Brain wave therapy is a medical technique that uses sound waves to stimulate and correct patterns of electrical activity in the brain. Brain wave therapy is now quite widely used as an additional treatment method to treat a number of mental health disorders.
The brain consists of several parts with different functions, including regulating thought patterns and thought processes and controlling behavior, emotions, movements, and sensations in the body. The brain also plays a role in regulating the body's sleep and wake cycles.
The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells or neurons that use electricity or brain waves as a way to communicate. Through the flow of electricity, the neural network in the brain can work and carry out its functions properly.
recognize 5 Types of Brain Waves
Brain waves are divided into 5 types and each of these brain waves is influenced by activity, thoughts, emotional states, and sleep patterns. Brain waves are measured by frequency in hertz (Hz).
The following are 5 types of brain waves in humans:
1. Delta waves
Delta waves are the slowest brain waves and occur while you are asleep. The strength of this wave is very low, which is around 1-4 Hz. Delta waves also appear when you do meditation.
These waves are thought to play a role in the healing process when you are sick and improve sleep quality. Delta waves are also believed to have an important role in the functioning of the digestive system and heart.
Injury to the brain can cause increased delta wave activity, making you sleepy more often. Having too much delta wave activity can also cause interference attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
2. Theta waves
Theta waves also occur during sleep and meditation. This brain wave range has a greater strength, which is 4-8 Hz. Theta waves have a close relationship with memory or memory as well as the level of consciousness and the body's natural sleep cycle. This brain wave pattern is also associated with the phenomenon of dreams and lucid dreams.
However, until now, the effect of theta type of brain waves on the working process of the brain in general is not known with certainty.
3. Alpha wave
Alpha waves are brain waves that appear when a person is daydreaming or during meditation. These waves have a strength of about 8–12 Hz. A person can also reach alpha waves when he undergoes certain activities, such as doing aerobic exercise.
4. Beta wave
This wave activity is quite high, around 12-35 Hz. Beta waves are associated with high levels of awareness, alertness, focus, and arousal. Beta waves also usually appear when someone is thinking or making a decision.
5. Gamma waves
Gamma waves are brain waves with the highest power, which ranges from 25-100 Hz. However, the average gamma wave in a person's brain has a range between 35–40 Hz.
Gamma waves occur when you are simultaneously processing and learning information and are associated with higher levels of consciousness.
Benefits of Brain Wave Therapy
So far, the benefits of brain wave therapy as a treatment technique are still controversial. However, several studies show that brain wave therapy has several health benefits, including:
Help overcome PTSD
Brain wave therapy is believed to be able to treat a mental disorder called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This mental disorder can arise when a person experiences a terrible or traumatic event, such as an accident, natural disaster, or physical or sexual violence.
Most people who experience traumatic events will always remember the events that happened to them, making it difficult to adjust and live daily lives.
Brain wave therapy for PTSD is carried out by directly monitoring the electrical activity in the patient's brain, then the patient will be given brain wave stimulation in the form of acoustic tones through a hearing aid or headset.
After several sessions of brain wave therapy, most sufferers report an improvement in PTSD symptoms. This brain wave therapy is usually done as an adjunct treatment for PTSD.
Relieve symptoms of depression
When experiencing depression, brain waves and patterns of electrical activity in the brain will be disrupted. Therefore, brain wave therapy is thought to be used to reduce symptoms of depression.
Apart from being an additional treatment for depression, brain wave therapy can also be used to relieve anxiety disorders, help overcome insomnia and improve sleep quality, to increase creativity.
You can do brain wave therapy according to the doctor's recommendations. However, keep in mind that the effectiveness of brain wave therapy as a treatment for certain mental conditions still needs further research.
If you are interested in trying brain wave therapy, first consult a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist will evaluate your mental condition and provide appropriate treatment for your health condition.