There’s always some type of electrical activity going on in your brain, whether you’re aware of it or not.
When your brain’s alpha waves are dominating, you’re likely to be in a state of wakeful relaxation – you feel calmer, less anxious, and more creative.
10 Hz frequencies, which fall within the alpha brainwave range, have been linked to several potential benefits:
➤ Relaxation and stress reduction: Alpha waves are associated with a relaxed, alert state of mind.
➤ Improved focus and concentration: Some studies suggest that alpha frequencies may enhance attention and learning capabilities.
➤ Meditation and creativity: Alpha waves are often present during meditative states and may promote creative thinking.
➤ Mood elevation: 10 Hz frequencies have been described as potentially beneficial for mood.
Alpha brain waves are produced when the brain is relaxed. The brain produces more alpha waves when we stop focusing or concentrating on a task – and relax and unwind – and during meditation.
How are brain waves measured?
We can’t see brain waves, but we can measure them. A test called an EED
(electroencephalogram) identifies and measures the electrical activity in the brain.
With an EEG, a technician will place a series of small metal discs called electrodes all over the scalp. The discs convey the electrical activity of neurons through wires to a machine, which records and prints the patterns out on a screen or paper.
An EEG is used to find out if there are any unusual patterns in brain waves, or problems that might suggest epilepsy or another type of brain disorder.
Alpha Waves
Alpha waves fall in the middle of the brain wave spectrum. They are produced when we are relatively calm and relaxed. These waves measure between 8 and 12 Hz.
When the brain is producing alpha waves, it’s responding to activities like meditation and rest that can reduce your stress levels and help you feel calmer.
If you’re able to produce alpha brain waves, you’re probably able to tap into a state that can help you get some rest and relaxation.
Boosting your alpha waves might also increase your creativity levels. In a 2015 study, researchers found evidence that they could trigger a surge in creativity if they specifically focused on enhancing alpha waves.
The study was small — only 20 participants — but as a randomised trial, it could hold promise for the use of non-invasive brain stimulation to rev up your brain’s production of alpha brain waves.
What happens if alpha waves are interrupted or out of balance?
Your brain doesn’t stop producing one type of brain wave just because you shift into a different state of consciousness or alertness.
It’s more that one type of brain wave will dominate at any given time, based on whether you’re awake or asleep, focused, or floating along. If, for some reason, your brain isn’t producing very many alpha waves, it means that you’re not in a relaxed, meditative state of mind.
But there are times when your brain waves can become imbalanced.
Research indicates that some people who have depression may have an imbalance of alpha waves, with more of them occurring in an area of the brain called the left frontal cortex.
A 2019 study looked at a brain stimulation technique called transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) and found that it could increase alpha brain waves and reduce depression symptoms in people affected by Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
Is there a way to produce or increase your alpha brain waves?
You may actually be able to increase your alpha brain waves if you put your mind to it.
A 2014 study found that neurofeedback training helped some people with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback where the patient responds in real time to the electrical activity in the brain and tries to adjust it.
In this study, participants with GAD were divided into a treatment group and a control group.
The treatment group that underwent neurofeedback training was able to increase the amplitude of their alpha brain waves. These bigger alpha waves increased the participants’ sense of calm and reduced feelings of anxiety.
However, this particular study also included theta waves in the neurofeedback training, which could have also played a role.
This study also suggests that it may be possible to train your brain to produce alpha waves that can help you feel more relaxed.
Another 2015 study also suggested that meditation and mindfulness training could achieve these kinds of results.
In summary:
There’s always some type of electrical activity going on in your brain, whether you’re aware of it or not.
At different times of the day, depending on what you’re doing, one type of your brain’s electrical waves will dominate. When your brain’s alpha waves are dominating, you’re likely in a state of wakeful relaxation.
Relaxation techniques like mindfulness and meditation help to increase alpha waves. This, in turn, may help you feel calmer, less anxious, and, according to some studies, may even boost your creativity levels.
This track ‘DEEP Neurological HEALING at 8 Mins (EMDR Therapeutic Alpha Wave Frequency)’ incorporates 10 Hz frequencies which fall within the alpha brainwave range:
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
#meditation #calmingmusic #anxietymusic #healingmusic