Gamma waves
Hi Foojoy,
This is an area of ongoing research and disagreement among neurological professionals. It was once thought that human brainwaves topped out with Beta, but there is growing EEG evidence that much higher brainwave states exist. Once you get to 40Hz, researchers have dubbed this to be "Gamma". This is generally considered to run from about 40Hz up to 100Hz, though the classification is not yet set in stone as the debate around the existence of Gamma still goes on. Brainwaves have been measured with the EEG at 100Hz up to 200Hz. When researchers are discussing this range they've given it the name of "Hyper-Gamma". At 200Hz and above (and yes, there have been measurements of these frequencies in humans,) the term "Lambda" is being applied.
In short, yes, these states, far higher than traditional Beta waves are associated with ecstatic states of consciousness in highly experienced and developed meditators. I'm talking here about people who have spent their entire lives cloistered in monasteries practicing meditation and mental disciplines.
What is truly interesting is that brainwave states lower than Delta have also been measured, that is, lower than 0.5Hz. These have been dubbed "Epsilon". But what is fascinating about them is that these Epsilon waves, too, have been observed in meditation during ecstatic states. Observations suggest there is some kind of circular relationship going on here. Above Beta you get high states of ecstasy. Below Delta you also get high states of ecstasy. If you were of an eastern religious orientation you would refer to these states as Nirvana, Samadhi or shamanic trance. In a more common manner of speaking they would call such states "Christ Consciousness" or "Krishna Consciousness".
So in short, yes, these states do exist. Yes, they are associated with extremely advanced "spiritual" development. The 40Hz frequency has received the most research so far and it is intriguing because it tends to entrain the brain (when using a 40Hz entrainment track) at multiple frequencies in accordance with the brain's own natural rhythms. This is a frequency that has had great success in dealing with conditions such as ADD. Hope this helps you, Michael.
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