NLP Hypnosis and Brain Waves

[Blake Hill]

A California psychiatrist and psychologist named Dr. Milton Erickson
discovered a technique Electroencephalography. It was a powerful,
safe, and effective way to help his patient's access their unconscious
mind, past memories.
Electroencephalography is the neurophysiologic measurement of the
electrical activity of the brain by recording from electrodes placed
on the scalp or, in special cases, within the subdural or the cerebral
cortex.
The brain operates in four general states determined by the frequency
of the electricity generated by the exchange of chemicals in the
neural pathways.
The four states include Full Conscious Awareness or Beta, the Hypnotic
State or Alpha, the Dream State or Theta, and the Sleep State or
Delta.
These four states correspond to electrical activity in the brain and
are defined by frequency ranges on an EEG.
Full Conscious Awareness occurs when the majority of the electrical
activity in the brain is in the beta range (14-35 Hz)
The Hypnotic State occurs when brain activity is in the alpha range
(8-13 Hz).
The Dream State occurs when brain activity is in the theta range (4-7
Hz).
The Sleep State occurs when brain activity is in the delta range (.5-3
Hz), when we sleep.
Full Conscious Awareness / Beta (14-35 Hz)
Our mind is attentive and uses logic to reason, evaluate, assess,
judge, and make decisions. This is the stage used to manage new
experiences such as learning or reacting to unrecorded events. You are
wide-awake, alert. Your mind is sharp, focused.
In the Beta state, neurons fire abundantly, in rapid succession,
helping you achieve peak performance. New ideas and solutions to
problems flash like lightning into your mind. Beta training is one of
the frequencies that biofeedback therapists use to treat Attention
Deficit Disorder.
Beta-centered programs help you prepare to take an exam, play sports,
give a presentation, analyse and organise information and other
activities where mental alertness and high levels of concentration are
key to your success.
The Hypnotic State / Alpha (8-13 Hz) The doorway between the conscious
and the subconscious is opened and memories become easily accessible.
This is a perfect stage to perform rehearsed actions such as artistic
performances, sporting competitions, as well as letting general
creativity to flow. In the Hypnotic State, you are not really
"thinking" in the traditional sense. You are "experiencing" or
"letting things happen" without question. This is the stage chosen by
most Eastern disciplines and typically used for light meditation.
The Dream State / Theta (4-7 Hz)
A period in daily life that lasts a few seconds during the phase of
waking up or falling asleep and is the brain's frequency range that we
use during hypnosis or self-hypnosis.
This is the state of mind used for centuries by the Tibetan monks to
perform the highest meditations as well as to achieve extreme physical
and mental states.
The explanation of this phenomenon is based on the mechanisms of the
possible/impossible.
The brain protects the body from most mental or physical practices
that it perceives to be impossible to perform, like flying from the
roof of your home. However your mind allows you to fly in your dreams
during the sleeping stage, because this cannot harm your body.
In The Dream State frequency, the body is asleep, and therefore
judgment of the impossible can rest. Yet in this state, the mind is
still awake and able to perform actions considered impossible and
therefore limited at a higher brain frequency.
The Sleep State / Delta (.5-3 Hz)
Delta is the slowest of all four brain wave frequencies. Most commonly
associated with deep sleep. Certain frequencies in the Delta range
also trigger the release of Human Growth Hormone so beneficial for
healing and regeneration. This is why sleep - deep restorative sleep -
the kind that Delta frequencies help induces is so essential to the
healing process.
CONCLUSION
Vibrations from rhythmic sounds have a profound effect on our brain
activity. It is no coincidence that 4.5 beats, or cycles, per second
correspond to the trance-like state of theta brain wave activity.
You have your very own signature brain wave activity, unique to you.
It has a rhythm and pattern and it incorporates Beta, Alpha, Theta,
and Delta frequencies at varying levels over the course of a day as
your brain modulates them to match your activities.
Hypnosis works because it uses a mechanism already in place. People
already think, feel, and act in response to hypnosis everyday, either
intentionally or unintentionally.
Therefore, hypnosis will remain at the forefront of human evolution
because it is through hypnosis that people become who they are in the
first place. It seems this natural phenomenon is only limited by the
boundaries of our own imagination.