How to use Brainwave Training for Maximum Brainpower

What is brainwave training?

Brainwave training in short is a term for any process that helps you improve your brain power. This can be done through games, sounds, meditation etc.

When we talk about brainwaves we’re talking about the different frequencies our brains produce in different states – when we’re relaxed, thinking, concentrating, sleeping etc the stages literally show up in electroencephalogram (EEG) as different waves.

These brainwaves fall into different bands:

Alpha, Delta, Theta, Beta & Gamma. When we’re in each band we’re in different states.

The frequency bands

Alpha 7-12Hz

When we are in a state of clam, rest or just generally awake and not doing anything our brains are emitting Alpha waves. At a range frequency of between 7 and 12 Hz.

Benefits Of Alpha Waves

• Reduced anxiety
• Better athletic performance
• Increased energy
• Increased happiness
• Alleviates stress
• Alleviates depression

You may experience Alpha waves when falling asleep or trying to go to sleep when your subconscious mind shuts down and you enter the state of subconsciousness.

Alpha brainwave frequencies are found during states of waking life as well as when you are in REM sleep. Alpha brain waves promote deep sleep and can induce dreams.

Conversely this is the state that many of the traditional authors in Law of Attraction books encourage readers to get into when doing their visualisations and manifesting work, which I’ll cover off in another post.

Delta 0-3 Hz

Delta waves are the brainwave frequencies associated with being in a daydreaming state and those self-hypnosis states when you’re almost having an out of body experience. Let me explain, have you ever been driving, and your mind wanders off the task of driving and you’re thinking about what you’re going to eat for dinner, or reminiscing on some event from the past. Then all of sudden you realise you lost yourself for a moment in another world whilst you were driving. That’s your brain in Delta.

Training your brain to reach Delta brainwave frequencies can help you get better sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. Other benefits include:

Benefits Of Delta Brainwaves

• Releasing anti-aging hormones like DHEA
• Stimulating the pituitary gland
• Releasing Human Growth Hormone
• Repairing skin, bone, joints etc
• Just generally healing

Theta 4-7 Hz

Theta waves are the brainwave frequency associated with deep sleep and being in a dream state. These waves help you focus and concentrate better.

Theta waves can be difficult to reach because they require a complete break from conscious reality. They can also be brought on by doing things repeatedly, where our brain isn’t really needed so it switches off and you wonder off into another world

If you want to do better at work or in your business one of the best trainings you can do is Theta training as it helps us to focus, retain memory and regulate emotion.

Benefits Of Theta Brainwaves

• Better sleep
• Deeper sleep
• Reduced mental fatigue
• Reduced stress
• Reduced anxiety

Beta 12-30 Hz

Beta waves are associated with being awake and alert, it’s the brainwave responsible for the fight or flight response.

Beta waves help you to think quickly and accurately.

Benefits Of Beta Waves

• Improved logic
• Improved concentration
• Better alterness
• Better reasoning
• Improved critical thinking

Beta waves help you focus and observe details better. If you’re in a stressful situation, your brainwaves will shift to Beta waves and help you cope with the situation better.

If you wanted to move from Beta to Alpha brainwave frequencies you would need to let go of stress by doing some form of exercise or mediation.

Gamma 30-50 Hz or higher

Gamma waves are the brainwave frequencies that occur when taking a nap. Gamma waves help you focus by reducing external distractions. It has been shown that gamma waves are typically present during the process of awakening as well as during active rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Benefits of Gamma Brainwaves

• Increased compassion
• Better emotional intelligence
• Better self control
• Increased feelings of happiness
• Increased overall awareness
• Increased levels of intelligence

So we can see the various brainwave stages and their benefits. But how exactly do you go about training them, and which should you focus on?

There are a few ways we can train our brain. We can train our brains through simple breathing exercises, and through meditation.

For instance if you’re in a state of stress the ‘physiological sigh technique‘ which I discuss in my post How to transform Fear into Peace and Calm is a useful tool. It’s where you breathe two short breaths through the nose and one slow breathe out of the mouth which can be used to bring calm. Or you can use a simple breathing technique to help slow the lower the heart rate and return to a more calm relaxed state. In time these types of practices can help our brains to manage stressful situations much easier.

Meditation is one of the best ways to get your brain into Gamma waves. Meditation induces synchronisation in the band which helps the brain bind different aspects of perception into a coherent simple concept. Which is perhaps why experienced meditators can get into altered states of consciousness.

External devices

But one of the quicker and perhaps easier ways to train the brain is through Brainwave entrainment.

Brainwave entrainment is a technique of brainwave synchronization that helps you achieve the brainwave frequencies needed for optimal brainwave functions. These exercises help to train your brain to improve all types of functionality from falling asleep to better concentration and improve overall cognitive function.

There are lots of different devices that can help you align your brainwaves via a mix of audio and visual stimulation. I have the MindPlace Kasina device which took a bit of time to get used to but after a few goes I found it incredibly powerful tool to use.

Essentially you just plug in, pick what you want to achieve, for example, deep sleep or concentration and then pop on the glasses and press play. The device then plays sounds into your ears and creates a light show that effectively moves your brain into the correct brainwave state.

Where to start

For me I think the most beneficial place to start and possibly one of the easiest is Gamma wave training.

Gamma waves are some of the most fascinating to me. Neuroscientists at the University of Wisconsin conducted a research into the brainwaves of 66 year old Tibetan Monk Matthieu Ricard, whose brain produced Gamma waves they have never witnessed before. He claims that this is all down to meditation, and led to neuroscientists calling him the ‘happiest man on earth’.

So if you had to choose one I would focus on Gamma waves.

The brain truly is a complex but fascinating part of the human experience. And as the control centre of our existence we are increasingly becoming aware that true success and happiness in life comes from taking better control of the brain. The benefits of active brain training are far and wide. And within a few simple sessions of brainwave training you’ll reap the rewards and the benefits rapidly.