Alpha Brain Waves

“Alpha activity (8-12Hz) is related to relaxed attentiveness. Alpha, in general, is the parking or idling frequency in the brain. Your brain is an enormously energy-hungry organ. It weights only about three pounds in an adult but consumes more than 20 percent of body energy when it is working efficiently. Hence, your brain’s efficiency in getting in and out of park is extremely important. The speed with which the brain’s alpha waves change, an indicator of brain efficiency, can become diminsihed with age and with reduced mental activity. Testing alpha waves also tells us about visualization skills, visual memory, emotional trauma, and artistic skill or interest. For instance, peak performance training for athletes or for those in demanding decision-making situations is focused on amplifying the fast-frequency components of alpha waves. Recall that the alpha brainwave band is between 8 and 12 Hz. Researchers have shown that the greater the amplitude of the faster alpha (over 10 Hz) relative to the slower alpha (below 10 Hz) the better one’s intellectual performance. Simon Hanslmayr, at the University of Salzburg, found that the ratio of fast to slow alpha amplitude can be increased with neurotherapy. He and his colleagues reported that such increases are directly related to improved intellectual performance. Several characteristics of alpha brainwaves are associated with cognitive efficiency. A tune-up treatment often used for elderly people who feel that they are becoming mentally sluggish or forgetful is to increase alpha parking/unparking efficiency. One of the great joys of my practice is seeing fearful and discouraged elderly clients gain a redefined view of themselves and their lives when I “brighten” their brains and discard their drugs. Brain brightening is a simple neurotherapy procedure in which the client learns how to reduce the amount of inappropriate slow-brainwave activity, increase the frequency of the dominant alpha, and increase the rapidity of changes in alpha amplitude from eyes open to eyes closed.” pp. 46-48 Biofeedback For The Brain by Paul G. Swingle Ph.D. Questions? Treatment gegins with a brain map qEEG. Call Fort Wayne Neurofeedback to set an appointment and ask questions. Ph. 260 432-8777.