Your brain wave activity determines how you’re feeling at any given moment. All brain waves are active in your brain at all times. However, one of these patterns is usually dominant and determines your state of awareness.
You shift throughout all brain wave patterns throughout the day. When you wake up in the morning, your brain shifts to a dominant beta brain wave pattern. This pattern continues if you are doing mentally demanding work. When you return home and relax (i.e. watching T.V.) – you begin producing more alpha waves. At bedtime, as soon as you close your eyes the brain shifts to dominant alpha waves. As you sleep, theta brain waves take over when you dream and delta waves become dominant during the deepest, most restorative sleep.
You can consciously access the alpha state and theta state through meditation. Unfortunately, the majority of people lead their lives controlled by their own brain waves, instead of controlling their waves. They, therefore react to situations based on their state of mind instead of being able to shift to a desirable state of mind.
Alpha Waves (8 Hz – 12 Hz):
Meditation, and relaxation produces alpha waves. alpha activity increases when you daydream, relax, or close your eyes. Normal alpha is balanced equally between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Alpha waves link the conscious mind with our subconscious.
Delta Waves (1 Hz – 4 Hz):
Delta brain waves are the dominant brain-wave pattern among infants and are associated with deep sleep. Brain injury or damage produces high-amplitude rhythmic delta waves in adults. Delta brain waves may also be produced in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Delta waves produce loss of awareness and are seen in those who are unconscious.
Theta Waves (4 Hz – 7 Hz):
Theta brain waves give rise to Fuzzy thinking, poor decision making, impulsivity, and slowed reaction time. They are also found in depression, and attention-deficit disorder. Children have higher theta brain waves than adults.