Our brain cells – every human being has about 100 billion of them – use electricity to communicate with each other. There is an unbelievable amount of electrical activity going on in the brain. This communication forms wave-like patterns that are called brainwaves. Brainwaves are medically measured by EEG (Electroencephalography). During EEG monitoring electrodes are placed around the head, and special equipment records the signals that come from these electrodes. The unit of measurement is Hertz (Hz) which stands for cycles per second.
Depending on the mental state these patterns may be moving considerably faster or slower. All movements, from the lowest to the highest are present at all time, but at any given time some are given precedence over others. In the usual awake state the dominant frequency is around 15-20 Hz; in a more meditative state brainwave patterns get slower to around 10 Hz; and in sleep even more slower – around 5 Hz or less. Different pattern speeds are grouped into specific groups that are named after Greek letters. From low speed to faster: Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma.
Gamma (27 Hz and higher) is associated with intense intellectual activity and memory processing.
Beta (12 Hz – 27 Hz) is our wide awake state.
Alpha (8 Hz – 12 Hz) is a more meditative, calm and relaxed state. Relaxing in nature or getting up in the morning puts brain into Alpha state. Children aged between 7-14 are dominantly in Alpha state.
Theta (3 Hz – 8 Hz) This is a much more relaxed state. Brain is usually in Theta state in light, dreaming sleep, but also in deep meditation. Children from the age of 3 to 7 are dominantly in this state.
Delta (0.2 Hz – 3 Hz) Deep, dreamless sleep. In this state much bodily healing and renewal takes place. This is also dominant frequency for infants and children up to 3 years old.
Human brain has a tendency to change its dominant frequency to outside stimulus. Such stimulus may be aural, visual or a combination of both. This process of synchronization is called brainwave entrainment. The principle of it is very simple. Everywhere in nature we can observe how the vibrations of one object cause another to vibrate at the same rate. Even though scientific discoveries date back only a few decades, this phenomenon has been used thousands of years. One such use is shamanistic beating of drums at a very special rate for the intention of entering a particular state of mind.
Reasons for changing the dominant frequency may be various. You may want to be more active and responsive, and you change the dominant frequency to higher speeds. Or, you may want to calm down by using Alpha or even Theta states. Lower speeds also grant better access to the subconscious mind. This access allows it to be reprogrammed. Negative self image can be replaced by something utterly more positive with relative ease.
This possibility should fascinate everybody who feel the need for fast change!
Here is a meditation video that uses brainwave entrainment technique: Brainwave Entrainment for Wealth.
Beautiful ambient music tracks that guide your brain to Theta frequencies: Deep Theta 2.0