In this article you will find what is brainwaves, what is it’s role in our brain and how it responds and variate with our everyday life activities. You’ll come to know about various types of brainwaves and each type having it’s own significance. With proper knowledge of different types of brain waves you can use it to get most of you brain power in an efficient way.
Let’s discuss some scientific stuff.
What is EEG?
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a recording of the oscillations of electric potentials in the brain, sometimes referred to as a “window of the mind”. Is widely used to evaluate the synaptic actions in the cerebral cortex, which are moderately to strongly connected to the state of the brain. They reflect and identify baseline brain electrical activity as well as the changes that happen during distinct deep sleep stages, anesthesia, epileptic seizures, and cognitive events. Also, although brain activity is spontaneous and does not depend on specific sensory stimuli, it might be easily altered by them, and these changes can also be seen in the findings of EEGs.
What is brainwave?
Voltage traces recorded by EEG electrodes are described as brainwaves. They are defined in terms of three parameters: amplitude, frequency, and phase. An individual’s behavior, emotions, and thoughts are communicated between neurons within our brains. All brainwaves are produced by synchronized electrical pulses from masses of neurons communicating with each other. Our brainwaves occur at various frequencies. Some are fast and some are slow. The classic names of these EEG bands are delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma. They are measured in cycles per second or hertz (Hz).
Types of brainwaves
Every type of a brainwave can roughly indicate distinct states of the brain although this connection varies strongly depending on various factors. Depending on the frequency, waves can be categorized as:
Delta (1–4 Hz)
These are high frequency waves and are dominant during deep sleep, coma, and anesthesia.
Theta (4–8 Hz)
The theta waves are usually observed in drowsiness and the states of low-level alertness. A very specific type of theta referred to as “frontal midline theta” can be observed during various tasks such as mental calculation, working memory, error processing, and meditation
Alpha (8–13 Hz)
The alpha wave is typically predominant in the awake-resting state, either relaxed and comfortable (desynchronized tonic slow alpha) or concentrated (phasic desynchronized alpha), as well as in the case of alpha coma. The alpha rhythm is typically seen in at least three different types, which are different in topography and function.
- First, the posterior alpha rhythm, originating from the parietooccipital cortex, is dependent on the alertness and attentional factors.
- Second, there is the mu rhythm, which is dominant in central electrodes and is related to the somatosensory cortex and movement.
- Third, the tau rhythm originates from the auditory cortex.
Beta (13 – 38 Hz)
The beta rhythm is usually associated with increased alertness, and cognitive processes. Beta waves primarily occur during the awake-state, and an increase in beta power can be caused by stress, strong emotions, and tension. The absence of beta waves is seen in the cases of cortical injuries and might be used as an indicator of compromised cortical functions.
Gamma (39 – 42 Hz)
Gamma brainwaves are the fastest and most subtle brain waves. Gamma rhythms modulate perception and consciousness.
Implications
Disorders of consciousness
The impact of music on the bioelectrical activity of the brain in people with various illnesses is also being investigated and disorders of consciousness is one the most popular spheres of studies of this field.
Investigations of the impact of music on patients with traumatic brain injuries have shown that applying long-term music therapy decreases their quantitative EEG value by decreasing the amount of low frequency waves and increasing the amount of high frequency waves. Since coma usually presents a decreased and slowed brainwave activity, this shift to an increased amount of high frequency waves shows an activation of the brain.
Psychiatry
Long-term music therapy is also being investigated in psychiatric patients. It has been known that music significantly increases alpha and reduces beta activity over time in patients with major depression, schizophrenia, or anxiety symptoms. Music therapy also causes anxiety levels to drop.
Chronic conditions
There are many chronic conditions which might benefit from music therapy, for example, chronic pain. The impact of music on patients with oncologic diseases is also being analyzed. Studies show that music therapy (in particular – monochord sounds) can have a relaxing effect on patients undergoing chemotherapy. This impact is seen as an increase in theta waves and a decrease in beta and posterior alpha bands, as well as a reduction in the degree of anxiety
Rehabilitation
Music therapy is also used as a therapeutic means for rehabilitation purposes and there are some interesting studies being done in this field. For example, it has been found out that a preferred tempo (which usually peaks at slightly over 120 beats per minute and varies in populations) correlates with the beta frequency in motor areas of the brain. This suggests that tempo preferences are determined by the neural activity in the motor cortex and therefore differ in populations.
Conclusion
To sum up, the impact of music on the bioelectrical activity of the brain is being investigated in various contexts. Starting from a healthy population, studies also seek to determine the effect of music in such conditions as disorders of consciousness, psychiatric diseases and chronic conditions, as well as to further explore the role of music for rehabilitation purposes. Further investigations in this field would not only deepen our knowledge of musical processing but would also open new perspectives for the use of music in clinical and therapeutic practices.
Now you know which wave stimulates which action to our brain so try to use this knowledge to your own benefits. You can listen to music focused on some particular frequency to boost your concentration and also use it to calm your brain and relax.
