How and why to strengthen alpha brain waves?

Alpha brain waves can help us control our emotions and mood. Do you feel a bit depressed or lack inspiration? Believe it or not,

How and why to strengthen alpha brain waves?

Alpha brain waves can help us control our emotions and mood. Do you feel a bit depressed or lack inspiration? Believe it or not, amplifying alpha brainwaves can help. Recent research suggests that stimulating alpha brain waves may help boost creativity. Most importantly, it can even help treat depression. But what exactly are brain waves? How can you stimulate them? What else can they be of help to?

The human brain is made up of billions of cells called neurons that communicate with each other through electrical signals. In other words, this communication is the source of all your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Likewise, at some level, whether people are sleeping, resting, or fully awake. The electrical impulses generated from the masses of communicating neurons create wave-like patterns.

What are Brain Waves?

This is where the term brainwave comes from. In 1924 German psychiatrist Hans Berger Alpha discovered the brain waves, He also invented electroencephalography (EEG). With this technique, it is possible to detect the electrical activity that emanates from this communication. Doctors attach sensors to the scalp that tune in to these bursts of energy and register them as waves.

But the waveform is different at rest than when someone uses all their attention and attention. In general, life is quite demanding and fast. Today, stress levels are at their highest ever. What if you could completely control your source of emotions and thoughts? What if there was a way to achieve the desired mental state?

Mind control sounds a little more like the Stranger Things series than real life. However, we are now much closer to monitoring brain activity.

Types of brain waves

Scientists believe that there are five different types of human brain waves. All of them  move at different speeds in their own segments  (measured in hertz). These brain waves change constantly throughout the day depending on what you do and feel. For example, when you produce mostly slower brain waves, you feel calm and relaxed. However, when higher frequency brain waves dominate you, you become very alert. Check them out below.

Alpha brain waves

First, your brain produces alpha waves (8-12 Hz) when you are awake, relaxed, and not processing too much information. For example, in the morning or just before going to bed. Also when you are daydreaming or practicing meditation. Some scientists also say that aerobic exercise helps create alpha waves. Much research has also linked alpha activity to reducing stress, anxiety, discomfort, and pain. Likewise, they also help with memory.

Delta brain waves

Second, people produce delta brain waves when they sleep deeply and without dreams. This is the slowest type of brainwave, measuring 0.5-3 Hz. However, some experts say these waves dramatically stimulate healing and regeneration. Of course, this only happens when the brain is mainly producing delta waves.

Theta brain waves

Third, measured from 3 to 8 Hz, theta brain waves are produced during sleep, but only light sleep. We can also create them through very deep meditation or extreme relaxation. Likewise, scientists find them very useful in hypnotherapy because the brain is especially susceptible to theta.

Beta brain waves

Fourth, when running at 12-30 Hz, beta waves dominate when people are fully awake. When we are alert, focused, and occupied with mental activities. For example, it could be problem solving or decision making. Most people make these fast-flowing waves throughout the day. So also for most of our waking lives.

Gamma brain waves

Finally, the fastest brain waves, gamma waves, operate between 25 and 100 Hz. Recent research links them to memory processing and language. Likewise, it may be creating ideas and learning. Did you know that gamma waves disappear when a person is under anesthesia? Besides, our brain is generating all the brain waves all the time. However, only one type will dominate depending on what you do, think or feel.

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Different types of alpha wave activity

First, alpha brain waves associate with relaxed mental states. Many experts believe that increasing alpha activity helps reduce stress and anxiety. Most importantly, it helps people to relax for a long time. Scientists writing in the excellent journal Cortex also provide important evidence. For example, amplifying alpha waves increases creativity by an average of 7.4 percent. Indeed, this is evidence of increased alpha activity in creative individuals.

The same researchers also claim something else. So there is strong evidence that people with depression have impaired alpha activity. This, they say, suggests that improving alpha brain patterns has many benefits. For example, a potential treatment for low mood. Likewise, controlling our brain waves helps to optimize relaxation and productivity.

But are we able to play our own mental games that allow us to "change the channel" when we feel too focused and alert? We tune into these flatter brain waves while we sleep and rest. Here are some things you can do to change your brain waves.

Consider meditation or exercise

Many experts say that practicing meditation on a daily basis can help increase alpha activity in the brain. Likewise, regular meditation can significantly reduce beta waves, the brainwaves of active thinking and learning. That's why experts commonly recommend it to reduce stress. There are techniques that mindfulness meditation usually uses to amplify alpha waves. For example, deep breathing and visualization with eyes closed.

In addition to relaxing, alpha brain waves can also help boost your creativity. Most importantly, they also act as a natural antidepressant, promoting the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Surprisingly, another way to increase alpha is through high-intensity training. This way you release endorphins, which make you feel "high" when you exercise. On the other hand, they also promote alpha waves while resting.

Try a few devices

Do you want to switch to state-of-the-art technology? There are many devices that make use of neurofeedback. In other words, feedback is like speedometers on a highway. They record the driving speed of cars. They flash when the speed limit is exceeded. This signal provides information about your behavior. Second, it alerts you to the change. In a similar way, neurofeedback measures brain waves.

This is how the device communicates this information to you. For example, to enhance certain wave patterns followed by mental states. These devices are essentially headbands. But you can wear them to the task at hand when they read your brain waves. This way you can see how active your brain is. So let's say you are meditating and the device is recording relaxing alpha waves.

Some devices will reproduce this information differently. For example, in the form of music of the same frequency. However, others deliver the actual waveform back to the brain. These wearables are not very economical for the average consumer. Fortunately, there are other things you can do. In the comfort of your own home, boost your desired brainwaves and help with stress, sleep and productivity.

Try music to tune your brain

First, there are many techniques that successfully train alpha brain waves today. In other words, your brain waves start to match or synchronize with the frequency of the external stimulus. For example, it could be a pulsating sound or light. You can use this concept to train your brain waves to a specific frequency during a specific task. For example, you may want the beta waves to help prepare you for work.

Do you have trouble falling asleep every day? You can also train your delta waves to finally be able to rest. You can listen to binaural beats to bring your brain to the correct wavelength. If you don't know what they are, there are only two kinds of sounds. Essentially, binaural beats are two different sound frequencies that are played in each ear.

Luckily, you can easily find these amazing sounds online. For example, by searching for binaural beats or alpha binaural beats on YouTube. However, if you find your binaural beats a bit boring or repetitive, there are many other options.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath and take a relaxing bath

Believe it or not, every time you close your eyes your brain produces a much higher level of alpha waves, especially when you are doing some kind of visualization exercise. In fact, they are your relaxing brain waves that provide ultimate relaxation. Therefore, while closing your eyes, take a deep breath.

Deep breathing exercises can also strengthen alpha brain waves. First, try to sit down comfortably. Second, inhale gently through your nose and exhale through your mouth, slowly counting to five. Finally, take a relaxing bath. Just try to close your eyes and turn off while taking a bath. This way you will really know what it's like to generate alpha waves.

Practice yoga and mindfulness

Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness provide the space to properly align your body while enhancing your well-being. Similarly, yoga lengthens and tones the muscles that support long-term health. In combination with the breath, the body can relieve stress and finally relax. Most importantly, when we have time for yoga and mindfulness, we use the "awake rest" state of the brain.

Then it is not our mind that directs us, but we can direct our mind. However, if you don't like yoga, consider any activity that relaxes you. For example, listening to soothing music, painting, massage or drawing. If you are not an artist, perhaps you can try adult coloring pages.