<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><img src="@@PLUGINFILE@@/healthy-theta.png" alt="Healthy Theta" width="610" height="407" class="img-responsive atto_image_button_text-bottom"><br></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Theta rhythm is a normal finding during drowsiness in the adult EEG. Theta, may be seen at the onset of sleep as the alpha rhythm slows with drowsiness. Theta is also the brainwave state of dreams. As earlier mentioned, the slow waves that occur here correspond to rapid eye movement (REM), which is thought to be healing, developing, and rejuvenating (Crick &amp; Michison, 1983; Evans, 1983; Ornstein, 1986; Oswald, 1980; Shaffery, Oksenberg, Marks, Speciale, Mihailoff, &amp; Roffwarg, 1998; Siegel, 2010). In 1953, the hypnogogic brainwave state was discovered, consisting of a period of several minutes where the mind is overtaken with image fragments or short dramas. At that time, this hypnogogic state was dubbed “theta” and was seen in asynchronous oscillations of 5-8 hertz (i.e., 5 to 8 waveforms over the course of 1 second) occurring over the cortex of the brain. Rhythmic or “synchronous” theta was found to be present in the awake raw EEG, increasing as subjects got drowsy or started daydreaming (Ulrich, 2013, pp. 38-39).&nbsp;</span><br></p><p>From an empirical brainwave perspective, the brain wave patterns of the dreamer have been identified as asynchronous theta and REM sleep state, which is activated endogenously in the dreaming state. Their function, according to Winson (2002) is to further process the memory contents of the past while the individual is asleep. The hippocampus is foundational for its generation in sleep, which allows for the mapping of the sensorimotor, temporal, and environmental space (Bland &amp; Oddie, 2001). This mapping may be linked to the storage of procedural memory, since the right parietal cortical areas (housing the right hippocampus and the medial temporal lobe diencephalon) are activated in spatial and mental imagery exercises (Schore, 2003; Solms &amp; Turnbull, 2002). This is the same area as that which becomes activated both in dreaming and in the infant’s breast-feeding (Winson, 2002).</p><p>Theta generation has been linked to the replenishing of important neuronal proteins, for cell and synaptic growth, as well as the production of growth hormones, neurochemicals, neurotransmitters, and neuromodulators (Shaffery et al., 1998). Furthermore, REM sleep has been linked to the development of the hippocampi—the seat of learning and memory (Lewin &amp; Glaubman, 1975; Shaffery et al., 1998). Theta is a rejuvenating brainwave, responsible for neurogenesis and healing. It is these slow waves that the infant and child spend much of their time in, as these are essential to the building of networks, as well as feelings of safe, calm, and protectedness.</p>