Brainwaves: delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma
What do the bands describe?
EEG measures the synchronised activity of millions of neurons from the scalp. The signal is a sum of oscillations at different speeds; researchers group them into bands by frequency. Band boundaries vary by a few hertz between sources; Frekans Studio uses the boundaries above.
A band being "observed with" a state does not mean that producing that band from outside will create the state. Delta dominates deep sleep, for example, but listening to a sound at a delta rate does not bring on sleep by itself.
Does sound change brainwaves?
A measurable EEG response can appear at the beat or pulse rate. But the response is weak; only some EEG studies fit the hypothesis that "the brain follows the beat", and the response has not been shown to change mental states reliably. That's why Frekans Studio doesn't use phrases like "tunes your brainwaves" and labels sessions with their level of evidence.
What does the evidence say?
The brain may show a weak response at the beat frequency; this response has not been shown to reliably change mental state.
▲ C · Preliminary/mixed evidence- What do we know?
- The brainstem responds at the two tone frequencies, while a measurable EEG response at the beat frequency can occur in the cortex; for binaural beats it is weaker than for monaural beats and weakens further under white-noise masking.
- What don't we know?
- In a review of 14 EEG studies, only 5 were consistent with the entrainment hypothesis and 8 contradicted it. It has not been shown that this response reliably changes mental state; in one study mood did not change at all.
Evidence levels and sources come from the database; the article adds no new claims. Evidence methodology
Frequently asked questions
- Which band goes with which state?
- Broadly, delta is prominent in deep sleep, theta in drowsiness and some meditative states, alpha during eyes-closed rest, beta during alert, active thinking, and gamma in some perception and attention tasks. These are observations, not promises of an effect you can get by listening.
- Can I measure my brainwaves?
- EEG needs electrodes and special hardware; Frekans Studio doesn't measure EEG or show brainwaves. The charts in the visual panel show the sound itself.
Listen and try
Last updated: 1 October 2026 · This article is for information only; it is not medical advice.