Tune Your Brain to the Frequencies of Sleep

Scientists have used electrodes and EEG to measure frequencies emitted by the brain during different activities. These frequencies are measured in hertz, or cycles per second. The frequencies of sleep, where we spend a third of our life, start below 1hz and ascend to around 7hz, which is a relaxed waking state. As the frequencies get higher, you become more alert and more anxious.

Scientists have also discovered a technology called "binaural beats," which has been shown to coax the brain into the different frequencies. However, to use binaural beats, you must listen to them through headphones because of the way they work. SleepPhones® headphones are a great way to utilize binaural beats for sleeping because they are comfortable in bed, and you can wear them all night long. You can pair these headphones with tools like the Sleep App from Guided Meditation Treks, which generates binaural beats specifically designed to help you drift off peacefully into the deepest levels of sleep each night and reach these frequencies.

Delta — the deepest sleep

Slow wave sleep is where our brain measures the lowest cycles per second on the EEG monitor. This state is called delta. In hertz, deep sleep has been measured at the lowest frequencies, starting below 1hz and extending through 2hz for the deepest sleep. In this state, your body is recharging itself and healing.

The Astral Plane

It is believed in some cultures that in the delta state, your consciousness leaves your body and either floats above it in repose or actively works on things, such as healing your body or making good with other spirits. If someone tried to awaken you from the delta state, it could be hard to wake you up. If someone does manage to wake you up, then you might ramble incoherently, but you probably wouldn't remember later anyway. This is some great sleeping time! Good for your body too!

Theta — Dreaming

Somewhere around 3hz or 4hz, your brainwave frequency is no longer called delta, but it is called theta instead. Theta is where you have REM sleep, which is the time of night when you are dreaming. Dreams can fluctuate your brainwaves between 4-7hz. Your brain can also be in a theta state if you are awake but very relaxed. During a power nap, you can go to the lowest of theta around 4hz and feel rejuvenated afterward. Think of theta as the most relaxing state before the total relaxation of deep sleep.

How To Reach These Frequencies

The newest Sleep App and Sleep Album from Guided Meditation Treks will help ease your brainwaves into the sweet spots between 1hz and 7hz for great sleep of all types. From helping with insomnia to having rich and lucid dreams, you can use a variety of soothing nature sounds, real-time spoken word relaxation exercises, and the technologies of binaural beats and isochronic pulses to direct brainwaves into these frequencies. The iOS app will let you control the volume or mute the different elements, as well as select from a variety of nature sounds, from waterfalls to rain to cityscapes. Using SleepPhones® with the Sleep App is a great solution for insomnia that does not involve drugs or other invasive solutions. The app can be found on the Apple store, and the album can be found at CDBaby. Start getting a more restful sleep with these tools today!

Blog written by Russell Eric Dobda. Russell is a certified yoga teacher, meditation practitioner, creator of Guided Meditation Treks, experienced software engineer, and grateful recipient of an abundance of sleep.

Find more about binaural beats at our "Binaural Beats" resource page.

Find more about relaxing with SleepPhones® headphones on our "Relaxation" resource page.