As I sat peering at the brain on the screen in front of me, colored green, blue, and red, I felt my face get hot. I swallowed my guilt as I went through the different images where it was clear for me to see that his brain experienced ADHD, some challenges with the back part of the left temporal lobe (which I knew, as this individual experiences Dyslexia), and a red blob in the back part of the brain that the tech stated was from trauma. I was perplexed. I didn’t expect to see that and when I asked about the trauma I was told it could be current trauma or even intergenerational trauma. The images also showed two brain injuries. Why was this information important? What did it tell me about this individual? The confirmation of ADHD and Dyslexia were expected, but the brain injuries and trauma were a surprise.

I often wonder why we don’t scan more brains. For me, as a parent and a professional who works with those that have behavioral challenges that can lead to academic, social and emotional challenges, having a brain scan is an excellent way for me to confirm what area of need is going to be the most impactful. As a parent looking at my daughters scans, they look eerily similar to my own, despite the fact that we have no genetic connection. Also, the guilt that I felt for having unrealistic expectations in the areas in which her brain scans showed she could not achieve yet.

How do we know that we can’t access those areas? Have you ever tried to remember someone’s name and you can’t recall what it is, despite being able to see what the person looks like in your head? Only to wake up in the middle of the night with the person’s name stuck in your head. There is a state when the brain can be productive and states where the brain cannot. How can we get our brain into the most productive states and help it to stay out of the states where it isn’t productive? We are going to address that, but first let’s go over the different brainwaves.

Gamma – Gamma waves are the fastest brainwaves and are often associated with cognition, memory, information integration, intense focus, alertness, and problem solving. This brain wave is most associated with attention span, and can help to increase awareness and mindfulness, as well as boost your brain’s immunity and function. Gamma wave activity is often most dominant when the brain must complete information-rich tasks or process information simultaneously (Chapin & Russell-Chapin, 2013)

Beta (High) – High Beta waves are often associated with being in a higher level of activation  (Chapin & Russell-Chapin, 2013), and can also be associated with being in a state of hypervigilance. People in this brain wave state may have difficulty seeing in their peripherals and may also have trouble making decisions, as they are on such high alert that they have a difficult time problem solving and getting into a “flow” to do things efficiently and productively. Think of someone who gets stage fright. This state is often associated with anxiety, overthinking, and restlessness, and will likely appear when you are excited, anxious, or experiencing something new.

Beta (Med) –  This is often an excellent learning state. It is associated with paying attention and trying to actively take in information for later use. This is most often associated with meeting someone new and trying to remember their name or actively learning information for a test. This brain wave state allows for problem solving, decision making, and high engagement, and is present when the pre-frontal cortex is working effectively.

Beta (Low) – This brain wave state is associated with focus, engagement, and paying attention when there isn’t real demand being applied (Chapin & Russell-Chapin, 2013). This is often the state that many are in when they listen to a lecture or a non-fiction book. You are taking in information but you are in a normal, relaxed and alert state.

Alpha – Alpha brain wave frequencies are dominant during an awake and alert state, and are often referred to as an “idle rhythm” (Chapin & Russell-Chapin, 2013). This is often a flow state where things tend to work together. Many individuals will be in this state when they watch TV or a video, which is why they tend to crave those activities. Idle activities such as these tend to lull the brain into this brain wave state, which feels relaxed and comfortable. This brain wave state is often also associated with having the eyes closed but still being awake.

Theta – Theta brain waves are dominant during drowsy or creative states (Chapin & Russell-Chapin, 2013). They are also associated with meditation where the body is asleep but the mind is awake, which allows the subconscious to play a role in working through emotional challenges. This brain wave is also highly associated with intuition.

Delta – Delta brain waves are associated with sleep and recovery in healthy adults  (Chapin & Russell-Chapin, 2013). For those that have challenges with sleeping, training this brain wave would effectively help them to sleep.

If being in these specific brain wave states is so useful, how can we train our brains to get into these states more effectively?

Here are some simple hacks to get there:

Stare at a fire: This has been done by humans for thousands of years and can be extended beyond humans as well. My French Bulldog will sit and watch the fire for hours and she isn’t sleeping, but she is relaxed and extremely loveable when we interact with her. This helps to push the brain into the Theta brain wave state and is why things like storytelling and chanting have historically been done while by a fire.

Engage with water: There is a reason why water is a natural regulator for all humans. Have you ever been around a tween who is refusing to take a shower? They pretend to go in, and when you eventually get them to comply and take a shower they won’t come out! When they eventually make their way out, they are super relaxed and affectionate after. This is because the water helps their brain get into an Alpha or Theta state. That feeling of relaxation and love is when the heart and mind are operating coherently, and this is a growth and healing state.

Watch a kaleidoscope: You can find videos like this on Youtube, and they help to put the brain into an Alpha or Theta state. You could take this a step further and watch a mind movie, which is a kaleidoscope that has a series of affirmations and videos of future goals to practice living in that state of mind.

Meditation: This can allow you to access these different brain waves to help heal your brain and allow you to activate different areas of your brain. It also has the added benefit of putting the brain and the heart into a coherence state.

Neurofeedback: This can allow you to train the different wave lengths of the brain to allow you to access the ones you need based on a given situation. This is often something I recommend, especially to people that tell me they can meditate.

Music or Binaural Beats: Specifically, Mozart has been able to move the brain into brain waves that allow for higher coherence.

Activities that allow you to access a flow state: I sometimes get into this state when I am hiking, running, or even swimming. I get into a groove that is slightly more challenging, and my brain starts to problem solve challenges I have been facing. I am often amazed at the ideas and solutions I can come up with! Some people find that they are able to access this flow state during activities such as yoga, surfing, or meditation also. These activities often help our brains access periods of Gamma wavelengths.

Sleep well: Sleep is the ultimate brainwave regulator. During deep sleep, your brain produces slow Delta waves that restore your body, release growth hormones, and clear out mental clutter. In dream (REM) sleep, Theta and Alpha waves take over to process memories, emotions, and creativity. A consistent sleep routine keeps these waves balanced, helping you to wake up focused, calm, and ready to catch the next wave.

So, the next time someone asks you how you stay so focused, energized, or calm enough to sleep soundly at night, you can tell them that it’s because you know how to catch the right waves. Sleep is one of the brain’s most powerful healing tools, and the restorative hormones it releases are directly tied to healthy brainwave patterns. When our brain waves are coherent and balanced, we can access the right kind of energy at the right times. Alertness when we need to perform, and calm when it is time to rest. So go ahead, catch the wave, and let your brain do the rest!

References

Chapin, T. J., & Russell-Chapin, L. A. (2013). Neurotherapy and neurofeedback: Brain-based treatment for psychological and behavioral problems. Routledge.