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New research is drawing connections between the frequency of brain waves measured by an electroencephalogram (EEG) , and mental well being. We did research to learn more about different types of brain waves, what they mean, and habits that help change the way our brain functions. EEG frequencies give scientists the opportunity to definitively measure changes in the brain states by different habits.
Brain Wave Frequencies
The human mind has been studied for thousands of years by people with diverse philosophies and ideologies. The ability to measure human thoughts and consciousness are currently the frontier of these fields of study. One of the newest ways to measure brain activity is through an electroencephalogram (EEG). The speed at which the neurons fire signals can be measured as frequencies. This frequency gives scientists a way to quantitatively measure different brain states and will be revolutionary in the fields of psychology and neuroscience.
Brain Frequency Desynchronization
A key component of EEGs is that they collect data from dozens of different places on the skull. This allows scientists to measure the brain states of different regions during different activities. Most often, our brains are operating at various different frequencies at the same time. While this helps us know which regions of the brain are responsible for certain types of mental activity, it also lends credit to the idea we are almost never using our brain at 100% capacity.
CONTENT
Delta
Theta
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Meditation
Binaural Beats
Neurofeedback Therapy
Standard Measurement (EEG)
Muse
Ceribell
BrainBit
Defining Brain Frequencies
The frequencies measured by an EEG are in hertz (Hz). This is a common form of measurement for wave functions like AC electrical flow or sound waves.
Delta (<4 Hz)
Delta waves are by far the slowest ones measured in the human mind. They are most often prevalent in the deepest stages of sleep. Our brain is resting and most connected to the subconscious regions of the mind. When the brain experiences delta waves while you are awake, it tends to be very unfocused and drowsy.
Theta (4-8 Hz)
Theta is characteristic of a very relaxed, dreaming state; it is usually associated with the transition between sleep and waking. Theta waves may also be more prevalent in the deepest stages of meditation or prayer. This usually leads to a connection with mental and emotional stability when strengthening theta wave activation.
Alpha (8-12 Hz)
Alpha waves are the baseline when we are awake. There is no activity we are concentrating on, but we are able to carry out routine and automatic tasks. This includes anything "mindless" like basic engagement in television, social media, or idle chores. Even when we are doing something, some areas of our brain that are not actively being use will idle at alpha frequency. Some studies found an increased baseline of alpha waves in individuals who self-identified as extroverted and creative.
Beta (13-30 Hz)
Beta waves are for active thought, consideration, decision-making, and general activity. They tend to be concentrated in the front of the brain and most active when your brain is alert and attentive. Increased beta waves might be characteristic of activities like: learning, strategy, engagement, socialization, and conscious thought. The wider range of the frequency can include anything from baseline awareness and simple analytics to more in depth critical thinking and agitation.
Gamma (+30 Hz)
Gamma waves are one of the only states that tend to exist throughout the entire brain at the same time. It is theorized that gamma wave frequencies is brain's way of raising processing power for intense focus and memory. It connects multiple different areas of the brain to that each area can work in parallel for intense learning and memory enhancement. It is sometimes associated with getting into a "flow state" where we feel motivated and driven. Some describe high intensity gamma waves (+80) as a state of lucid transcendence where everything works and there is a relaxed awareness of everything that is going on in their environment.
Change your Brain Waves
It is possible to train your brainwaves to be more or less active during certain times of day or certain activities.
Meditation
Meditation can include any form of intentional, prolonged relaxation. There are hundreds of different forms of meditation. Mantra based meditation has the practitioner repeating a single phrase or sound to create a continuous rhythm. Breath meditations use the movement of air in and out of the lungs as a mantra to center the mind and create rhythm. Guided meditations follow the directions of an instructor that set a rhythm of internal attention. Most meditations are meant to calm the mind and body to reach a state of deep relaxation, focus, or stillness.
This state of calm stillness is reflected in an EEG. Participants begin at a beta wave level of brain activity and can drop to alpha or even theta waves. This supports the consensus around meditation being a good way to relax and more importantly release stress. Individuals who meditated consistently are able to slip into alpha and theta frequencies easily and therefore have an easier time relaxing, releasing stress, and falling asleep. They are also more likely to have reduced stress long-term.
Meditation can also have an interesting and profound effect for some people doing certain schools of meditation. In these forms, participants appeared to have a sudden shift from low frequency activity to high intensity gamma waves. This significant increase in gamma wave activation has the potential to increase the brain's neuroplasticity. This has lead to claims that these select forms of meditation have a connection to higher states of being and the ability to change your physiology.
Binaural Beats
Binaural beats are a form of sound waves that have become increasingly popular in recent years. Our brain naturally wants to sync itself to surrounding stimulus. By playing binaural beats that match the frequency we would like to activate, we make it easier for the brain to move into that pattern naturally. This may also help the brain to associate an activity with a certain frequency.
For example, playing "Beta Wave Binaural Beat" while studying will help to increase beta wave activation. As we learned earlier, this will increase our attentiveness and ability to digest complex information. Playlists can be found on Apple Music, Spotify, and Youtube with binaural beats for any frequency.
Neurofeedback Therapy
Neurofeedback is a method that attempt to help participants have conscious control over the frequency of brain activity. Participants use an EEG to get real-time feedback on brain waves during activities. This allows them to adjust behaviors until they are able to see real results from the change. Most often, the focus is on increasing alpha and theta activation as we discussed for meditation. EEGs provide a live look into the mind and allows for experiments to objectively test the effectiveness of different forms of meditation for a given individual. Additionally, there are some potential medical applications of neurofeedback therapy for understanding and treating conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, insomnia, dyslexia, addiction, and schizophrenia.
Monitoring Brain Waves
If you are interested in learning more about your specific brain wave frequencies, there are a limited number of options for measuring with varying levels of feasibility.
Standard Measurement (EEG)
Medical-grade electroencephalograms (EEG) are bulky, expensive, and difficult to get. That being said, they are by far the most accurate form of measurement. They use flat metal disks called electrodes in a cap that covers your entire skull. Each of these electrodes measures brain wave activity in its designated position. When the individual results of each electrode are combined, doctors are able to map brain activity in different regions of the brain over time. EEGs are mostly used for research studies because of their accuracy, but more commercial uses are becoming available as the technology evolves.
Muse is a company that creates wearable headbands that can measure vitals including brain waves, heartbeat, breathing, and body movement. It helps you collect data that can be used to reduce stress, improve sleep, improve focus, and enhance self-awareness. Their devices connect to an app that allows you to view and track trends in data and expert-approved algorithms that rank/score sleep, focus, and the effectiveness of meditations.
Their products are used by top universities to conduct studies in place of a traditional EEG at Yale, Harvard, Nasa, IBM, MIT, and others.
Muse is the most consumer-friendly and ready-to-use option for using EEG data to transform your lifestyle.
Learn more about muse products from their website. Use code THEVITALLIST for 15% purchases on the Muse site.
Ceribell is a company focused on developing EEG technology for hospitals and research labs. They have recently announced their IPO, (as of Oct. 10, 2024), and will continue to develop their products and services. Their differentiator is that they are working to use AI and perform more complex analytics on data collected from patients. The goal would be to identify clear patterns of activity that are associated with disorders and potential treatment plans. Specifically, identifying early warning markers for seizures.
Brainbit is a new player to the wearable bio-monitoring industry and is set to directly compete with Muse. Their focus is more on the actual headband than an integrative product. They have created a framework for the development of APIs that collect the raw data and can be used by the customer for their own purposes. You can learn more about Brainbit and get up to date product information here.
CONCLUSION
Brain wave frequencies are a powerful way to measure activity in the brain using electroencephalograms (EEG). It gives researchers a way to quantify what were previously subjective experiences, and provides an opportunity for the medical community to better understand neurological disorders.
For the general public, new developments will continue to make this technology more available, and new research will give us a better idea how to use tools or habits to reshape our brain activity.
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Sources
Jen. “What Are Brainwaves and How They Can Be Changed...by You.” Saint Louis Neurotherapy Institute, 12 July 2019, stlneurotherapy.com/what-are-brainwaves-and-how-they-can-be-changed-by-you/.
Marzbani H, Marateb HR, Mansourian M. Neurofeedback: A Comprehensive Review on System Design, Methodology and Clinical Applications. Basic Clin Neurosci. 2016 Apr;7(2):143-58. doi: 10.15412/J.BCN.03070208. PMID: 27303609; PMCID: PMC4892319.
“The Science of Brainwaves - the Language of the Brain.” NeuroHealth Associates, 16 Feb. 2024, nhahealth.com/brainwaves-the-language/.
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