Brainwaves: The Secret to Brain Fitness and Optimal Wellness

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The human brain is one of the most complex, if not the most complex, organ in the body. Our emotions, thoughts and behavior communicate between neurons firing within the brain. These neurons work together, creating brainwaves by synchronized electrical pulses. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, don’t stress. We’ll explain more below to help you learn more about brainwaves and how to hack your brain fitness.

What are brainwaves?

Our brains produce electrical charges. These charges create a rhythm know as brainwave patterns. These patterns are observable through electroencephalograph (EEG) instruments.  EEGs record and measure large amounts of neurons firing in unison.  Although these are not all brainwaves, brainwave patterns are commonly grouped into four different categories: beta, alpha, theta and delta. In recent years, with better measurement technology, a fifth brainwave, gamma, has been identified. Each of these brainwave patterns is associated with various states of mind.

beta brainwaves
Beta brainwaves are when you are alert and active in your life.

Beta brainwaves (13-30 Hz):

This is the wide-awake alert state where you spend most of your waking life. Beta is your reactionary mind. It is the level of your mind where fears, frustrations and negative emotions are processed. This is also where the strongest filtering system operates. It is called the critical factor. The key purpose in using the BrainTap headset is to train your mind to get out of this state where stress is dominant.

While we don’t train to beta, there’s an improvement that happens because of the harmonics that occur when using the proprietary algorithms of the BrainTap system.

When should I use Beta sessions?

Certain BrainTap sessions train at the lowest beta frequencies known as SMR. SMR stimulation acts as a neuro-stimulant. SMR stimulation in the morning—what we call digital coffee—is an excellent way to start the day and makes an excellent substitute for caffeine.

Persons who experience anxiety when confronted with new situations may find it helpful to use SMR sessions the first few time using BrainTap. Those with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) will find the SMR sessions helpful and calming. Beta sessions are commonly used to perk up cognitive functioning, for helping with focus, and are used extensively in treating slow-brain disorders where continuous alpha or theta activity is higher than normal (under-arousal).

alpha brainwaves
In this state, alpha helps you feel relaxed, intuitive, and creative.

Alpha brainwaves (8-13 Hz):

Alpha is the frequency most associated with creativity, imagination and flow. This state is the intuitive mind. It is also the brain state associated with relaxation, tranquility and daydreaming. Flow thinking, or a state of inward awareness, takes place in alpha. It is also known as a super-learning state.

Alpha waves occur during rest, when daydreaming, when the eyes are closed, and during meditation or mindfulness practices.  Alpha waves are the desired results of meditators. It may take 10 years of practice or more to produce consistent alpha waves using traditional meditation methods, but with the braintapping the enhancement of alpha can happen in just minutes.

It is believed that many creative geniuses, such as Einstein, stayed in an alpha state of the time.  These insightful people often had poor grades in school and were thought to be slow learners. They were likely too busy daydreaming and conceptualizing how the world works to pay attention in class.

When should I use Alpha sessions?

Use any of the alpha-generating sessions, such as the Brain Fitness Breakthrough or Better Life Me, when you want to experience deep relaxation, tap your creative mind, or practice meditation.  Alpha sessions are particularly helpful where there is nervous tension or anxious feelings and high arousal, or the feeling one can’t sit still.

theta brainwaves
Theta brainwaves help you experience healing and super-learning.

Theta brainwaves (4-8 Hz):

This is the breakthrough state where you can reinvent your life. Theta is the inventive mind. Often referred to as the twilight state, theta borders on sleep, where one is not quite awake but not quite asleep. It is a meditative state that provides access to the other-than-conscious mind where you have higher levels of creativity, learning, and inspiration, and it is a state that is known for improving long-term memory. Children under the age of 6 operate in theta almost all the time, which explains their unique ability to learn rapidly and without effort.

Theta is also the state in which the BrainTap headset helps you to visualize and realize your goals. Theta is a somewhat mysterious and elusive state of mind. Most people find it nearly impossible to maintain because they fall asleep. But with the assistance of the audio-visual stimulation of the BrainTap headset, theta can be generated for much longer and more productive periods of time than could ever be achieved with one’s own efforts.

When should I use Theta sessions?

Theta sessions are most effective after a few weeks of braintapping, once you’ve become accustomed to meditating and are regularly experiencing deep relaxation. The theta sessions are effective for learning new emotional responses to situations and for developing and stimulating creativity.

delta brainwaves
In this state, delta is when you are in deep sleep and recovery.

Delta brainwaves (1-4 Hz):

Delta waves are the slowest of brainwaves and are generated during deep, dreamless sleep. This state is the unconscious mind. With the exception of the Healthy Sleep Habits and PM Series, BrainTap audios keep you from falling into this state of sleep. This is why the light and sound patterns of the BrainTap headset system continue to change throughout the session. Newborns operate in delta alone, thus their constant need for sleep and perpetual dreamy appearance. There is growing evidence that individuals may maintain a slightly conscious state while in delta.

When should I use Delta sessions?

People who experience poor sleep, daytime sleepiness or feel as if they’re in a mental fog most of the day will want to use delta sessions before going to bed (but for best results should also do an SMR session during the day). Only use delta sessions upon retiring to help you fall asleep or if one awakens during the night and needs assistance getting back to sleep. That said, for just about everyone, BrainTap’s delta sessions will provide a more restful and restorative sleep. These sessions will bring the listener back at the end just enough to remove the headset and the role over to drift into a peaceful sleep.

Why is balancing brainwaves important?

All brainwave states are necessary and serve important mental functions. Today’s stressful lifestyle has made it challenging for most people to achieve or maintain the brain waves low-stress, peaceful state. This difficulty causes disease, maladies and disorders in the body and mind. This is why it is so important for us to relearn or retrain our brains to get back to the full-spectrum of brain wave activity we need for the healthy enjoyment of life.

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