What wavelength are you on?

Health and our brainwaves

“We’re on the same wavelength!”

Do you know much about brain waves? I learned about them as part of my recent brain class at Duke. I loved that the science somehow affirmed my own intuitive understanding of “wavelengths.” It just seemed to make sense.

The information I provide here comes from my class notes, as well as from books by neurological experts and several scientific studies. I will provide a few links for further elaboration. I don’t proclaim to be any kind of expert, so please chime in with comments, corrections, or further elaboration.

Okay. Let’s start!

Our brains are electrical, so they produce waves, which are detected on EEGs and measured by frequency and amplitude. There are five widely recognized brain waves. The brain synchronizes these waves, so their demarkations aren’t exact, but here’s a basic rundown:

• Delta waves (upto 4Hz) – these are experienced in dreamless sleep and unconsciousness. In delta, your brain goes into self-healing mode, allowing itself to rejuvenate. Delta waves promote the immune system and release melatonin, DHEA, and Human Growth Hormone. (Sleep apnea prevents delta sleep, which is part of why it can result in damage to the brain.)

• Theta waves (4- 8Hz) – these are experienced when you’re in a state of reduced consciousness, in-between sleep and waking. In theta, people can experience insights and a deep sense of spiritual connection. Theta waves reduce anxiety and stress. Experienced meditators are able to get into prolonged theta states.

• Alpha waves (8-12 Hz) – these are experienced during rest and relaxation when you’re awake, but not processing a lot of information. You’re basically doing nothing; not watching TV or using a device or talking; you’re spacing out. Alpha waves are also good for alleviating stress. They are a bridge between the internal and external world. The lower the alpha frequency, the more internal; the higher, the more external.

• Beta waves (13-30 Hz) – these are experienced in your normal waking state. In beta, your brain is aroused and engaged and you have greater concentration and alertness, using logic, reasoning, and critical thinking. You’re also more ego-centric. Feelings of anxiety, anger, or fear activate high-level beta brain waves and “fight or flight” mode. Too much time in this higher range is detrimental for your health and can cause altered perception, making it difficult to learn, trust, or communicate.

• Gamma waves (30-100 Hz) – we didn’t know about gamma brain waves for a long time, because EEGs didn’t pick them up; they were too fast for EEGs and rated as background noise. Now EEG detection is better and they’re clear. Gamma waves are associated with good memory function, peak concentration and focused attention, bursts of insight, and higher states of consciousness. (You know that positive vibrational kind of sensation you sometimes feel when you’re deeply in tune or feeling a strong connection with the Universe or the Divine? There’s likely some gamma action going on.) Gamma wave activity feels like sparkly energy and is usually a momentary or very brief experience.

As mentioned earlier, brain waves (also called oscillations) are synchronized by the brain, so neural activity can involve more than one. What’s particularly interesting to me is theta-gamma synchronization. In REM sleep, which is essential for your health and well-being, this particular wave coupling is a prominent feature.

Meditation, too, is known to trigger theta and gamma wave patterns. In fact, a study of Tibetan monks showed the following:

Lutz asked Ricard to meditate on "unconditional loving-kindness and compassion." He immediately noticed powerful gamma activity - brain waves oscillating at roughly 40 cycles per second - indicating intensely focused thought. Gamma waves are usually weak and difficult to see. Those emanating from Ricard were easily visible, even in the raw EEG output. Moreover, oscillations from various parts of the cortex were synchronized - a phenomenon that sometimes occurs in patients under anesthesia.

The researchers had never seen anything like it. Worried that something might be wrong with their equipment or methods, they brought in more monks, as well as a control group of college students inexperienced in meditation. The monks produced gamma waves that were 30 times as strong as the students'. In addition, larger areas of the meditators' brains were active, particularly in the left prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for positive emotions.

- from Wired,“Buddha on the Brain,” 2/1/2006

In another study, neurologists monitored the brain waves of “Olympian” meditators and found an astounding result: their brains were in gamma “all the time.” Remember, most people experience gamma in occasional and short bursts.

All the time. Pretty cool, right? Let this be one more reason to sit on the cushion.

Music can also positively affect our brain waves.

For people with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (out of a coma, but not responding), studies show that playing that person’s favorite music can alter their brain waves from the more dominant and deeper theta waves, and more into alpha, “which might reflect the tendency of recovering brain integrity.”

Several studies also used EEGs to monitor Alzheimer’s patients brain waves during music therapy and found very positive results. When playing their favorite music, memory function was shown to improve. Alzheimer’s patients can break into full songs, when they’re otherwise mostly mute. (Tony Bennett is a great example. In the later stages of his Alzheimer’s disease, he went on stage and sang an entire set.)

Additionally, there are studies indicating that listening to binaural beats can help synchronize brainwaves (you have to listen to these on headphones, because each ear gets a different frequency.)

I could go on, but I’ll leave it there. Now you know some interesting stuff about brain waves.

Wishing you all a peaceful, laugh-filled, and cozy holiday season.

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