Brain Waves Series
Excellent Brain – The Frequency Series – The Frequency Ranges of the Human Brain and Their Meaning in the Neurofeedback World
Delta wave – (0.1 to 4 Hz)
Theta wave - (4 – 7 Hz)
Alpha wave - (8 – 15 Hz)
Beta wave - (16-31 Hz)
Gamma wave - (32-100 Hz)
Want to know more about how the brain works?
We in an excellent mind have prepared for you the “frequency series” in which we will explain each time about a different frequency range and its meaning. In an excellent brain platform one can see the representation of the frequencies of the waves emitted from the brain in real time.
The human brain works in an electrochemical way. As a result of the brain activity, electrical electromagnetic fields are generated (when there is a movement of electrons, electromagnetic fields are formed). Therefore, the brain constantly emits extremely weak electromagnetic radiation that can be absorbed by appropriate EEG sensors.
We have prepared for you the “Frequency Series” of an excellent brain in order to provide additional information about the meaning of the various frequencies emitted from the brain.
After decades of research, there is a great deal of knowledge about what are the different patterns of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the brain and what does it mean systemically and even behaviorally.
Delta waves – frequency range 0.5 Hz to 3 Hz
DELTA – is the frequency range that represents the lowest frequencies in the frequency sequence accepted in the world of neurofeedback and the EEG. The frequency range in question is from 0.5 Hz to 3 Hz.
Studies show that these low frequencies mainly represent sleep states. That is, when the brain is in a state of sleep there is high synchronization between the various systems in the brain and there is low brain activity. This frequency also represents a state of a floor (Comma).
The delta waves were first discovered in the 1930s by a scientist named William Gray Walter.
It is interesting to know that women, especially after detectors 30-40, have more occurrences of delta waves than men in the same age group.
Additional reading materials:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9751278
THETA waves – frequency range 4 Hz to 7 Hz
THETA – is a very interesting frequency range that plays a very important role in various mechanisms in the brain and especially in memory-related mechanisms.
Characteristic of daydreaming, mental rest, the state between wakefulness and sleep.
There are many studies that link this frequency to various meditation states such as: No thought meditation and more. Theta frequency is extremely important and synchronizes between different mechanisms in the brain and is related to the functionality of a large number of these mechanisms.
The term theta waves today has two common meanings:
- 4 Hz to 7 Hz waves emitted from the brain regardless of the source location.
2. 4 Hz to 7 Hz waves emitted from the hippocampus and other specific areas.
Alpha waves – frequency range 8 Hz to 15 Hz
ALPHA – is an important frequency range and is known for its connection to a state of rest in which we are calm and peaceful.
Alpha waves do not characterize a state of learning, but a state of rest – idle state. This is a very dominant frequency in most adult humans (who have not suffered a brain injury) and also in most young people. Alpha is associated with occipital lobe activity and networks associated with visual signal processing.
Therefore, one of the characteristics of alpha frequency is that at the time of closing the eyes there is a significant increase in the occurrence of this frequency. This is one of the tests that neurofeedback experts do to calibrate the systems and check if they are working and measuring the brain properly.
Beta waves – BETA – frequency range 16 Hz to 30 Hz
BETA – is perhaps the most important and interesting range of frequencies in relation to attention, learning and cognition. This frequency is directly related to brain activity related to learning and the cognitive ability of the brain at a given moment.
Beta represents arousal, attention and sometimes even anxiety (especially at the upper end of the frequency).
The frequency range of beta is very large and therefore it is usually divided into two parts: low beta and high beta.
When the brain is in beta (which is a relatively high frequency), this condition represents a low level of synchronization of the brain’s networks and a situation in which the brain is at a high energy level and needs a lot of metabolic resources.
Common protocols for attention-grabbing neurofeedback training also incorporate low beta frequencies.
GAMMA – Waves Frequency range 31 Hz to 100 Hz
GAMMA – is a very high frequency that represents extreme states of the brain.
This is not a frequency that represents normal activity of the brain but represents extreme states.
Gamma frequency represents the state of – FFF – Freeze, Fight or Flight that appears mainly when we are in a situation that threatens our lives. When we run away from a lion chasing us, it is likely that our brain is at a gamma frequency.
Want to know more? Sign up for an excellent brain coaching course at Bar-Ilan University to learn more about these topics and to experiment and adopt the neurofeedback technology for your toolbox through an excellent brain platform.
Written by Ofer Lidsky – an excellent brain entrepreneur and certified neurofeedback therapist
