Brainwave entrainment is a method to stimulate the brain into entering a specific state by using a pulsing sound, light, or electromagnetic field. The pulses elicit the brain’s ‘frequency following’ response, encouraging the brainwaves to align to the frequency of a given beat.
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For the past few years, mind development has been on everyone’s mind mainly because societies are beginning to focus a lot more on the power of the mind to develop future thinkers. Parents all over the globe tried all methods to increase their children’s mind capacity. Some proposed the use of child psychology, while others proposed the use of calculations and memory retainment methods. Unfortunately, these methods were not efficient enough. This is because by the end of the day they only result in teaching children how to use their memory and their brains, rather than actually improving their memories and developing their brains.

Nonetheless, these were not the only method’s people could use, as they are other more effective methods such as brainwave entrainment, hypnotism, meditation and so on. Through scientific research done, it was discovered that a human brain existed in various frequency states, which result from electromagnetic pulses of the brain neurons as they communicate with each other. These frequencies range from as small as 0Hz to 40Hz – although this range differs depending on the person. Among these states are the super states, which include the Alpha, Beta, Theta and Delta.

Brainwave entrainment technology induces a frequency to the cortical in order to attain these super states. For instance, if one wants to learn faster and improve their memory – something that is not possible normally – all they need to do is tune their brain into the Alpha state. The Alpha state ranges between 7Hz to 12Hz, which is a place of deep relaxation and deep meditation. In this state, one begins to access their creative mind, which lies below the conscious level. In this state, people’s awareness of themselves also begins to expand, and one finds new ideas, becomes visual and is even able to solve problems quickly and easily.

The good thing about using brainwave technology is that one can use it anytime to invoke the state of mind they want to attain. In addition, this technology is rich because one can reproduce waves ranging from deep relaxation to high arousal. In order to train one’s brain to recreate the desired mind state in the long term, one should use brainwave technology particularly listening to binaural beats for a number of months or for several sessions.

That is why binaural beats CD’s and MP3’s are highly recommended in order for one to get the desired results. After several months of use one starts, feeling as if the program is no longer putting them in the initial state it was. That is to say, if one was using the technology to reach the Alpha state, continuous use of the program makes them feel as if they are no longer reaching this state of mind. The reason for this is not that the binaural beats have lost their effectiveness; rather, it is because mind development has taken place. Actually, a person has grown mentally besides growing physically. In order to maintain the effectiveness of brainwave entrainment technology, one should lower the carrier frequencies progressively.
Brainwave entrainment is a method to stimulate the brain into entering a specific state by using a pulsing sound, light, or electromagnetic field. The pulses elicit the brain’s ‘frequency following’ response, encouraging the brainwaves to align to the frequency of a given beat.

This ‘frequency following’ response of brainwave entrainment can be seen in action with those prone to epilepsy. If a strobe flashes at their seizure frequency, the brain will ‘entrain’ to the flashing light, resulting in a seizure.

On the positive side, this same mechanism is commonly used to induce many brainwave states; such as a trance, enhanced focus, relaxation, meditation or sleep induction. The brainwave entrainment effectively pushes the entire brain into a certain state.

Brainwave entrainment works for almost everyone. It is a great way to lead your mind into states that you might usually have difficulty reaching, allowing you to experience what those states feel like.

THE HYPE
There is a lot of marketing hype around brainwave entrainment. It is sold with promises of increasing IQ, promoting weight loss, ‘mind-tripping’, enhancing creativity, concentration, inducing spiritual states and more.

While these claims are not entirely true, they are not altogether false either. In practice, the claims are based on an overly-simplistic view of how the brain and the brainwaves function.
THE RUB
People are very seldom deficient in a certain brainwave type in all areas of their brain. Usually the distribution is much spottier, with an excess in one area and a deficiency in another.

We are all different, especially when it comes to the distribution of our brainwaves. Boosting a certain brainwave state may be beneficial for one person, and emotionally uncomfortable for another. Without knowing each person’s starting position, entrainment can be rather ‘hit and miss’.

If brainwave entrainment leaves you with unwanted side-effects (see below) or discomfort, you’re probably encouraging a range of brainwaves that are already excessive in some area of your brain. The way around this is to get a brain map to see what your brain’s strengths and weaknesses are, and see what (if any) brainwaves could use some encouragement.