The brain travels through different patterns of brainwaves in sleeping and waking states. Meditation affects brain activity and allows users to control these patterns. EEG’s show the changes that meditation brings to the brainwave patterns. Each brainwave is connected to specific activities such as sleep, attention, meditation, hypnosis, music, and relaxation. Different meditation techniques will have an impact on the different types of brainwaves. Understanding meditation demands an understanding of the five basic brainwaves.
Beta brainwaves signal wakefulness. They are associated with concentration and attentiveness. People use Beta brainwaves to solve problems, but they are also connected to feelings of trepidation and anxiety. Anyone who is awake is in Beta. Meditation slows Beta brainwaves and allows practitioners to focus on the other brainwaves.
Alpha brainwaves are a sign of relaxed consciousness. Alpha waves are considered to be the brainwave of meditation. They promote creativity and are associated with pleasant feelings and tranquility. In this state, a person is awake but not intently focused. This is the ideal state for intuitive thinking.
Theta waves appear when someone is in a deep state of meditation, hypnotized, or in a light stage one sleep. At this stage a person is not fully aware of his or her surroundings. Theta waves are linked to dreams and short-term memory. Children naturally have more Theta waves than adults. Theta waves allow people to recall facts easily, which is sometimes why answers to questions seem to come while falling asleep.
Delta waves accompany deep sleep that is without dreams. This is the slowest brainwave pattern, moving at 1.5 to 4 cycles per second. Few people enter delta when they are meditating. Only experienced practitioners are able to reach delta waves and still remain awake.
Gamma waves are the waves associated with the ability to connect and process information. They also improve memory and keep the senses sharp. People with high gamma brainwaves are known to be more compassionate and known to be happier or more content. They are often considered to be more intelligent than those with lower levels of gamma waves. Meditation is known to increase the frequency of gamma brainwaves in individuals.