<p>They are ordered based on when they were discovered/named (as pointed about by Ana's comment). Alpha and beta waves were among the first signals observed in EEG data. From Wikipedia:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Alpha waves were discovered by German neurologist Hans Berger, most famous for his invention of the EEG. Alpha waves were among the first waves documented by Berger, along with beta waves, and he displayed an interest in "alpha blockage", the process by which alpha waves decrease and beta waves increase upon a subject opening their eyes. This distinction earned the alpha wave the alternate title of "Berger's Wave".</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Hans Berger documented alpha and beta waves in a series of articles from 1929-1933.</p>

<p>Gamma waves took a few more decades to identify, because the higher frequency necessitates faster sampling. The earliest EEG systems were unable to measure oscillations at such fast frequencies.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-27T16:15:39.630Z
what are the reasons for the division?
Ooker
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-03T18:23:48.127Z
2015-02-03T18:23:48.127Z
Josh
<p>The brainwave - frequency breakdown is as follows:</p>

<ul>
<li>Delta wave – (0.1 – 3 Hz)</li>
<li>Theta wave – (4 – 7 Hz)</li>
<li>Alpha wave – (8 – 15 Hz)</li>
<li>Mu wave – (7.5 – 12.5 Hz)</li>
<li>SMR wave – (12.5 – 15.5 Hz)</li>
<li>Beta wave – (16 – 31 Hz)</li>
<li>Gamma wave – (32 – 100 Hz)</li>
</ul>

<p>Just looking at the greek names, we're going: delta, theta, alpha, mu, beta, gamma (in order of ascending Hz).</p>

<p>Why don't we just relabel them as: mu(0.1-3Hz), theta, delta, gamma, beta, alpha(32-100Hz)? This seems to make more sense to me because the names are now ordinal, like the greek alphabet. Is there a reason that neuroscientists don't care about the order of the greek alphabet?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-03T12:10:35.920Z
It was most likely the order in which they were discovered. I'll try to look it up.
Ana
<neuroscience><terminology><eeg>
Why is the order of brainwaves not labelled "alphabetically"?
RECURSIVE FARTS
# Why is the order of brainwaves not labelled "alphabetically"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-03)

The brainwave - frequency breakdown is as follows:

* Delta wave – (0.1 – 3 Hz)
* Theta wave – (4 – 7 Hz)
* Alpha wave – (8 – 15 Hz)
* Mu wave – (7.5 – 12.5 Hz)
* SMR wave – (12.5 – 15.5 Hz)
* Beta wave – (16 – 31 Hz)
* Gamma wave – (32 – 100 Hz)

Just looking at the greek names, we're going: delta, theta, alpha, mu, beta, gamma (in order of ascending Hz).

Why don't we just relabel them as: mu(0.1-3Hz), theta, delta, gamma, beta, alpha(32-100Hz)? This seems to make more sense to me because the names are now ordinal, like the greek alphabet. Is there a reason that neuroscientists don't care about the order of the greek alphabet?

**Tags:** neuroscience, terminology, eeg

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It was most likely the order in which they were discovered. I'll try to look it up.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-02-03. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

They are ordered based on when they were discovered/named (as pointed about by username_1's comment). Alpha and beta waves were among the first signals observed in EEG data. From Wikipedia:

> Alpha waves were discovered by German neurologist Hans Berger, most famous for his invention of the EEG. Alpha waves were among the first waves documented by Berger, along with beta waves, and he displayed an interest in "alpha blockage", the process by which alpha waves decrease and beta waves increase upon a subject opening their eyes. This distinction earned the alpha wave the alternate title of "Berger's Wave".

Hans Berger documented alpha and beta waves in a series of articles from 1929-1933.

Gamma waves took a few more decades to identify, because the higher frequency necessitates faster sampling. The earliest EEG systems were unable to measure oscillations at such fast frequencies.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: what are the reasons for the division?  

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