillations at 12 to 38 Hz. The beta brain wave state is your alert, conscious, active thinking brain. These are the predominant brain waves present during your waking day when you're engaged with life and actively thinking, focused on a task, problem-solving, or learning a new concept.
Beta brain waves can vary from low beta (12-15 Hz), mid-range beta (15- 21Hz), to high beta (22- 38Hz). Low beta brain waves are associated with more introverted, quiet, and focused thought. Mid-range beta is associated with increased energy and performance, actively figuring things out, and perhaps even some anxiety. While high range beta is correlated with stress, anxiety, high energy, and arousal[5].
Research suggests that beta brain waves play a role in working memory, helping us to select specific thoughts and pieces of information while clearing out what is unnecessary[6].
Alpha
Next in line are alpha brain waves, which are slower than beta, with a frequency between 8-12 Hz. Alpha waves are present during downtime and meditative states when your mind and body are relaxed. When alpha is engaged, you feel present and grounded as this frequency is correlated with calm and quiet states.
Alpha waves are believed to play a role in filtering out distracting sensory information, and therefore regulating alpha waves may enhance your attention[7].
Alpha waves are also known to assist in mind-body coordination and are present during creative activities and thinking. They slow your sensory input and allow you to quiet your active brain, also known as the "monkey mind" in meditation circles[8].
Research shows that low alpha brain wave activity may be correlated with states of depression and social withdrawal[9].
Theta
Theta brain waves measure between 4-8 Hz and are associated with reduced consciousness, most active during daydreaming or sleep. The presence of these brain waves indicates deep relaxation, such as the dream state in sleep or even during moments in the day when your active mind can shut off, like when you're performing "automatic tasks" like brushing your teeth.
In low theta, you may feel intensely relaxed, while higher theta is associated with states of creativity and deep focus.
Excess lower frequency theta is commonly associated with ADHD as this brain wave can make you feel scattered, unorganized, and unable to concentrate[10].
In balance, theta is associated with enhanced memory, creativity, and well-being.
Delta
Delta brain waves are the slowest of all the brain waves, with frequency ranging between 1-4 Hz. Delta brain waves are most active during deep, dreamless sleep and are known to activate the healing and regenerative stage of the sleep process.
Excessive delta during waking hours can make it incredibly difficult to concentrate, and much like low theta, this brain wave can be associated with learning disabilities like ADHD. High levels of delta are also seen in brain injuries and may be associated with psychological states like depression[10].
Adequate delta brain wave function is necessary for proper rejuvenation and revitalization in the brain and is necessary for proper immune function, sleep, and healing[11].
What Happens When We Don't Produce Brain Waves Correctly?
The brain wave frequencies that your neurons emit create a network in your brain that impacts everything from sleep to memory to your ability to concentrate, learn, and feel happy and grounded.
When these frequencies are out of balance, the function of your brain and central nervous system may become impaired and lead to a spectrum of issues, depending on which type of brain wave is either under or overactive. Some side effects of brain wave dysfunction include[10][6]:
Depression
Anxiety
Hyper-arousal
ADHD
Impaired learning
Poor memory
Social withdrawal
Impaired encoding of sensory information (taking in information from our environment and storing it)
Confusion and inability to concentrate
Poor sleep, insomnia
Alpha-Stim As A Way To Regulate Brain Waves
At Brain Harmony, we employ a device called the Alpha-Stim, which (much as the name would imply) stimulates the production of alpha ways.
This device is non-intrusive and works by hooking up small clips to your ears as you allow your brain to be flooded with relaxation-inducing alpha waves. Since alpha waves play a role in enhancing attention and filtering out distractions, the alpha-stim makes an excellent tool for children and adults that have a hard time concentrating and relaxing.
Furthermore, research shows that with the Alpha-Stim, you experience not only an increase in alpha waves, but also a decrease in beta and delta waves. Mid and high-range beta waves are associated with stress, anxiety, and arousal -- common issues that people face today due to our fast-paced lifestyles. High levels of delta waves are associated with an inability to concentrate and relax, depressive states, as well as learning difficulties, and ADHD[12].
Some of the most common benefits we see with the Alpha-Stim are a reduction in anxiety, depression, and insomnia. These are all indicators of neurological disorganization, which implies that the Alpha-Stim is helping to get to the root of the issues by enhancing your brain's ability to self-organize.
Nancy's Alpha-Stim Success Story
Nancy is a nurse in an intensive care unit and was suffering from anxiety, brain fog, and depression. She was having trouble with processing, getting her thoughts down on paper, word retrieval, and memory. She had tried pharmaceuticals and lifestyle changes to address these issues, but they just weren't working, so she went on the hunt for another solution. After a short time using Brain Harmony's therapies, like the Safe and Sound Protocol and the Alpha-Stim, Nancy's anxiety dissipated, she started enjoying life, sleeping better, her brain fog went away, and her cognitive function improved tremendously. She feels like Brain Harmony was the missing key in her health journey.
"It's easy to use, you're expertly guided, you can do it on your own at your own pace, and it can have a profound impact on your life. I really feel that this was the missing piece to help my overall quality of life."
Takeaway
Brain waves are one of the crucial pieces to the brain health puzzle. While they may not tell us the whole story, you can glean a lot of information about what's going on neurologically by assessing which brain waves are active.
Luckily, you don't have to get an EEG scan in order to determine which brain waves are dominating your day. Signs like an inability to concentrate, hyperarousal, anxiety, and depression can tell the story for you.
At Brain Harmony, we use the Alpha-Stim as one of many tools to help bring your brain back into balance. We've seen incredible success and continue to explore the benefits that this device can bring from a root-level place of healing.
References
Penn, Anna A., and Carla J. Shatz. "Brain waves and brain wiring: the role of endogenous and sensory-driven neural activity in development." Pediatric research 45.4 (1999): 447-458.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/traveling-brain-waves-may-be-critical-for-cognition/
https://neurofeedbackalliance.org/understanding-brain-waves/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/beta-wave#:~:text=Low%20beta%20waves%20
https://news.mit.edu/2018/new-study-reveals-how-brain-waves-control-working-memory-0126
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191204145752.htm
Alexander, Morgan L., et al. "Double-blind, randomized pilot clinical trial targeting alpha oscillations with transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD)." Translational psychiatry 9.1 (2019): 1-12.
https://www.centerforadd-az.com/resources/understanding-brainwaves
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/brain-waves
https://www.alpha-stim.com/blog/alpha-brain-waves-what-are-they-and-why-are-they-so-important/