Light and sound machines use a method of brainwave entrainment and are also commonly called mind machines. This process of entrainment
involves using both visual stimulation using flashing lights and audio entrainment using either binaural beats or modulated noise.
A brainwave is actually a rapid fluctuation of voltage between parts of the brain. Each human brain has a great deal of charges of
electricity that fire from one part to another simultaneously. These charges are also known as brainwaves.
Brainwaves are usually divided into 5 different ranges that a human brain experiences. Each range is associated with different mental states.
The five brainwave ranges are:
- Delta Range - 0.5 to 4 HZ - deep sleep
- Theta Range - 4 HZ to 8 HZ - dreaming sleep, daydreaming and using imagination
- Alpha Range - 8 to 13 HZ - relaxed but awake
- Beta Range - 13 HZ to 30 HZ - usual awake state/aware
- Gamma Range - 30 HZ to 60 HZ - linked to consciousness
There are also high and low beta, Theta1 and Theta2, Epsilon, Lambda & Sigma. Although these are not as commonly used, and so
are not as of great importance to us.
Useful Brainwave entrainment frequencies
There has been extensive research into which exact frequencies in theory affect us in different ways. We give the basics, but we have
links to in depth pages of frequencies for brainwave entrainment.
- Relaxation and Stress Relief - 5hz-10 hz.
- Meditation - 4hz-7hz.
- Sleep Replacement - 5Hz (for 30 minutes) can replace about 2-3 hours of sleep.
- Improved Sleeping Patterns - 4Hz to 8Hz (for 30-45 minutes).
- Treatment of Insomnia - Initially 4hz-6hz (for first 10 minutes), then below 3.5hz (for 20-30 minutes), end on 2.5hz.
- Improved and Lasting Sense of Well Being - 4Hz to 7Hz (for 45 minutes).
- Creative Visualization - 6hz initially, then 10hz while using visualization techniques.
- Alleviation of Migraines and Headaches - Alpha and Theta combinations.
- Reduction of Depression Symptoms - Alpha and Theta combinations.
- Self Hypnosis - 8hz-10hz (whilst listening to self hypnosis tapes).
- Accelerated Learning - 7hz-9hz (while listening to learning tapes). Also 10Hz for 10 minutes breaks from study.
- Subliminal Programming - 5hz-7hz (while listening to subliminal tapes).
- Improve Intuition - 4hz-7hz.
- Reaching Higher States of Consciousness - 4hz-7hz (results in a month if regular)
- Quick Refresher on long days - 8hz-10hz (for 15 minutes).
- Increased Immune System - Alpha and Theta combinations .
So what is brainwave entrainment?
The answer is by using stimulii such as light, sound, or electro-magnetic fields to influence the speed of our brainwaves,
which in turn affects our mental condition at the time.
We know that the brain experinces these electrical waves at different frequencies, and that different groups of these
frequencies mean different states of consciousness.
Acclaimed benefits of brainwave entrainment
The use of brainwave entrainment frequencies has in theory been medically proven to increase our own levels in Serotonic
(helps with depression), Norephenephrin (a vaso-constrictor) and Bete-Endorphins (helps relieve pain). However, please consult
your doctor with any real medical issues.
How does brainwave entrainment work?
Brainwave entrainment works mainly on one basic principle whereby the brain reacts to certain repetitive lights or
audio waves and starts to follow the frequencies it experiences.
The human brain was discovered to be influenced by a repeating stimuli like light, sound or EM fields. It literally follows the
frequencies that it is subjected to, so long as certain conditions are adhered to.
For example if the brain experiences a flashing light stimuli at 7 hz (cycles per second), then slowly it will begin to slow
down or speed up to that frequency! In this case, 7 hz is found in the Theta range and so the brain would ultimately do what
it would normally do in this range...dreaming sleep! This type of brainwave entrainment, using strobing lights, is commonly
found in commercial mind machines.
An alternative to using light as a stimuli, is to use sound. Audio waves do go down to the ranges necessary, however, quite
often would be out of our hearing range (approx 20Hz-20KHz) and difficult to produce without sub speaker units. We can't just
listen to these frequencies. Instead 2 methods are used to achieve brainwave entrainment for audio:
- Binaural Beats - By applying two slightly different tones (small difference in pitch or frequency), one in each ear, the brain inteprets the difference as a third tone or pitch. It actually then ignores the 2 individual tones and concentrates on this new third tone. It is the frequency or pitch of this tone that the brain starts to follow and so starts brainwave entrainment! This method is also used in some light and sound (mind) machines like the Proteus and the Sirius mind machines. They use binaural beats to double the effect of the light stimulation. You can see more on these two products later... Of course, this principle relies heavily on using two speakers or heaphones.
- Modulation - If you produce noise (a random toneless sound) and then fluctuate its pitch or volume at a frequency, this can cause the same effect as binaural beats with only a single speaker and there is no need for headphones! There is some debate as to which is more effective for brainwave entrainment. For the ultimate, it is suggested that both visual and audio stimuli are used for a more pronounced effect.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Light and sound machines use a method of brainwave entrainment and are also commonly called mind machines. This process of entrainment
involves using both visual stimulation using flashing lights and audio entrainment using either binaural beats or modulated noise.
