Learning & Brain Waves
Learning & Brain Waves (Hz)
This article is for general interest, it’s the sort of thing you picked up somewhere but you can’t quite recall where, well, here it is again.
It is very relevant to both learning & perhaps becoming increasingly important to relaxation, we are seeing an increasing need to ensure a balance.
Paul J Whitehouse
Delta………………0 – 4 deep sleep no outer awareness
Theta…………….4 – 8 twilight, light sleep, meditative
Alpha……………..8 – 12 aware, relaxed, calm, attentive
Beta………………12 – 16 normal waking consciousness
High Beta ……..16 – 30 intense outer-directed focus
K Complex …….30 – 35 the “Ah-ha!” experience
Super Beta…….35 – 150 extreme experiences, psychic, out of body states
Which state is best for learning? It all depends on what type of learning & for how long.
Delta
Is useless for any type of learning, (as far as researchers currently know)
Theta
Is the state that we all into & out of just before sleeping. It can be great for sleep-learning (if you’re auditory) & free association of creative ideas. It’s passive & poor for direct instruction.
Alpha
Is great for listening & watching. More alertness, still fairly passive.
Beta
Is great for typical thinking, asking questions & problem solving/decision making.
High Beta
Is ideal for intense states, such as debates, drama & performance.
K Complex
Is difficult to orchestrate, you’ll need to set up the circumstances for it & simply allow it to happen on its own course.
Super Beta
Is such an intense state, it is highly inappropriate for schools, classrooms & formal education.
Reference: “Brain-Based Learning & Teaching” by Eric Jensen, Sage Ltd, London 1995