First off, what ARE brain waves? Well, they are essentially electrical voltages in the brain that move back and forth, or oscillate. These electrical voltages, or brain waves, can actually be measured. That is, our brains emit energy, real energy, that can be measured in units of hertz (hz), just like other electrical energy. This occurs when we focus our attention on a subject or remember something. A number of different types of waves are produced by the brain. The frequency, or number of cycles the waves vibrate per second, reflects the activity of the neurons in the brain. Depending on our mental state at any particular moment in time, our physical condition and other factors, the frequency of our brain waves will vary.
One of the most utilized ways of measuring brain waves is by use of an electroencephalogram (EEG), which records brain activity. The EEG gives us the cycles per second of brain waves. Here are the major types or states of brain waves:
1) Delta–(1-4hz) are the slowest type of brain waves recorded in humans. They are usually found in babies and young children and are connected to restful sleep. This state of mind can aid with recovery, healing, and can even help improve functioning of our immune system.
2) Theta–(4-7hz) is associated with sleep, deep relaxation (like hypnosis) and visualization. Theta waves can be used to induce a state of deep relaxation, allowing the mind to become more open and receptive to new ideas and experiences. They can help with stress relief, improved focus, creativity and enhanced problem solving skills.
3) Alpha–(8-13hz) is the state of gentle relaxation and occurs when we are calm. This is the most dominant type of brainwave frequency and it is produced when we are in a state of alert relaxation. Alpha waves are usually the state when we close our eyes, meditate, or daydream. Alpha waves have been linked to creativity and improved cognitive performance as well as increased mental clarity and focus.
4) Beta–(13-30hz) is the brainwave frequency we are the most familiar with. This is the state of ordinary waking. Beta waves help us to stay aware and focused on the task at hand, allowing us to complete complex projects with ease.
5) Gamma–(31-100hz) is a state of brainwaves linked to increased mental clarity, improved concentration, better decision-making, and enhanced creativity. Gamma waves have also been associated with positive emotions such as happiness, joy, and peak performance. Think of a time when your performance was just “in the zone”. You were probably emitting gamma waves.
And of course, there are brain waves that are higher than those in the Gamma state. Well, those higher brainwaves are what we want to talk about a little more.
Among all the things we can do to gain control over our thoughts, enhance our immune systems, defeat stress, overwhelm, or make any improvements in our lives, right at the top of that list would be deep relaxation to help us understand our own minds. The benefits to our physical and mental health of relaxation are numerous and pretty well-known. But just for a second, let’s look at why being at a desired state of brainwave activity is important.
When we are in a low brain wave state, our brain gets more oxygen, and we are able to use more of it. This is why relaxation can be a very reflective and creative state of mind. When the brain is emitting higher brain waves (over 100hz), the less likely we are to think creatively. In these states, the brain gives off so much energy that we use less of it for rational and creative thought. There is less oxygen reaching the brain and we use less of our mind’s capacity.
Emotions like anger or fear raise our brainwaves and use copious amounts of oxygen. It is in these moments, when our brainwaves are higher than the Gamma state and where we need to be, well, more mindful and take a moment to step back, think, and at least try to relax.
When anger is unchecked and at its highest, it can turn into FURY. When fear is unchecked and at its highest, it turns into PANIC. And in these states of mind, FURY and PANIC, consequences are given no thought at all–and we can do things we later regret.
FURY
In a state of FURY, our actions can result in damaging and far-reaching consequences, including physical harm to ourselves or to others. When we are in a state of fury our body releases hormones that cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and we release cortisol. These stress hormones can have long term health effects, like increased risk for heart disease or diabetes if left unchecked over time. Extreme anger can lead to rash decisions that damage relationships and reputations in an instant. When we act or react out of rage people may not take what we say seriously because they can’t our trust our judgment while feeling threatened by our behavior. Communication becomes difficult at best during these times.
PANIC
In a state of PANIC, all thought goes out of the window and people run into walls and can find themselves in life threatening situations. The consequences of being in a state of panic can be severe and long-lasting. When we are in a state of panic, our bodies react with an intense rush of adrenaline, causing rapid heart rate, sweating, trembling or shaking hands and feet, nausea, or even vomiting. This reaction is designed to help us cope with danger, but it can also lead to further stress if the situation does not improve and we don’t get it under control.
What Can We Do?
We can try to take steps to lower our brainwave frequencies. In lower frequency states, our brain gives off less energy and therefore gets more oxygen. We are able to think through situations with more clarity, and we can even relax. We can lower our brain wave frequencies by taking deep breaths when we are feeling overwhelmed by emotion. Counting backwards from ten can help too. Being intentional about our thoughts, knowing our triggers, and having some grounding techniques can all help. When we operate in desirable frequencies, we think…we think more…and we start to take control of our lives.
We hope that our readers at Betterlifeafter50.com find this and our other topics timely and genuinely helpful. If you’d like to know a little more behind the science, check out the video! We welcome your input and feedback. Please feel free to leave your comments below.
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This is such a fascinating concept, and I love the idea of reverse engineering a desired state by listening to sounds with similar frequencies.
Have you ever listened to these “songs” or tried the technique yourself? I mostly use a white noise track at night with a frequency that is designed to help with sleep, but I’m also interested in testing out more focused and alert states during the day.
Hi Aly, thanks for you comment. One of the interesting alternatives are binaural beats that use entrainment to reach desired brainwave states. We are still researching it and will make a new post soon.
Great info! After reading from your article, I now know I have been in a state of fury before. Is the cortisol hormone also known as the fight or flight response? I have also experienced extreme hunger after a couple hours of being in that state. I will definitely try your recommendations on how to lower brainwave frequencies.
Hi Jenny. Thank you for your feedback. Sometimes we just have to take a second and think about ways to improve our lives and stepping back, just for a minute, to prevent those ultra high brain wave states can help prevent a lot of regret later on. Appreciate you very much.
Hey a great post you have created here!
I enjoyed reading this educational article, it was not only useful but educational too. As I am studying health science with topics touching brain waves and how the brain works, I found this post easy to understand, it was broken down well.
Thanks again and have a great day!
Hey there, thanks for the great article. Your post is a comprehensive overview of a variety of brain energies. I was reading an article lately and, it was about how brain waves affect our health. The source of insanity is frequencies that reflect in our brains at the wrong time. You delivered brand-new information in this field. I definitely will share this post with my friends.
Thanks Liam. We are working on a piece that takes a deeper look at each stage. Should be ready soon.
What an interesting read on the different brain waves and the mental state where each one is prevalent. It just shows how important it is to not get into the state of fury or panic, and how devastating it might be if we get tipped over the edge.
As I am getting older, I find it easier to step back from situations that might become too much, and often remind myself to take a deep breath and count to ten before answering or reacting. But next time I will certainly use your advise of counting backwards from ten.
It’s simple…but not easy! Thank you for your comments