Our brainwaves become slower and more regular when we close our eyes in comparison when our senses are fully alert. These brainwaves are called Alpha Waves.
They signify a relaxed yet still wakeful state of our brain, similar to meditation. Alpha waves are neural oscillations (repetitive patterns of neural activity) in the frequency range of 8–12 Hz — it is worth to mention that some researchers believe that these waves are not necessarily stable in their conventional range.
The alpha waves increase in frequency with brain maturation, from approximately 4 Hz in infancy to approximately 8–12 Hz in adolescence, where consequently stabilize.
Alpha Waves Related To Insomnia – Alpha Wave Intrusion
Alpha wave intrusion occurs when the alpha waves are presented with non-REM sleep; when delta activity is expected.
Alpha Waves Related To Sleep Disorders & Depression
Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have a higher prevalence of alpha-delta sleep. Alpha-delta sleep is associated with daytime sleepiness in patients with major depressive disorder. Study limitations include the retrospective nature of the project and the fact that the principal investigator, who scored and interpreted alpha intrusion, was not blind to group membership. According to Study by