What are Brainwaves?
Dr. Laura De Giorgio
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a study of changing electrical potential of the brain. The apparatus used to measure this electric potential of the brain is called electroencephalograph, and the tracing or the printout of the measured brainwave forms is electroencephalogram.
Frequency is the number of complete repetitive waves that occur in a given unit of time. Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz) or cycles per second (cps). According to their frequency brainwaves are divided into 4 main groups, also referred to as “brain states”
|
EEG
Brainwave Sample |
Brainwave
Frequency |
State of Consciousness
|
 |
Beta
14 – 40 cps |
Fully Awake and Alert Generally associated with left-brain thinking activity – conscious mind |
 |
Alpha
8 – 13 cps |
Relaxed, Daydreaming Generally associated with right-brain thinking activity – subconscious mind – a key state for “relaxation” |
 |
Theta
4 – 7 cps |
Deeply Relaxed, Dreaming Generally associated with right-brain thinking activity – deeper subconscious to superconscious Access to insights, bursts of creative ideas – a key state for “reality creation” through vivid imagery |
 |
Delta
0.5 – 3.5 cps |
Dreamless Generally associated with no thinking – unconscious / superconscious Access to non-physical states of existence – a key state for healing, “regeneration” and “rejuvenation” |
Some research has been done associated with the activities and benefits of other brainwave frequencies, such as Super Beta, Gamma, etc.
The lower your brainwave cps, the more is your awareness turned toward your subjective experience, toward your inner world and the more effectively are you able to use the power of your mind to create changes in your body. With each lower state you become more fully aligned with the source of power within you, with your unconscious, or if you prefer, with that part of you that is greater than you (your body).
Generally in Beta state, your attention is focused outward. In alpha it begins to turn inward, and in theta and delta it goes further and further inward. The deeper you go, the more effectively are you able to enter your subconscious.
You can imagine that at the borderline between Beta and Alpha States is a doorway to your subconscious mind, and the doorway consists of what is hypnosis referred to as your “critical faculty”.
And you can imagine that at the borderline between Alpha and Theta states is a doorway to your superconscious mind, where you begin to gain access to your “supernatural abilities”, which for most people manifest as bursts of insight. The more time you spend in this state, even if you’re not intentionally attempting to create a change, the more of these “abilities” begin to become part of you – you may simply notice that the time-lag between what you think and it’s manifestation in your outer world becomes shorter and shorter.
And you can imagine that at the borderline that at the borderline between Theta and Delta, you’re beginning to say “good-bye” to your physical experience of the world, as you’re getting altogether into experiencing yourself as non-physical being. Here your body is only a thought in your mind. If you are able to maintain your consciousness at this level, you can effect instant changes in the outer world. In this state, you can transcend the “laws of the physical world” because you’re not bound by them any more.
Whenever you think, you expand energy. In deep, dreamless Delta state, where your mind is fully resting, your body has the best opportunity to regenerate.
With meditative practice and self-hypnosis, you develop ability to remain conscious while getting progressively into deeper and deeper states. For example, a person without any mind training will tend to fall asleep when getting into theta state, while a person who has undergone some form of meditative mind-training will be able to be very deeply relaxed, yet conscious. The more you are able to remain conscious while in deeper states of mind, the less sleep will your require.
© 2001 – 2010,
