| Theta waves |
| By by Darien Simon, M.S. |
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Theta waves, ranging from approximately 3 - 4 to 7 - 8 Hertz (a measure of cycles per second), are representative of slow brain activity, as well as common in children between 2 and 5 when awake. Theta states are a bridge between awakened states and sleep. Most common when drowsy or lightly asleep (nREM sleep states 1 and 2), Theta waves also occur when awake, though some sources describe Theta states in the awake adult as abnormal. Others describe Theta waves in an awake adult as meaning the brain is engaging in accessing creative or intuitive states, or is involved in deep daydreaming. Theta is also considered by some sources as the common state for accessing emotions, memories, and already processed sensory information.
Theta wave states are key in promoting learning and memory, potentially related to the sleep function of memory, one possible explanation for why sleep is so important. In sleep, Theta wave states distinguish nREM stages 1 and 2 by the presence of sleep spindles and K complexes, present in stage 2, but not stage 1. Both sleep spindles (a sudden increase in brain wave frequency) and K complexes (sudden increases in brain wave amplitude) recur almost every minute during stage 2 sleep. People who do a lot of freeway driving may find themselves in the Theta state, and may derive many good ideas from it. Runners, and others who find themselves in deep meditative states while active, especially when performing repetitive tasks automatically, may also descend from Alpha to Theta states, where creative thinking is more likely because ideas can flow without guilt or censorship, and because sensory input, as opposed to accessing sensory information, diminishes, especially at the Theta--Alpha border, or around 7 - 8 Hertz. This frequency range has been discovered and utilized by cultures around the world, and is the state known as reverie, deep meditation, or the self-hypnotic state. Subjectively, Theta feels dreamlike, drowsy, potentially with a meditative sense of oneness. Theta is usually experienced as a highly positive state of mind. Like the Alpha state, there are sound recordings available designed specifically to enhance Theta activity in an awake brain to facilitate deep states of relaxation and reduce or relieve stress. An insufficiency in the brain mechanism that turns on Theta (and Delta) states leads to insomnia. Like Alpha wave states, Theta is suppressed by caffeine, which may lead to insufficiently restful sleep by moving from caffeine-reinforced daytime Beta directly to Delta in deep sleep. Alcohol and Valium can temporarily induce or increase the likelihood of Theta states, however, too much Theta is associated with the inattentive form of Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) which also involves too little Beta. |
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