5 Types Of Brain Waves To Tune In To Transform Health
Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom @ Pxels
Binaural beats have come a long way since they were first discovered in 1839 by Russian physicist Heinrich Dove.
Listening to brain waves has been proven to help transform behaviours and help with a variety of problems. Sleep difficulties, aggression, anxiety, and impulsiveness are associated with specific areas of the brain being overly aroused. Tuning in to a different frequency can help alleviate such issues.
EEGs (electroencephalograms) are used by medical professionals to measure brain waves and detect irregularities. Certain conditions are developed as a result of abnormalities in brain waves. There are now brain wave devices to enhance memory function and manage brain dis-eases in conditions including depression and tremors.
Types of Brain Waves
There are five categories of brain waves: Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. Each type of brain wave is associated with a different kind of thinking or activity. For example, Delta waves are associated with deep sleep, healing, and meditation, while Alpha waves are associated with working memory and thought coordination. Gamma waves show promise in helping with increased cognitive flexibility, attention to detail, focus, divergent thinking (a marker of creativity), and more.
The five categories of brain waves in physiological functions and states are as follows.
1) Gamma (30 Hz)
Active involvement;
·Concentration;
Intense Focus;
Learning;
Problem Solving.
2) Beta (13-30 Hz)
Awareness;
Wakefulness.
3) Alpha (8-12 Hz)
Creativity;
Relaxation;
Stillness.
4) Theta 4-8 Hz)
Between Wakefulness and Sleep;
Lucid Dreaming;
Meditation.
5) Delta (less than 4 Hz)
Deep sleep.
Reiki and other healing practitioners who like to incorporate music into their treatment sessions may want to keep in mind the effects of the different brain waves when they choose what music to play.
Everyone has their preferences when it comes to what they listen to when studying, working, or sleeping. Generally speaking, loud, disruptive noises are not great for focus or sleep. Soothing sounds or silence tend to help us work better. The sudden sound of a passing siren will disrupt focus. The music and sounds people are exposed to has a big impact on their moods.
What are Binaural Beats?
Binaural beats are a great way to harness the power of different sound frequencies. The word “binaural” comes from the word for two (bi) and aural (ear), which gives you a hint at its meaning. A different frequency of music measured in hertz (Hz) is played into each ear, say 200 Hz in the right ear and 205 Hz in the left ear. The brain interprets the two frequencies as a beat of its own, which would be the difference between the two of 5 Hz in this case.
By listening to the appropriate binaural beats, we can take advantage of the benefits associated with those frequencies.
How Binaural Beats Can Benefit Health
Today’s students and professionals may find binaural beats helpful to reduce anxiety, promote creativity, and improve the brain’s ability to create memories. When we’re less distracted by anxiety, we’re better able to focus on our work and studies.
Binaural beats have been shown to significantly reduce stress in pre-operative patients, and to help alleviate symptoms in individuals who suffer from mild anxiety. As anxiety rates keep rising at the collective level due to numerous reasons ranging from post pandemic effects, debt burdens, political or social stress, and so on, taking advantage of binaural beats to reduce anxiety and stress may be beneficial. Alleviating stress benefits our overall health.
According to Psychology Today, binaural beats can also be used to improve memory (both long-term and working memory) as well as help to strengthen the brain’s neurological connections. Anyone who has studied for a final exam or prepared for an important presentation, can understand the potential benefits of easier information recall. Binaural beats can help.
Want increased cognitive function? Binaural beats in the Gamma frequency (higher frequency beats) tend to show promise in helping with increased cognitive flexibility, attention to detail, focus, divergent thinking (a marker of creativity), and more. Listening to Gamma beats can help with solving complicated problems or brainstorming new ideas. Try not to listen to binaural beats for this brain wave if it is late in the evening. If you do, switch to theta or delta binaural beats before retiring.
Where to Find Binaural Beats
Ready to try using binaural beats and binaural beats music to help reduce anxiety, improve creative thinking, or increase cognitive function? Binaural beats for any frequency can be found on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Music. Search online for “binaural beats theta” or whichever frequency you think will benefit you, and there’ll be many to choose from. Here are a few to get you started:
1. Delta binaural beats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WRLrJkXGVY
2. Theta binaural beats playlist
3. Alpha binaural beats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEgSBuYlSoA