Brainwaves or brainwaves are the frequency with which the mind performs, especially the conscious mind. Brain waves can be measured or known in two ways, namely by using a tool or by observing physical responses. There are several tools used to measure brain waves, but one of the most talked about is the Electroencephalogram (EEG).
There are at least 4 (four) brain waves in the context of hypnosis, namely beta, alpha, theta, and delta . In general, hypnosis works at the theta level (eg for therapy). In the following we provide a brief overview of these four brain waves and their observable characteristics.
Beta Wave
Beta waves are conscious thought waves whose working frequency is high. When interacting, analyzing critically, when consciously thinking about something, the human mind generates these waves. When a person's mind is in this condition, the suggestions given will be critically analyzed so that the potential for suggestions is weak and even disappears if it is not in accordance with the subconscious content.
Alpha Wave
Alpha waves are conscious thought waves whose analytic functions have begun to decline and are replaced by imaginative functions and emotional processing. When a person is enjoying music, reminiscing about the past, making out, his brain produces alpha waves. This is the gate where induction is used to guide a subject into alpha.
Theta Wave
The tetha wave is a conscious thought wave whose analytic function is already very weak, while the emotional processing function, visualization, becomes very strong so that the content of the subconscious mind can be raised to the preconscious area for modification or design or implantation of suggestions. Being in the theta is the purpose of the protocol hypnosis "deepening" or deepening .
Delta Wave
Delta waves are waves where the subconscious mind takes full control of all activities in a person and usually this wave is associated with sleep (in a literal sense).
In order for hypnotic suggestions (especially post-hypnotic suggestions) to be embedded and work properly, the condition of the brain and mind of the subject must at least produce waves between alpha and theta. This condition is what we call a hypnotic state or trance.
The brain waves and the hypnotic conditions or symptoms they produce are a reference to the depth of a person's trance. Keep in mind that brain waves are waves generated by the brain, which are a reference or indicator of the depth of a person's trance. Brain waves are a product of thought processes. The purpose of induction is to make a person enter a trance state (alpha and theta threshold) while the purpose of deepening is to guide the subject into a theta state or the threshold between theta and delta. The purpose of hypnosis is a hypnotic state (trance) not brain waves. Brain waves are just an indicator; the hypnotic state is the main goal that must be observed.
These conditions can be observed through physical responses such as flat facial expressions, weak or slow physical responses, levels of deep physical relaxation, and so on (of course if the suggestions we give are suggestions for sleep or relaxation).