EEG Frequency Bands - Jorge Ochoa

Following my own introductory hack at describing different approaches to Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI), I found this link, "EEG Signal Classification for Brain Computer Interface Applications" by Jorge Ochoa, which is a great summary of EEG and of applying EEG for BCI.  It's from 2002, but its fundamentals are still nicely explained.

One of the parts that I really liked was Section 2.2, where he discusses the typical meaning of different frequency bands (or "wave groups", as he calls them).  Sure, this information is all over the internet, but I liked his description quite a bit.  Here it is, quoted:

BETA. Primarily between 13 and 30 Hz, and usually has a low voltage between 5-30 µV (Fig. 2-6). Beta is the brain wave usually associated with active thinking, active attention, focus on the outside world or solving concrete problems. It can reach frequencies near 50 hertz during intense mental activity. 

ALPHA. Primarily between 8 and 13 Hz, with 30-50 µV amplitude (Fig 2-4). Alpha waves have been thought to indicate both a relaxed awareness and also inattention. They are strongest over the occipital (back of the head) cortex and also over frontal cortex. Alpha is the most prominent wave in the whole realm of brain activity and possibly covers a greater range than has been previously thought of. It is frequent to see a peak in the beta range as high as 20 Hz, which has the characteristics of an alpha state rather than a beta, and the setting in which such a response appears also leads to the same conclusion. Alpha alone seems to indicate an empty mind rather than a relaxed one, a mindless state rather than a passive one, and can be reduced or eliminated by opening the eyes, by hearing unfamiliar sounds, or by anxiety or mental concentration.

THETA. Theta waves lie within the range of 4 to 7 Hz, with an amplitude usually greater than 20 µ V. Theta arises from emotional stress, especially frustration or disappointment. Theta has been also associated with access to unconscious material, creative inspiration and deep meditation. The large dominant peak of the theta waves is around 7 Hz.

DELTA. Delta waves lie within the range of 0.5 to 4 Hz, with variable amplitude. Delta waves are primarily associated with deep sleep, and in the waking state, were thought to indicate physical defects in the brain. It is very easy to confuse artifact signals caused by the large muscles of the neck and jaw with the genuine delta responses. This is because the muscles are near the surface of the skin and produce large signals whereas the signal which is of interest originates deep in the brain and is severely attenuated in passing through the skull. Nevertheless, with an instant analysis EEG, it is easy to see when the response is caused by excessive movement. 

GAMMA. Gamma waves lie within the range of 35Hz and up. It is thought that this band reflects the mechanism of consciousness - the binding together of distinct modular brain functions into coherent percepts capable of behaving in a re-entrant fashion (feeding back on themselves over time to create a sense of stream-of-consciousness). 

MU. It is an 8-12 Hz spontaneous EEG wave associated with motor activities and maximally recorded over motor cortex (Fig. 2-8). They diminish with movement or the intention to move. Mu wave is in the same frequency band as in the alpha wave (Fig. 2-7), but this last one is recorded over occipital cortex. 

Following his description of the different wave groups, he's got this nice tidbit, speaking to BCI:

Most attempts to control a computer with continuous EEG measurements work by monitoring alpha or [beta] waves, because people can learn to change the amplitude of these two waves by making the appropriate mental effort. A person might accomplish this result, for instance, by recalling some strongly stimulating image or by raising his or her level of attention. 

In the quote above, he fails to mention Mu Waves as a source of conscious control (simply think about moving a major body part and the Mu Waves go away), but he does include it later in his document.

Returning to the subject of alpha and beta waves, consciously affecting the balance of these two waves seems like an interesting (though difficult) target for driving a BCI.  I've attempted this, but with the exception of closing my eyes to induce big alpha waves, I'm currently unable to affect my alpha to beta balance.  I need more practice!