5 Types Of Brain Waves And Effects Of Meditation On Them

Meditation is more than a spiritual practice. It has been proven that meditation brain waves, which are electromagnetic energyⁱ  XAny type of energy that travels through space as waves at the speed of light, including those that are released into space by stars. , represent the impacts of meditation on your body. Yes, you read that correctly.

While you meditate, many changes occur in your brain, which you will understand and learn about here. But, basically, meditation changes your brain’s electrical activity.

Are you curious as to how this occurs? Well, keep reading to learn more about the effects of meditation on brain waves.

But first, let’s take a look at brain waves and the effect they have on your health. Then, we will delve into the effects of meditation on brain waves. Keep reading!

Did You Know?

Brain waves are known as neural oscillations. They are patterns of the central nervous system’s neural activity and are repetitive and rhythmic.

What Are Brain Waves?

Brain waves are produced when neurons in your brain communicate with each other. They are synchronized electrical pulses.

Different types of brain waves are produced when you have thoughts, emotions, and behavior. The brain waves differ according to your mood and activity.

Slower brain waves make you feel tired and slow, whereas brain waves of higher frequency make you alert and active.

Let’s find out what meditation does to the brain waves.

Effects Of Meditation On Brain Waves

There are five types of brain waves, and each stands for a particular activity. Brain waves fluctuate according to what you do and feel.
Meditation, when done correctly, can move the brain waves from a higher frequency to a lower frequency, thereby having the ability to change how you feel.

There is a process known as brain synchronization where the brain waves in both hemispheres of the brain synchronize together with the outside stimuli. This state can be attained through meditation and may result in positive mood enhancement and improved creativity, mental clarity, and overall brain health.

Different parts of the brain get stimulated in a particular manner during meditation:

• The frontal lobe, which plans and reasons switch off during meditation, helps you detach and relax.
• The thalamus, which relays motor and sensory signals to the cerebral cortexⁱ  XThe outer layer or sheet of the neural tissue of the largest area of the brain, responsible for reasoning, language, and memory. , slows down its activity, enabling you to keep calm.
• The parietal lobe, which gives you a sense of time also slows down, helping to lower your stress and anxiety levels.
• The reticular keeps your brain alert and helps you respond to situations. During meditation, the reticular activity slows down, allowing you to keep calm and be peaceful.

To get a clear understanding, let’s learn about the different kinds of brain waves.

Types Of Brain Waves

1. Alpha Waves
2. Beta Waves
3. Theta Waves
4. Gamma Waves
5. Delta Waves

1. Alpha Waves

Alpha waves are the most common brain waves that occur at the beginning of meditation as you try to go into a deeper state of mind. They are electromagnetic oscillations with a frequency range of 8-12 Hz. Studies suggest that practicing transcendental meditation and kundalini yoga meditation have been associated with an increase in alpha waves (1), (2).

Function: Alpha waves calm the nervous system. They lower blood pressure and heart rate. The waves lower the production of stress hormones and promote relaxation.

According to a study on college students, meditation may have a positive impact on stress levels. The experiment showed that it results in an overall decrease in alpha wave frequency. Thus, it can be more effective in increasing stress tolerance. Check out the graph below to see its impact.

Comparison Of Alpha Wave Frequency During Normal And Meditation State

Quick Tip

Hans Berger, a German neurologist, discovered the Alpha waves. He also invented the EEG (electroencephalography) in 1924.

2. Beta Waves

Beta waves occur with a frequency range of 12-30 Hz. They become active when the brain is working on goal-oriented tasks, such as planning an event or pondering over an issue.

Function: Beta waves create awareness and improve concentration. They increase logical thinking and develop your conversational abilities.

3. Theta Waves

Theta waves are often associated with the ‘third eye’ as they help us tap into our wisdom, according to spiritual teachings. These become predominant when we do any task that is automatic like driving, washing clothes, shampooing hair, folding clothes, etc. They are also present in daydreaming and paranormal phenomenaⁱ  XThings, events, or perceptions that happen beyond the range of scientific explanation and thus considered beyond normal experiences. .

Function: Theta waves provide a positive mental state and encourage creativity. They improve cognitive functions like problem-solving and memory. These waves improve your focus and keep you calm and balanced.

4. Gamma Waves

Gamma waves are associated with intense focus. Long-term Vipassana meditation may lead to an increase in gamma power (3)

Function: Gamma waves decrease anxiety and fear and increase positive emotions. They reduce depressive feelings and symptoms.

5. Delta Waves

Delta waves are high amplitude brain waves with a frequency of 0-4 Hz. These brainwaves are associated with the deepest stages of sleep.

Function: Delta waves increase the production of two anti-aging hormones, DHEA and melatonin. They help promote deep compassion and empathy for others, improve social intelligence, and avoid conflict. The waves facilitate quick healing.

During meditation, the brain shows theta waves predominantly. These waves are associated with a relaxed state of mind as compared to alpha waves, which are associated with an aroused state of mind.

Benefits Of Meditation On The Brain

Steph Ball-Mitchell, a certified yoga instructor, says, “While meditation may not be able to treat all brain disorders or injuries, there is evidence to suggest that it may be a valuable tool for promoting brain health and healing. By reducing stress, increasing gray matter, improving cognitive function, promoting neuroplasticity, and reducing inflammation, meditation may be able to help the brain recover from injury or disease and promote overall health and wellbeing.” Let’s look at a few benefits listed below:

1. Gray Matter

Although there is no conclusive scientific proof of this, some studies have shown that meditation is linked to the larger amounts of gray matter in the frontal areas of the brain. More gray matter can increase focus and emotional stability in an individual.

An MRI study conducted at Harvard University showed that meditation leads to thicker gray matter in the parts of the brain that are associated with compassion and self-awareness (4).

2. Anxiety

Numerous neural pathways emerge from the medial prefrontal cortexⁱ  XThe section of the brain that lies at the front, crucial for skills like planning, memorizing, and developing personality traits. of our brain. These trails connect to the brain’s fear and bodily sensation perception centers. When you are in an upsetting situation and feel scared or anxious, the prefrontal cortex is stimulated.

Meditation essentially loosens these tight connections to ensure no strong reaction is triggered in the prefrontal cortex. Meditation reduces the pangs of anxiety (5).

3. Resilience

Some researchers at Wisconsin-Madison University took MRI images of Tibetan monks and discovered that meditation, mental resilience, and neuroplasty enhancity may have a deep-rooted connection. The study shows that meditation helps the amygdala (which is associated with emotion and emotional memories) recover quickly from trauma or stress (6).

4. Stress

Stress reduction is one of the biggest benefits of deep meditation.

5. Creativity

At Leiden University, Netherlands, researchers found that people who practiced open-monitoring meditation performed better at tasks that demanded divergent thinking (7).

6. Memory

According to research conducted by the Osher Research Center and Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, people practicing mindful meditation could adjust their brain waves to tune out distractions (8). This may result in improved memory, increased productivity, and easy incorporation of new information.

7. Immunity

The immense benefits of meditation are not limited to mental well-being. According to a study, when you meditate, your brain undergoes certain changes and activates centers related to emotions and cognitive functions (9). This helps boost the immune system by reducing stress and promoting positive emotions.

The calming process of meditation positively also affects your mental and physical well-being. Regular meditation helps reduce the levels of a substance called interleukin six (IL-6), a biomarker of stress (9), (10).

Additionally, meditation may influence genes by regulating telomerase, an enzyme that could potentially delay aging, increase cell longevity, and may have anti-cancer benefits, though there is not enough scientific evidence for the same. So, meditation may calm the mind, lower stress hormone levels, and promote relaxation, ultimately enhancing the body’s resilience against illnesses.

So, mindfulness practice can influence brain activity and create a state of relaxation response by reducing stress and anxiety. Another important benefit of mindfulness practice is it enhances emotional regulation by increasing attentional focus.

Infographic: Types And Benefits Of Brain Wave Meditations

Now that you know the types of brain waves, we’d like to stress on their benefits. Afterall, only if you understand their benefits better will you be able to completely appreciate this type of meditation.

Check out the infographic below to know the remarkable effects of meditation on different brain waves.

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Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does meditation permanently change the brain?

Ball-Mitchell says, “There is evidence to suggest that meditation can have long-lasting effects on the brain and may even lead to permanent changes in brain structure and function. Studies have shown that long-term meditation practice can increase gray matter in several regions of the brain, including areas involved in attention, memory, and emotional regulation.”
She adds, “Meditation has also been shown to promote neuroplasticity, which refers to the brain’s ability to adapt and change in response to experiences and learning. In addition, meditation has been shown to reduce activity in the default mode network. By reducing activity in this network, meditation may help promote a more present-focused, mindful state of awareness.”
She continues, “While the exact nature and extent of these changes are still being studied, there is evidence to suggest that meditation can have long-lasting effects on the brain and may lead to permanent changes in brain structure and function.”

Can meditation change your personality?

According to Ball-Mitchell, “There is some evidence to suggest that meditation can have positive effects on personality, but the extent and nature of these changes may vary depending on individual factors, such as the type and duration of meditation practice, as well as the personality traits being targeted.”
She adds, “One of the most commonly reported changes in personality associated with meditation is increased openness. Meditation has also been shown to have positive effects on other aspects of personality, such as emotional stability and conscientiousness.”

Does meditation reset the brain?

According to Ball-Mitchell, “In some sense, meditation may be able to “reset” the brain by promoting a more present-focused, mindful state of awareness. By directing attention away from distractions and worries and toward the present moment, meditation may be able to help individuals “reset” their mental state and approach situations with a greater sense of clarity and calmness.”

How often do I practice meditation?

Practice meditation every day for at least 20 minutes.

Can I see a difference in my brain scan before and after meditation?

Yes, you can. Meditation can alter the mechanism of your brain after some time.

The human body makes for a fascinating body of study. The brain which controls it is even more so. All this while, we viewed meditation as an immeasurable quantity which it is. But many recent studies could figure out a coherent manner to display its effects. And, the scientific benefits of meditation could be fathomed from it putting to rest the viability of meditation. Learn about the workings of the brain above and become more aware of your meditation process.

Can too many alpha brain waves cause problems?

Yes. It may even lead to drowsiness, loss of focus, and attention problems, and reduce general awareness.

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

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Meditation has been proven to have a positive impact on the brain and its functioning. This video explores how meditation can help improve mental clarity and focus. Gice it a listen today!

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Dr Perpetua NeoDClinPsy, MPhil

 

With over 8 years of experience, Dr. Perpetua Neo accelerates Type-A High Achievers’ performance and leadership by teaching them to master their time, mind, and sleep in a way that’s tailored to their personality. She specializes in sorting out The Big 3 that most mistakenly believe they can tolerate— perfectionism/anxiety, abusive relationships, and panic attacks— quickly and thoroughly. Dr P...more

• Steph Ball-MitchellE-RYT-500, RPYT, RCYT

  Steph Ball-Mitchell, E-RYT-500, RPYT, RCYT, is a yoga trainer with over 25 years of experience. As the owner and founder of both Online Yoga School and Yoga & Ayurveda Center, she has trained and certified thousands of teachers internationally over the past decade.
  
  Steph Ball-Mitchell, E-RYT-500, RPYT, RCYT, is a yoga trainer with over 25 years of experience. As the owner and founder of both Online Yoga School and Yoga & Ayurveda Center, she has trained and certified thousands of teachers internationally over the past decade.

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