Difference Between Beta Waves and Delta Waves

Beta Waves vs Delta Waves

Both beta waves and delta waves are both brainwaves that occur in a person’s brain in moments of activity. Beta waves are the first brainwaves, but they are the faster ones compared to the other three kinds of brainwaves.

Beta waves occur during activities that require mental and physical abilities. A highly-motivated, active or activity engaged person’s brain is most likely producing beta waves. Also, a person is usually in a normal, wakeful state with full consciousness or focus. The brain in this state is highly engaged.

Beta waves are often measured within 15-30 oscillations per second. While this type of wave is occurring, only one side of the brain is dominant. A graphic representation of beta waves would be closely-knitted small lines. High beta waves often occur in times of anxiety, stress, or disease.

Meanwhile, delta waves are the last type of brainwaves and have the greatest aptitude. It is also the slowest and deepest brainwave as characterized by a large graphical representation.

Delta waves fall into two kinds of sleep – sleep with a dreaming stage, and the deep, dreamless stage. The deep sleep stage with delta waves happens and occurs after one and one-half hours of sleep. It often causes a deep, most relaxing and dreamless sleep for a person (which usually occurs in stage 3 or 4 of sleep).

Delta waves are usually generated in the brain’s right hemisphere and are characterized with a decreased sense of awareness, empathy, and unconscious mind. Delta waves are measured below four oscillations per second which indicates the slow characteristic of the waves.

During the presence of delta waves, the brain goes into three important processes:

The “restoration process” where the brain attempts to restore body parts like cells and results in a restful sleep.
The release of the anti-aging hormones of melatonin and DHEA.
The automatic and unconscious process of the brain like breathing and heartbeat.

People with high delta waves are: babies and young children, people afflicted with a comatose condition or ADHD. Normal people who can create delta waves willfully are usually people who meditate like monks or people who practice yoga and other meditative methods.

Summary:

1.Beta waves are the first brainwaves while delta waves are the last brainwaves. Also, beta waves are the fastest waves while the delta waves are the slowest.
2.Another contrast is that beta waves are low-level waves while the delta waves are the deepest kind of waves.
3.Beta waves occur when a person is fully awake and engaged in mental and physical activity. Meanwhile, delta waves occur in sleep stage 3 or 4 which characterizes deep sleep and unconsciousness with the least degree of awareness.
4.Both beta waves and delta waves are measured in oscillations. Beta waves are measured within the range of 15 to 30 while delta waves are in the lower range of 1 – 4 cycles per second.
5.Processes that occur between two variants of brainwaves are also different. Beta waves are involved with mental processes while delta waves are associated with three processes – the restoration process, release of hormones, and the unconscious and automatic body processes.
6.Beta waves are often associated with consciousness while delta waves are characterized by a lack of consciousness.
7.In terms of graphical representations, the beta waves can be described as small and clustered lines while delta waves are depicted as long and more dispersed.
8.Beta waves only occur in an alert or awake stage while delta waves can occur both in the dreaming stage of sleep and deep but dreamless stage of sleep.

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