Happiness – Spirituality – Personal growth – What are gamma brain waves?
Gamma brain waves are the fastest brainwave frequency, starting at about 32 Hz. This is so fast that scientists always missed the mark on measuring it because they were focused on measuring the upper ceiling of our other brain waves, which cap off at around 25 Hz. Only now are neuroscientists starting to comprehend the superpower properties of the brain in this state.
These waves enable unequalled concentration and cognitive prowess. They also harmonize information throughout the brain. Finally, these waves engage in a rapid, cyclical dance, producing a symphony of mental and physical acuity that enables us to reach a state of transcendence known as “being in the zone”.
What are the different brainwaves?
There are five brainwave states with different frequency components:
delta waves (below 3 Hz)
theta waves (from 3 to 8 Hz)
alpha waves (from 8 to 12 Hz)
Beta waves (12 to 38 Hz)
Gamma waves (from 38 to 80 Hz)
There is also the frequency of high gamma waves, or high-frequency activity, which corresponds to anything above 80 Hz.
Gregg Braden, a leading authority on the link between science and spirituality, points out that gamma waves turn on over 1300 positive biochemical reactions in the brain. They boost immunity and invigorate anti-ageing hormones. They also regulate blood pressure while improving intuition, concentration, learning, and memory. Remarkably, they combat depression and dismantle the neuronal detritus responsible for Alzheimer’s disease.
Understanding gamma waves: Unleashing peak performance
Neuroscientists claim that gamma waves play an essential role in synchronizing information between different regions of the brain. Emerging from the thalamus, gamma waves travel from the back to the front of the brain. At an astonishing 40 times a second, they perform a rapid and complete ‘sweep’. This propels the brain into heightened mental and physical acuity, often described as being ‘in the zone’.
Experienced meditators, including monks and nuns, report a profound sense of satisfaction. They associate this “feeling of blessing” with gamma brainwave activity. This research highlights the link between gamma waves, supreme concentration, and high cognitive performance.
While gamma-wave activity is innate in every individual, the amount generated can vary significantly. For example, low levels of gamma brainwaves have been correlated with learning difficulties, poor memory retention, and impaired cognitive processing.
Benefits of gamma brain waves
The benefits of producing gamma wave frequencies are as follows:
Improved memory: People with high gamma activity remember their memories remarkably well and quickly.
Increased sensory perception: When the brain emits gamma waves, sensory faculties are heightened. As a result, tastes become more pronounced, sight and hearing become sharper, olfaction intensifies, and the brain becomes more attuned to sensory input. The result is a heightened sensory experience and a more accurate perception of reality.
Unwavering concentration: in the gamma state, the brain processes sensory information quickly and completely, with heightened sensitivity. This amalgamation results in deeply memorable experiences. People with high gamma activity can recall the smallest details of any significant event. It could be the meal they enjoyed, the music they heard, or the conversations they had. But also the names of people they know, the temperature of the room, and much more.
Accelerated processing speed: the gamma state is characterized by an extraordinary ability to process large quantities of information quickly and to store it for later retrieval.
Other benefits of producing the gamma wave frequency
Positive mood: people with high gamma activity tend to be naturally happier and serene. It is therefore the most powerful natural antidote to depression, given that people suffering from depression generally have low gamma activity.
Nurturing creativity: Gamma waves occur during REM sleep and visualization. Research also indicates that REM sleep promotes the integration of unrelated information for innovative problem-solving. This process is thought to be facilitated by cholinergic and noradrenergic neuromodulation during REM sleep.
People with exceptionally high levels of gamma frequency demonstrate remarkable intelligence, compassion, and self-control. As a result, their IQ is particularly high.
Top athletes, accomplished musicians, and high achievers in various fields produce gamma waves that are significantly higher than those of the average population.
Why should I be concerned about gamma waves?
Faced with a persistent pandemic, even with the advent of vaccines, masks remain our shield, not a panacea. New, more contagious strains are on the horizon. This pandemic underlines the need for autonomous immunity. What’s more, the stress hormones of modern life are skyrocketing. This perpetual fight-or-flight mode eclipses the 1300 positive biochemical responses, damaging our vitality and resilience. Unfortunately, pandemics and stress contribute to rising levels of anxiety and depression and weaken our immune resistance.
Unlocking Gamma’s Extraordinary Potential: A 3-minute daily ritual
Surprisingly, accessing the Gamma state takes just three minutes a day—a precious window we can all afford to give ourselves. It starts with the heart, an organ often overshadowed by its cranial counterpart. The revelation from the HeartMath Institute is striking: the heart sends more signals to the brain than it receives. More than 40,000 neurons in the heart, just like their brain counterparts, reveal a second neuronal command centre within us. Dr. Armour’s 1991 discovery crystallizes this truth. The ‘heart-brain’ converses with the spinal cord, hypothalamus, thalamus, amygdala, and cerebral cortex, eclipsing the signals coming from the brain.
It is therefore heart-brain coherence, the harmonious dialogue between heart and brain, that gives rise to gamma waves. They release a cavalcade of superpowers. This communion opens the doors to a change in our vibration. It triggers spontaneous intuition, total memorization, accelerated learning and heightened perception. Above all, it galvanizes our first line of defence against COVID-19: the white blood cells that guard our oral gateway.
Awakening this dialogue involves an emotional exchange, with the heart dictating the chemical narrative: fight or flight, or serenity and rejuvenation. The choice of positivity ushers in harmony, a symphony of healing and self-love. In this way, the cascade of 1300 positive biochemical responses resumes, reweaving the neuronal pathways and charting a course towards health and well-being on demand.
Heart-brain coherence exercise: 3 minutes a day
Step 1: Find a comfortable seat, close your eyes, and focus on your heart. Place your hand on your heart to help you concentrate.
Step 2: Inhale slowly for 5 seconds and exhale for 5 seconds. Deep breathing tells the brain that we are safe and moving inward. With each breath, continue to focus on your heart and start to feel what it’s like to breathe through your heart.
Step 3: Now choose a positive emotion, such as gratitude, appreciation, compassion, or love, and feel this emotion with your heart while continuing to breathe slowly and deeply. Continue for 3 minutes.
The Cherokees knew about this power of the heart and gave it a name. They called it “Shante Ishta”, or “the single eye of the heart”, denoting a vision devoid of judgment. It underlines our belief in our interconnectedness, shifting our gaze from self to unity, empathy, and compassion.
I’ve adopted the heart-brain coherence exercise as part of my daily routine
It sounds too simple, doesn’t it? Well, that’s where the magic lies! I started this practice just a fortnight ago. After the first session, I found myself effortlessly invoking a chosen positive emotion, such as gratitude. I can channel it into my heart, even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of everyday life. I’ve gotten into the habit of doing this as often as possible, for example, when I’m driving. Thinking and feeling from my heart became second nature. I could effortlessly summon any positive emotion I needed at the moment. This is how I can dissipate stress and tension instantly while accessing deeper levels of intuition.
My sleep has become more restful. I no longer think negatively before going to sleep. My unconscious anxiety has decreased. I find myself brimming with creativity, accompanied by increased concentration and clarity, all imbued with joy and passion. I feel and look more relaxed, but at the same time, I’m more productive.
The benefits of focusing our feelings on our heart
Adopting heart-centred thinking and feelings frees us from the following bad habits:
Seeking external purchases for joy because we discover that joy already resides within us for free.
We no longer rely on others for validation, as we recognize our inherent self-worth.
We identify only with our roles. And we avoid burnout because we learn to love and embrace our authentic selves.
Furthermore, we no longer binge on food, alcohol, or tobacco because we now cherish and honour our bodies.
Finally, we no longer seek distraction in physical travel or social networking. This is because we are finally embracing stillness on the most meaningful journey of all—the inner journey.
The gamma state embodies the true essence of optimal living. It’s not just about boosting our immunity or defying ageing but heralding a global transformation. A transformation that swaps political, racial, economic, and environmental turmoil for a heart-centered way of being Together, we have the power to infuse our world with positive emotions. We tap into the superpowers that have always resided within us on our journey towards inner love.