Types of brain waves: Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta and Gamma

The electrical activity of neurons that populate the human brain it is part of the base of all the thoughts, feelings and actions that we carry out. That is why it is so difficult to understand what neurons are doing at all times; everything that makes up our mental life consists of that inexplicable leap that goes from the frequency with which the neurons send electrical impulses to the transformation of this so simple in mental processes in all their complexity.

That is there is something in the way these nerve cells coordinate with each other that causes sensations, thoughts, memories to appear, etc.

Of course, it is still a long way from understanding in detail what kind of electrical signals in a part of the brain produce such thought of a specific person and at a certain time, but there is something that is known about the functioning of the organ of mind; depends on something known as neuronal oscillatory activity, that is, the firing frequencies of electrical impulses that generate what is known as the different types of brain waves.

Oscillations in neural electrical activity

The concept of oscillation in the activity of neurons refers to the different rhythms and frequencies expressed by electrical activity in the central nervous system. This idea is very broad, and applies both to refer to what an individual neuron does and a group of neurons working in a network.

For example, oscillation can refer to the degree of electrical activation of a single neuron along of time, measuring the rate with which the appearance of a nerve impulse becomes more likely according to the degree from depolarization; but it can also be used to refer to the frequency with which several neurons in a group send signals almost at the same time.

Be that as it may, in all cases these oscillations in electrical activity can be represented by waves by encephalography, in a similar way in which the heartbeat is measured using the electrocardiogram.

The types of brain waves

As we have seen, the activity of neurons in the brain is not absolutely chaotic, but rather follows a very logical logic. complex in which it can be noticed how different neurons fire electrical signals almost at the same time in a continued.

This frequency, constituted by the activity of several neurons, forms what is known as brain waves.activation patterns that, unlike what occurs with the activation frequency of a single neuron, are the powerful and clear enough to be registered by placing sensors outside the scalp (by means of the encephalography, one of the technologies most commonly used in research on the nervous system).

At the same time, brain waves can be classified into different types according to their frequency, that is, the time that passes between the moments in which many neurons fire electrical signals at the same time.

These types of brain waves are called Delta waves, Theta waves, Alpha waves, Beta waves, and Gamma waves.

1. Delta waves (1 to 3 Hz)

Delta waves are the ones with the greatest wave amplitude, that is, its frequency is very low. They are characteristic of the deep sleep phase, which is the one in which we rarely dream. However, that they represent the activation patterns of this phase of deep sleep does not mean that the brain is relatively off. Although it is in a state of rest, it is no longer activated, yes, it is occupied with processes that do not depend on being in a state of consciousness.

2. Theta waves (3.5 to 7.5 Hz)

After Delta waves, Theta waves have the highest wave amplitude. You are associated with states of deep calm, relaxation and immersion in memories and fantasies, and also with the REM sleep stage, which is the one in which we dream. Therefore, when these waves appear, it is estimated that there is consciousness or that it is very likely that there is, Although it is a consciousness disconnected from what happens around us and focused on experiences imaginary.

3. Alpha waves (8 to 13 Hz)

Alphas are a type of brain wave that has more frequency than theta, although it is still related to states of relaxation. For example, they can appear during walks in a park, when lying on a beach or watching television. Thus, they are not typical of the dream state, but of deep calm, an intermediate step.

4. Beta waves (12 to 33 Hz)

Neural activity in Beta waves is intense. They are related to actions that require staying in a certain state of alert and agile management of caresuch as a speech to a wide audience, the process of answering an exam question, etc.

Thus, this type of brain waves is linked to an agile management of the focus of attention, depending on the objectives, and with the concern about what is happening in the present, usually around us, since we must react quickly to possible unforeseen.

5. Gamma waves (25 to 100 Hz)

These are the type of brain waves with the highest frequency and lowest amplitude. They appear in waking states and it is believed that their presence is related to the appearance of consciousness, with the expansion of the attention focus and with memory management.