Theta (4-8 Hz)
Theta Rule
Frontal Theta supports strong attentional engagement (Aftanas & Golocheikine 2001, Knyazev 2007, Suseng et al. 2007, Mitchell et al. 2008). This is a crucial frequency in Focus meditations, where a high level of top-down control is needed. This includes maintaining sustained attention, detecting when the mind has wandered, and reorienting attention back to the object of focus. The more frontal Theta is produced by the brain, the deeper the Focus meditation.
Theta Weights
Level 1, 2, and 3 meditators are assigned a rule weight of +2, as all of these levels benefit from the top-down control afforded by Theta. With more top-down control, meditators are able to maintain a tighter focus and suppress the evaluating brain. The rule weight is halved for Level 4 meditators, who do not require the strong top-down control to maintain their focus. Instead, these meditators utilize well-honed bottom-up processes to keep focus with less effort.