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You & Your Brain Waves Often when people ask, "What is Alpha?", they are really asking, "What is Alpha good for?", and "What does Alpha mean to me?" Answering the first question leads into the other two. What is Alpha? It is one of four basic brain waves [Delta, Theta, Alpha, and Beta], which make up the EEG, which is short for electroencephalogram. These are all oscillating electrical voltages in the brain, but they are very tiny voltages, just a few millionths of a volt. The Alpha waves oscillate about 10 time per second, and the range is 8-13 cycles per second. The brain waves called "Alpha" were the first to be discovered (around 1908, by an Austrian Psychiatrist named Hans Berger). That is why they are called "Alpha", they were first. Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, like our "a". Many hundreds of scientists have spent a lot of time studying these basic brain waves of the EEG, so there is a lot of basic knowledge about what Alpha is and what makes it appear and disappear in our brains. Yes, Alpha appears and disappears. It is not always present. For example, in deep sleep there is no Alpha, and if someone is very highly aroused as in fear or anger, again there is virtually no Alpha. Delta is seen only in the deepest stages of sleep (Stages 3 and 4). Theta is seen in light sleep and drowsiness (sleep stages 1 and 2). Alpha is seen in wakefulness where there is a relaxed and effortless alertness. Beta is seen in highly stressful situations, and where there is difficult mental concentration and focus. Delta waves are the slowest oscillating waves (0-4 cycles per second). Theta waves oscillate somewhat faster (4-7 cycles per second). Alpha waves oscillate 8-13 times per second. Beta waves oscillate still faster (13-40 cycles per second). There are many other kinds of electrical activity in the brain, especially the short-lived evoked potentials that occur when the brain responds to sensory input (like a sound, or a touch, or a flash of light). However, the four basic EEG waves of Delta, Theta, Alpha, and Beta constitute the standard lineup of EEG activity. The foregoing discussion makes the point that each of the four basic EEG waves is linked to a different state of consciousness. Each of the four types of waves is good for something different. However, we can get into trouble if we can not turn on the type of brain wave needed for the task at hand. For example, if we can not turn on Theta and Delta waves, we will suffer from insomnia, among other things. On the other hand, people who can turn on the ideal brain waves to deal with each and every situation are considered gifted. One useful metaphor compares the four basic brain waves (Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta) with the four gears on a car. Delta (the slowest wave) is first gear. Theta is second gear. Alpha is third gear. Beta is fourth gear. No one gear is best for every driving situation, and no one brain wave is best for all of the challenges of life. We get into trouble if one of the gears on our car goes out, or if we forget to use some of the gears. For example if we drive our car starting in first gear, and then shifting directly into fourth gear (skipping second and third), we will have low gas mileage and high repair bills. The same is true of our brains. Sadly, many people often skip their second and third brain gears (Theta and Alpha). The consequences of driving our brains in this manner are low productivity and high medical bills. How does this happen? The way this occurs in everyday life can be illustrated by an example. People often wake up suddenly out of a deep sleep (Delta) with an alarm. Then they immediately feel stress and anxiety (Beta) about being late or being under time pressure. After insufficient sleep they pour caffeine down their throats to force themselves into (Beta) wakefulness, and the caffeine suppresses Theta and Alpha, while promoting Beta. All day they work under stress, pressure, and time urgency (Beta, Beta, and more Beta), until at night, they fall exhausted into deep sleep (Delta), having spent too little time unwinding, relaxing, and drowsing (which would have given them a bit more Alpha and Theta). Thus many people shift their brains suddenly and forcefully from Delta to Beta, and then back to Delta. Alpha production is an innate skill of our brains, but one consequence of the modern stressful lifestyle is that we forget how to produce Theta and Alpha brain waves. Then we easily fall victim to anxiety and stress-related diseases. Anxiety and stress measurably reduce the strength of our immune systems. People who have more Alpha brain waves have less anxiety. Thus having more Alpha waves could mean less anxiety and, correspondingly, stronger immune systems, and this is good for everyone. Creativity is another activity for which Alpha is helpful. Scientists have shown that highly creative people have different brain waves from normal and non-creative people. In order to have a creative inspiration, your brain needs to be able to generate a big burst of Alpha, mostly on the left side of the brain. The brains of creative people can generate these big Alpha bursts, and do so when they are faced with problems to solve. Normal and non-creative people do not produce Alpha increases when they are faced with problems, and so they can not come up with creative ideas and solutions. Any time you have an insight or an inspiration, you know your brain just produced more Alpha waves than usual. Increased creativity is helpful for everyone. Peak performance is another activity for which Alpha is helpful. Recently sports scientists have shown that increases of Alpha brain waves (often in the left side of the brain) precede peak performance. One key difference between novice and elite athletes is in their brain waves. Just before his best free throws, an elite basketball player will produce a burst of Alpha on the left side of their brain. Just before their best strokes, elite golfers will produce a burst of Alpha in their left brain. Just before their best shots, elite marksmen and archers will produce a burst of Alpha in their left brains. Novice and intermediate athletes do not show this Alpha pattern. However, one study of archers training over many weeks, showed that as they improved their performance, they gradually increased the amount of left brain Alpha which occurred just before their best shots. The Alpha brain waves seemed to be essential for peak performance and were increased, albeit slowly, by the archery training. What does Alpha mean to me? If you want to feel less stress and anxiety, you should increase the amount of your Alpha waves. This may also improve the strength of your immune systems, since stress weakens the immune systems. If you want to be more creative, you should learn how to increase the amount of your Alpha waves. If you want to have more peak performance in athletic activity, and in other areas of your life, you should learn how to increase the amount of your Alpha waves. Some people are born healthy and mellow and gifted with creativity and athletic prowess. But what if you are not so lucky? Written by Biocybernaut Institute in Mountain View, California. So how does one increase Alpha brains wave naturally. In the area of supplements, an amino acid from Green tea called L-Theanine increases Alpha brain waves naturally.
L-Theanine takes effect within 30 minutes after ingestion and there are no known cautions or drug interactions. Stress and anxiety are debilitating conditions that can shorten life span while lessening performance, well being and the enjoyment of life. Stress can impair the ability to perform mentally. It may result in reactions to situations that cause enhanced frustration, hostility or even injury. Stress slowly destroys the immune system, lowering resistance to disease and thus allowing degenerative and opportunistic diseases to occur. Stress causes depression. The entire population is subjected to stress. In a 1998 survey, nearly 65% of the adult population indicated that they were under great stress. More than 23 million Americans suffer from anxiety illness. L-Theanine is a unique free form amino acid found only in the tea plant and in the mushrooms Xerocomus badius and certain species of genus Camellia, C. japonica and C. sasanqua. L-Theanine is a relaxant that increases alpha-waves producing mental and physical relaxation decreasing stress and anxiety, without inducing drowsiness. Based on the results of clinical studies, it has been established that L-Theanine is effective in single dosages in the range of 50-200mg. It is suggested that subjects with higher levels of anxiety take a dose at the higher end of the effective range (100-200mg) for best results. Biologically Active – In addition to relaxation, research suggests that L-Theanine may have application in:
Documented Safety L-Theanine is considered to be safe based on its historical use as a component of green tea on favorable toxicology studies. Green tea is the most consumed beverage worldwide after water, and has been consumed for thousands of years by billions of people. It is estimated that a heavy green tea drinker (6-8 cups daily) will consume between 200-400mg of L-Theanine daily. What if your alpha waves are too high? The herb Kava Kava can help reduce alpha brain waves. Alpha allows us to be calm and alert, but will not allow us to fall asleep. Kava Kava, a South Pacific herb can reduce alpha waves and allow us to fall asleep. For a restful sleep it is important that your serotonin level (neurotransmitter) is as high as possible. Serotonin increases a feeling of well-being, which helps to slow down and to initiate a calm peaceful sleep. Directly related to the production of serotonin is the production of melatonin, a hormone which is known for its sleep-inducing effect. Serotonin and melatonin use the same building blocks: L-Tryptophan. Basically everything that we have discussed, and will be discussing relating to feeling good, is applicable to helping you improve your sleep cycle as well. Who needs increased alpha waves? We all do. We would all be able to tolerate the stress in this world more effectively. Adults could be more forgiving and friendlier. Children with ADD and ADHD can be better students and have better behavior with increased alpha brain waves. In reality, we live in a Beta brain world full anxiety and stress. We need to be Alpha people. Written by Ward W. Bond, Ph.D. |
