BRAIN WAVES

There are four principal brain wave states that range from high amplitude, low frequency delta through to the low amplitude, high frequency beta. These states range from deep dreamless sleep to a state of high arousal. These four brain wave states are common throughout humans. All levels of brain waves exist in everyone at all times, even though one is foregrounded depending on the activity level. When a person is in an aroused state and exhibiting a beta brain wave pattern, their brain also exhibits a component of alpha, theta and delta, even though only a trace may be present. Gamma Beta Alpha Theta Delta 26-70 Hz (cycles per second) with a mean of 40 Hz 13 - 30 Hz (cycles per second) 8 - 12 hertz (cycles per second) 4 - 7 Hz (cycles per second) 0.5 - 4 Hz (cycles per second)

Upon waking from a deep sleep in preparation for arising, your brain wave frequencies increase through the different stages of brain wave activity, moving from delta to theta and then to alpha and into beta.

GAMMA WAVES

Gamma waves have the highest range of frequencies (around 40 Hz) and are involved in higher mental activity. They have also been detected during the process of awakening and during active rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. A gamma wave is a pattern of brain waves, associated with perception and consciousness. Gamma waves are produced when masses of neurons emit electrical signals at the rate of around 40 times a second (40 hertz or Hz), but can often be between 26 and upwards of 70 Hz. By one definition, gamma waves are manifest at 24 Hz and higher, though researchers have recognized that higher level cognitive activities occur when lower frequency gamma waves suddenly double into the 40 Hz range. Research has shown gamma waves are continuously present during low voltage fast neocortical activity (LVFA), which occurs during the process of awakening and during active rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Some researchers do not distinguish gamma waves as a distinct class but include them in beta brain waves. Gamma waves are involved in higher mental activity. Transient periods of synchronized firing over the gamma waveband, of entire banks of neurons from different parts of the brain, have been proposed as a mechanism for bringing a distributed matrix of cognitive processes together to generate a coherent, concerted cognitive act, such as perception. For example, it has been suggested that gamma waves are associated with solving the binding problem. Recent studies have shown that recognition of new insights occur when patterns jump from 20 to 40 Hz 146264704.doc 1

BETA WAVES

Beta waves are the most common of the brain wave patterns that occur when awake. These occur during period of intense concentration, problem solving, and focused analysis. The frequency of beta waves is between 13-30 Hz (cycles per second). Beta wave, or beta rhythm, is the term used to designate the frequency range of brain activity above 12 Hz (12 transitions or cycles per second). Beta states are the states associated with normal waking consciousness. Low amplitude beta waves with multiple and varying frequencies are often associated with active, busy, or anxious thinking and active concentration. Rhythmic beta with a dominant set of frequencies is associated with various pathologies and drug effects. For instance, beta activity can be accentuated by sedative-hypnotic drugs such as benzodiazepines or barbiturates.[citation needed] It can also be absent or reduced if the patient underwent cortical damage. Beta waves are also split into three sections: High Beta Waves (19Hz+); Beta Waves (15-18Hz); and Low Beta Waves (12-15Hz).

ALPHA WAVES

Alpha waves are any of the electrical waves from the parietal and occipital regions of the brain, having frequencies from 8 to 12 hertz (cycles per second). Some scientists consider the range 8 - 13 Hz and are most usual when we are mentally alert, calm and relaxed, or when day-dreaming. Alpha waves are a sign of relaxation, as they indicate a lack of sensory stimulation in a conscious person. Alpha waves are electromagnetic oscillations in the frequency range of 812 Hz arising from synchronous and coherent (in phase / constructive) electrical activity of thalamic pacemaker cells in the human brain. They are also called Berger's wave in memory of the founder of EEG (Brazier 1970). Alpha waves are one type of brain waves, commonly detected by electroencephalography (EEG) or magnetoencephalography (MEG) and predominantly found to originate from the occipital lobe during periods of waking relaxation with the eyes closed. Conversely alpha waves are attenuated with open eyes as well as by drowsiness and sleep. They are thought to represent the activity of the visual cortex in an idle state. Occipital alpha waves during periods of eyes closed are the strongest brain signals of the EEG. They usually can be detected with the naked eye. An alpha-like normal variant called mu () is sometimes seen over the motor cortex (central scalp) and attenuates with movement, or even with the intention to move. 146264704.doc 2

THETA WAVES

Theta waves occur when we are mentally drowsy and unfocused, during deep calmness, most daydreaming, relaxation or tranquility, as for example we make the transitions from drowsiness to sleep or from sleep to the waking state. The frequency of theta waves is between 4-7 Hz (cycles per second) though some researchers regard theta to be 5 to 8 cps. In brain wave frequencies, theta is the frequency range where drowsiness, unconsciousness, dreaming states and deep tranquility happen. Most daydreaming occurs while in the theta range. It is normally a very positive mental state and prolonged states of the theta brain wave frequency while conscious can be extremely productive and a time of very meaningful/creative mental activity. With practice, meditation can also lower a person's brain wave frequency to theta while allowing the meditator to remain conscious. Theta rhythms are one of several characteristic electroencephalogram (EEG) waveforms associated with various sleep and wakefulness states of the brain. When measured in this fashion, they are between 4 and 8 Hz, and involve many neurons firing synchronously, in the hippocampus and through the cortex. Theta activity can be observed in adults during some sleep states, as well as in states of quiet focus (meditation, for example).[1]. These rhythms are associated with spatial navigation and some forms of memory and learning, especially in the temporal lobes. Theta-frequency EEG activity is also manifested during some short term memory tasks[2]. Studies suggest that they reflect the "on-line" state of the hippocampus; one of readiness to process incoming signals.[3] Conversely, theta oscillations have been correlated to various voluntary behaviors (exploration, spatial navigation, etc.) and alert states (piloerection, etc.) in rats[4], suggesting that it may reflect the integration of sensory information with motor output (for review, see Bland & Oddie, 2005)[5]. A large body of evidence indicates that theta rhythm is likely involved in spatial learning and navigation.[6] Theta rhythms are very strong in rodent hippocampi and entorhinal cortex during learning and memory retrieval, and are believed to be vital to the induction of long-term potentiation, a potential cellular mechanism of learning and memory. Based on evidence from electrophysiological studies showing that both synaptic plasticity and strength of inputs to hippocampal region CA1 vary systematically with ongoing theta oscillations[7][8][9], it has been suggested that the theta rhythm functions to separate periods of encoding of current sensory stimuli and retrieval of episodic memory cued by current stimuli so as to avoid interference that would occur if encoding and retrieval were simultaneous. Underlying large-scale synchronization which results in rhythmic slow activity of field EEG are theta-frequency membrane potential oscillations, typically sodium-dependent voltage-sensitive 146264704.doc 3

oscillations in membrane potential at near-action potential voltages.[10][11] Specifically, it appears that in neurons of the CA1 and dentate gyrus, these oscillations result from an interplay of dendritic excitation via a persistent sodium current (INaP) with perisomatic inhibition.[3] Electrophysiological or pharmacological stimulation of the medial septum and the diagonal band of Broca projecting to hippocampus also induces theta-like rhythms.[12] It is likely that human sources of theta rhythm are similar to those found in other mammals, and thus it is likely that cholinergic projections from the basal forebrain drive the theta rhythm seen in human EEG patterns. Similarly, humans show hippocampal theta rhythms that are probably mediated by inputs from the ascending brainstem synchronizing system via the medial septum (see diagram[13]).

DELTA WAVES

Delta waves occur primarily during deep sleep or states of unconsciousness. The frequency of delta waves is between 0.5-4 Hz (cycles per second). A delta wave is a high amplitude brain wave with a frequency of 1-4 Hertz which can be recorded with an electroencephalogram[1] (EEG) and is usually associated with slow-wave sleep. Delta wave activity occurs most frequently during stage 4 non-rapid eye movement sleep accounting for 50% or more of the EEG record during this stage.[2] Analysis of the waking EEG of a newborn infant indicates that delta wave activity is predominant. In the case of a 5yr old child large amounts of delta wave activity still appear in a waking EEG.[3] Delta wave activity during Slow-wave sleep declines during adolescence. A decline of 25% between the ages of 11yrs and 14yrs has been reported.[4] Large amounts of delta wave activity are not common in healthy adults during the waking state. However multiple studies have indicated the presence of increased delta activity in adults during states of intoxication or delirium and those diagnosed with dementia or schizophrenia[5]

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