Your Brain Waves
Throughout the day, your brain displays all five types of brain waves at the same time: gamma, beta, alpha, theta and delta. However, one particular brain wave will always be more dominant than the others, depending on your current state of consciousness. Learn more about your brain waves from our one-on-one coaches.
Some insight into each kind of brain wave:
gamma waves
Gamma waves are important for learning, memory and information process. This benefits you most during time of perception and learning new material.
Too much: anxiety, high arousal, stress
Too little: ADHD, depression, learning disabilities
Optimal: binding senses, cognition, information processing, learning, perception, REM sleep
To increase gamma waves: meditation
beta waves
Beta waves are involved in conscious thought, logical thinking and tend to have a stimulating effect. Having the right amount of beta waves allows you to focus and complete school or work based tasks easily.
Too much: adrenalin, anxiety, high arousal, inability to relax, stressed
Too little: ADHD daydreaming, depression, poor cognition
Optimal: conscious focus, memory, problem solving
To increase beta waves: coffee, energy drink, various stimulants
alpha waves
This frequency ranges between beta and theta, bridging the gap between your conscious thinking and subconscious mind. It helps you calm down and find deep relaxation.
Too much: daydreaming, inability to focus, too relaxed
Too little: anxiety, high stress, insomnia, OCD
Optimal: healthy relaxation
To increase alpha waves: alcohol, marijuana, relaxants, some antidepressants
theta waves
Theta waves connect you to experiencing and feeling deep, raw emotions. It can help you improve your intuition, creativity and ability to feel natural. This is also involved in restorative sleep.
Too much: ADHD, depression, hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattentiveness
Too little: anxiety, poor emotional awareness, stress
Optimal: creativity, emotional connection, intuition, relaxation
To increase theta waves: depressants
theta waves
Delta waves are typically produced during the deep stages of sleep, and regulate unconscious bodily processes such as heartbeat, kidney function and digestive systems. They are associated with the deepest levels of relaxation and restorative, healing sleep.
Too much: brain injuries, learning problems, inability to think, severe ADHD
Too little: inability to rejuvenate body, inability to revitalize the brain, poor sleep
Optimal: strong immune system, natural healing, restorative deep sleep
To increase delta waves: depressants, sleep