Name

Frequency

Characteristics

Lambda

~200Hz

Self awareness, higher levels of insight and information. Tibetan monks that walk barely clothed for days through the snow have exhibited high levels of these. They are difficult to measure and little is known about them. They are carried on the very slow moving Epsilon Waves (<0.5Hz).

Hyper Gamma

~100Hz

Gamma

38 - 90Hz

Important in harmonizing and unifying thoughts processed in different parts of the brain. Combines different perceptions. Essential for complex motor processes. Suppressed totally by anaesthetic. Found in all parts of the brain.

Beta (High)

18 - 38Hz

Wide awake, alert, focused, analyses and assimilates new information rapidly, complex mental processing, peak physical and mental performance, cannot be sustained indefinitely otherwise exhaustion, anxiety, and tension result.

 Beta (Mid range)

15Hz-18Hz

Wide awake and alert behaviour.

 Beta (Low)

12 - 15Hz

Also known as Sensory Motor Rhythm (SMR) - vigilance, reduced mobility, shallow breathing, less blinking, fixed attention and eye focus, enhancing through neuro-feedback has a calming effect.

Beta-Alpha

12Hz

Hyper-efficient in processing single tasks as the brain can focus on the details as well as the overall task at the same time

Alpha

7.5 - 12Hz

Mental coordination and resourcefulness, relaxation, alert but not mentally processing anything, inward focus, calmness, at ease, deep breathing and closed eyes can amplify alpha wave production, peaks around 10Hz.

Alpha-Theta

7.48Hz

Schumann frequency. Stimulates retrieval of memories from the subconscious. This is the natural vibrational frequency of the ionosphere in the earth’s atmosphere.

Theta

4 - 7.5Hz

Associated with memory access, learning, deep meditation, sensations, emotions, the threshold of the subconscious, dreaming.

6.2 - 6.7Hz

Cognitive activity, sustained attention, low anxiety

4.5Hz

Associated with many altered consciousness states.  Shamanic trances, Tibetan mantras and Buddhist chants use this frequency to access trance states

Theta-Delta

~3.5Hz

Long term memory access

Delta

0.5 - 4Hz

Deep sleep, human growth hormone release, low blood pressure, low respiration, low body temperature. No muscle movement - Reticular Activating System (RAS) shuts this down.

Epsilon

<0.5Hz

As with Lambda and HyperGamma waves, less is known about these states due to the rarity of observing them. They have reportedly been associated with when state Yogi's go into when they achieve "suspended animation" where no heart beat, respiration or pulse are noticeable.