alpha wave

noun

: an electrical rhythm of the brain with a frequency of approximately 8 to 13 cycles per second that is often associated with a state of wakeful relaxation

called also alpha, alpha rhythm

Examples of alpha wave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For example, alpha waves, with frequencies of 8 to 12 hertz, tend to appear during deep relaxation or sleep. Elizabeth Landau, Quanta Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024 One of the endophenotypes in the Minnesota study, for example, was brain alpha wave frequency as measured with EEG. Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 4 Dec. 2014 This video shows the dramatic, widespread drop in alpha wave amplitude (deep blue color on leftmost head) following counterclockwise rotations. Shinsuke Shimojo, Daw-An Wu, Discover Magazine, 18 Mar. 2019 Two vaccinated parents decreased the risk by an average of 64.9%, although the risk only decreased by 58.1% during the delta wave compared to 71.7% during the alpha wave. Celina Tebor, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2022 And though his music was rooted in the physics of sound, variables like the size and shape of the performance space or the alpha wave patterns a performer generates made his pieces sound different from one performance to the next. New York Times, 1 Dec. 2021 The study also found both vaccines were less effective at preventing Covid-19 during the delta wave than during the previous alpha wave of the virus. Jemima McEvoy, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021 The team found that the DMT caused a marked drop in alpha waves, a mark of wakefulness, along with a corresponding brief increase in theta brain waves, indicative of a dream state. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Nov. 2019 Buddhist monks, meditators, are also great at engaging alpha waves. National Geographic, 12 Feb. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alpha wave.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alpha wave was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near alpha wave

Cite this Entry

“Alpha wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alpha%20wave. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

alpha wave

noun
: an electrical rhythm of the brain with a frequency of 8 to 13 cycles per second that is often associated with a state of wakeful relaxation

called also alpha

More from Merriam-Webster on alpha wave

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