Brainwave Journeys - Catching Brain Waves

Catching those crazy brain waves ...

What are brain waves?

Brain waves coming out of head They're oscillating electrical voltages in the brain - very tiny - just a few millionths of a volt. They're measured by an electroencephalograph, producing what we see as an electroencephalogram (EEG).

The first brain wave to be discovered was the Alpha wave, named such because it is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. It was discovered in 1908 by an Austrian psychiatrist named Hans Berger.

Scientists have broken down brain waves into four groups:

Beta: 13 cycles per second (or Hertz) to 100-plus cps

The Beta brainwave pattern is that of normal waking consciousness; it's associated with alertness, arousal, concentration. For most people, most of the time, beta waves are most prominent.

The higher-end Beta waves - 30 Hz and higher - are associated with times of uneasiness, distress and anxiety. The extreme high end is associated with the “fight or flight response.”

Alpha: 8 to 12.9 cps

This pattern occurs soon after closing our eyes and relaxing. Alpha brain waves are associated with introspection; when Alpha waves are prominent, the body produces calming neuro-chemicals.

The higher end is associated with a “super learning” state - when you’re deeply absorbed in a book, for example.

Pre-sleep or pre-waking drowsiness are at the lower end of the Alpha range. It’s associated with peace and contentment and is the predominant brainwave pattern of traditional meditation.

Theta: 4 to 7.9 cps

This is the pattern for REM (rapid-eye-movement) dreaming sleep. It's associated with enhanced creativity, memory, healing and where we put together previously disparate pieces of information, leading to an “ah-ha” experience or sudden understanding.

Many psychologists believe the Theta state is the doorway to the unconscious mind.

Delta: .1 to 3.9 cps

Delta is the slowest pattern, that of dreamless sleep. Carl Jung postulated that in the Delta brainwave pattern we make contact with the “collective unconscious” shared by all humans. A feeling of unity or oneness is experienced in Delta.

It is possible to be alert in the Delta brainwave state, as long as there is a small amount of Beta, Alpha or Theta pattern present, as well.

It should be noted that we all create some combination of all four categories of brain waves all the time. For most people, most of the time, Beta waves, being that of wakefulness, are most prominent.

What I've found

I've been interested in this topic for quite a while. Over the past few years, I've come across some great books and websites that will help to shed more light on the subject.

Here are a few books I can recommend.

On my nightstand, I have several CDs created for the purpose of entraining the brain to specific brainwave patterns.

And if you'd like to venture through the beautiful world of "now," I know of some excellent tools to take you there ... of course, you're *always* there anyway ...