Brainwave Entrainment How To Identify Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

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.
alpha brain | happy meditation music
Studies have shown that Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are increasing at an alarming rate. Some think that it is because it is not really rising but that it is gaining more visibility with better tools and methods to detect it, but doctors disagree, saying that the number of identified incidents is definitely on the rise.

In the past couple of decades, doctors and professionals have been working hard to find alternative treatments for this disorder. Many parents, as well as doctors, are reluctant to simply treat the disorder with drugs and other stimulant medications, and have been looking for effective alternatives, including researching possible natural remedies, where some herbal remedies are showing a lot of promise without the harmful and often undesirable side effects. It is clear that alternative treatments for ADD and ADHD need to be researched and developed.

Studies have shown stark contrasts when the EEG of non-ADD children are compared with those of children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The affected children show in a statistically significant way that they show excessively slow brainwave activity, particularly in the alpha and theta ranges) than non-affected children. The end result is that this slowdown tends to affect the child’s emotional and frequently also physical maturity levels.

It can be stated as fact that Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are neurological conditions. For many years this diagnosis was disputed in the medical community, but more and more professionals have come to realize that based on what we know about the affliction today, this is indeed fact, which compounds the problem because it makes it more difficult to treat without causing negative impacts in other areas of the afflicted person. Again, this is what the most recent studies have indicated, although there is still disagreement on this since there are no medical tests available to definitively test such a broadly defined area.

Signs of ADD and ADHD would include:

Inattentiveness. The child affected by Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is clearly inattentive to a greater degree than a normal child would be inattentive. The affected child is not able to concentrate or focus on a particular activity or thing for longer periods of time. Sometimes part of the problem is thought to be having a lack of flexibility with attention focus. This can (although not necessarily always) create a need for the child to have special educational needs.

Forgetfulness. The child affected by ADD or ADHD will frequently forget things they have just learned or have just been taught. A particular place where this is noted is with teenagers who are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, who are about 400% more likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease. Doctors attribute this to the fact that teenagers forget about the dangers of unprotected sex due to their inability to focus.

There are other symptoms, but a concrete diagnosis should be left to professionals since the various symptoms, which are much more than those listed here, can also indicate other disorders, where treatment options would be very different. For example, many of the symptoms that may indicate ADD or ADHD could also be symptoms of Autism or Aspergers. Please see Autism Explained and Aspergers Syndrome Explained for more information about these afflictions.

The bottom line is that understanding the affliction and early diagnosis are keys to helping the afflicted person cope with and deal with this disorder.
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.

Brainwave Entrainment Stress Management Strategies For Peak Performers

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.
relaxation meditation for sleep | nature sounds to sleep to
Stressed Defined

Stress can deteriorate your health faster than any disease. Many people suffer physically when they’re dealing with chronic psychological stress. Since stress can affect you physically,mentally and emotionally, we can say that you won’t be safe until you get your problems under control with the proper stress management techniques.

Stress is defined as a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the ability to perform. Thus, stress is put in a negative light and its positive effects ignored. However, stress can be helpful and good when it motivates people to accomplish more.

Monitor Your Stress Threshold

In most cases, stress usually starts mentally rather than physically. Since both are linked and work in tandem of your existence, we can say that the more affected you are with your problems, the more negative effect you will feel on your body. To deal with this, you need to be in tune with your own body when enduring common stressors of modern life. Fatigue, recurrent infections, trouble sleeping (insomnia), and irritability are some of the signs that your body is reaching its limit in coping with your stress.

Common Signs & Symptoms of Stress Include

Frequent headaches, jaw clenching or pain

Gritting, grinding teeth

Neck ache, back pain, muscle spasms

Light headedness, faintness, dizziness

Frequent colds, infections, herpes sores

Unexplained or frequent “allergy” attacks

Difficulty breathing, sighing

Chest pain, palpitations

Poor sexual desire or performance

Excess anxiety, worry, guilt, nervousness

Increased anger, frustration, hostility

Effects of Stress

If you let your stress go unchecked it can lead to heart disease, central obesity, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety disorders–even cancer.

Stress Management Strategies

There are plenty of techniques that can help with stress and reduce the effect on your health. Breathing exercises can help regulate your oxygen intake and will help you relax. Others include regular exercise, prayer, meditation, biofeedback, brainwave entrainment, and intelligent dietary habits. Brainwave entrainment technology combines music with various brainwaves that help you fall asleep, meditate, stay calm under pressure, focus or any desired mental state.

You could take sleeping pills or anti-depressant medicines to help you along – these are addictive though. Did I mention that most prescription medicines have many dangerous side effects, just listen to all of the fine print at the end of TV commercials. You’re better off with natural products such as Valerian Root or St John’s Wort.

Hlelpful links. National Institute of Mental Health [http://www.nimh.nih.gov/]
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.

Brainwave Entrainment Improve Your Brain Power The Easy And Fun Way

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.
meditation centre | daily meditation
Stress, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and other harmful habits can all contribute to the deterioration of the brain even at an early age of 30. Nowadays, people with graying hair are not the only ones struggling to remember names, places, dates and other important things, some members of younger generations are becoming forgetful as well.

Much like the muscles in your body, your brain will regain strength and vitality if you use it and sharpen it with a daily mental workout. However, not all people are keen on reading books, solving crossword puzzles and getting into Japanese numbers game like Sudoku. If you are one of the many individuals who easily get bored with brain workouts, you do not have to worry about losing the edge of your mind. Actually, there are many fun and interesting ways to boost your brain power and here are some of them:

Sample Brainwave Entertainment

Brainwave entertainment, which uses the latest technology in binaural beat research, is designed to put the mind into a relaxed and meditative state. This kind of entertainment provides a condition where your mind becomes open for analytical thinking. Through CDs and audiotapes, brainwave technology will make use of tools that will help condition your brainwaves. Surf the Net to learn more about this technology.

Max The Slumber Time

People who are sleep deprived are often cranky and slow thinking. If you want to have a sharp mind, you really need to improve your sleeping habits, ensure that you get at least seven to eight hours of sleep each day. When you sleep, your brain shorts out your short-term memory and organizes everything that you learned for the day so that you can easily access these data when you need them. If you perpetually lack sleep, your brain will not have enough time to store your memory in the right places. As a result, you cannot remember dates, names, faces, and even where you placed your keys.

Get An Imaginary Friend

Many people think that talking to an imaginary friend is just child’s play or a sign of mental lapses. Actually, having imaginary friends and interacting with them can help you access the data stored in your subconscious mind. Just make sure that your imaginary friend is someone who is erudite or good; it would be scary and quite dangerous if you opt to have Freddy Kruger as your imaginary guest and confidante.

Sing Out Loud

If you are alone in your bathroom or in your car, you can always try making up lyrics to the song played on the radio. If you are trying to remember a name, an address or a number, you can always sing it to a tune that you like. This will greatly help in exercising the right side of your brain and help you enhance your problem-solving skills.

Never Stop Being Curious

Maintain an inquisitive mind and do not accept the status quo. A fun and mentally stimulating exercise can be made by questioning almost anything that you see. Just like when you were a kid, ask questions and seek the answers. Why is the sky blue? How does the car engine work? What is the meaning of life? These are countless scientific and philosophical questions that can help tickle your mind a bit.

Laughter Is Indeed A Potent Medicine

Whenever you laugh, you release endorphins, which are effective in bringing down stress levels. People who enjoy life and are not slaves to stress usually have more healthy brains. Furthermore, laughter also helps in making an individual more open to new knowledge and ideas.

Pop Your Way To A Healthy Brain

Don’t be afraid to pop a pill to help you maximize your brain potentials. There are many brain enhancing vitamins and supplements in the market that contain herbs and natural ingredients that promote healthier brain. But you need to carefully check if all the ingredients of the product you are planning to use are safe. One popular brain booster is Neurovar. Know more about this product by visiting http://www.Neurovar.com.
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.

Brainwave Entrainment Stress Management

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.
best guided meditation app | binaural audio
Stress management to me means learning that the inside of my body is mine to control no matter what is happening outside of it.

Stress, stress chemistry, whatever you want to call it, is an option then, unless I need to respond quickly to a real threat.

Think driving home and someone swerves into your lane, and I bet just thinking about that brought a bit of a jangle to your body.

That jangle followed an image in your brain or maybe the very rapid recall of that kind of experience from your past, and the jangle was a stress response, or what John Gottman, Ph.D. calls DPA, or diffuse physiological arousal, and that stress response in this case followed a past or future memory, which occurred while you were reading information at your computer.

Stress management must be based on that very simple experience. The chemistry in your body, in this case adrenalin and cortisol, follows closely on your thoughts, so closely that it is faster than you can blink your eyes, which takes all of 1/10th second.

The stress response, or DPA as Gottman calls it, will limit us to three behavioral options at its strongest, run for your life, flee for your life, or freeze, none of which are going to help your gracefully accept a gift of fruit cake from your aging Aunt this Christmas, although you may consider fruit cake to be a deadly threat.

The key to stress management then is not to eliminate stress but to learn management tools that allow you to steer your body like you steer your car, with lots of small changes.

If you think about how you drive, you are attending to a significant number or variables and adjusting the position of the vehicle on the road, accelerating, slowing, etc. constantly.

If we can do that with the inside of our body frequently, and adjust our thoughts and breathing, we can quickly manage a stress response.

How Quickly?

Ever heard of EEG biofeedback, or heart rate variability biofeedback?

EEG biofeedback is a tool which helps folks learn how to manage brainwaves which can cycle anywhere from around 4 cycles per second to 42 cycles per second.

Heart rate variability biofeedback can work at your pulse rate, which we will say is 70 beats per minute for the sake of discussion.

While not as fast as EEG Biofeedback, heart rate variability biofeedback is plenty fast for my stress management process, and since technology is so wonderful, I do have a program to recommend that you learn for very rapid stress management, literally heart beat by heart beat.

Earlier I mentioned John Gottman,Ph.D., who has done some amazing research about marriage, and about the masters of marriage.

He says the masters of marriage have developed the ability to recognize and soothe themselves when they are flooded, and Gottman’s recommended tool for that recognition is to take your pulse and if your pulse rate is over 100 beats per minute, then take a time out for 20 minutes.

The program I like for a quicker version of this recognition and choice process is a version of heart rate variability biofeedback.

Not only can I use heart rate variability biofeedback as a stress management antidote, I can practice it for joyful generativity.

I mean why not keep the inside of my body coherent, based on my heart rate coherence, until such time as someone swerves their car into my lane?

(That swerving cannot happen near me until I am actually driving, right)?

Stress Management or Joyful Generativity?

Lots of my anger management and domestic violence clients report that since they only get mad every so often, they are not in need of anger management or domestic violence services.

Most of us who are not suffering heart attacks routinely may look at stress management the same way, I only need to manage stress when the boogey man attacks.

I want to suggest that waiting to manage stress is deadly. I also want to suggest that if stress is optional, so is joy.

Since my feelings follow only my thoughts, not anything external, I see no reason not to generate some joy or contentment on a regular basis, say every five minutes, for two heart beats.

Instead of adrenalin and cortisol, and the jangley feeling, I can feel contentment and have a lot of DHEA flowing through my body, which is the anti aging hormone by the way, and all that joyful generativity comes from learning heart rate variability biofeedback, which is a really simple process.

In fact, if you are a business person, your entire staff should learn Heartmath, so staff meetings could have a coherent heart beat.

Just imagine that your entire staff, or your family took a moment to make the brain in their hearts coherent, and then brought that coherent cooperative and affiliative physiology to a staff meeting instead of the jangly physiology?

Staff meetings could become fun and truly efficient.

Don’t believe me? You will just have to check out stress management the heart rate variability way.
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.

Brainwave Entrainment Stress Management Tips

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.
beta waves music | soothing music
Stress management tips generally tend to lean toward the advice kinds of tips, organize your schedule, re-arrange some aspect of your external life, and those are important aspects of stress management tips.

However, as a student of personal growth and counseling for about 30 years, I have gone inside if you will with stress management, and I work on my own stress using an entirely different set of tools these days, because stress is an inside job.

Whether it is eustress or distress, the physiology is internal, and it follows very rapidly some interpretation of sensory data, which happens in my brain.

If I am under actual attack, or I am hunting I need to mobilize a stress physiology fast, in much less time than it takes to blink my eyes, in order to stay alive.

The normal order of stress is that we then rest, assuming a successful outcome to our defense.

However, when I mobilize that intense chemistry inside my body because the natural gas bill is larger than I expected, and then sustain that chemistry unnecessarily, I am creating a situation inside my body that will lead to many kinds of distress.

Here the interpretation of sensory data is that my resources are not large enough to take care of the problem of the too high utility bill.

In this latter stressful situation, I need to change the thought to change the feeling, at the very least, because I need to bring back the chemistry of eustress or eustasis.

This stress response to too high utility bills is not life threatening in the sense that a saber tooth tiger leaping out of the bushes is, and my stress response for tigers actually limits my options for problem solving for utility bills.

Too much cortisol and adrenalin actually decrease neurogenesis, the growth of new brain cells, and neuroplasticity, which is my brain’s desire to form new connections. The impact of greater neuronal connectivity is what we call knowledge and problem solving ability through brain storming.

Stress Management Tip #1

Stress physiology is an option, unless you are under an actual attack.

Stress physiology can be changed to relaxation physiology, and I will move back and forth between the two physiology’s many times each day, so I need to learn how to recognize those physiologies and steer them like I steer my car, with many thousands of small adjustments.

Ever notice how sometimes you may drive home and when you get there not remember anything about your trip?

Well, your body knows how to drive so well that it will get you home safely while your mind is on other problems.

We want to be that aware of our internal physiology and relaxing or getting aroused as need be and then relaxing again.

If you are driving home and see a kid shooting hoops in the driveway let the ball get past, and the child turns to run out into the street to get the basketball without looking, you need a stress response to protect the child and yourself and other drivers from this unexpected development, and once the danger is behind you, you need to consciously let go of the stress.

How fast can you let go of the stress? In a heartbeat? Doing heart rate variability biofeedback….

Stress Management Tip #2.

Technology has given us a wonderful tool to manage the inside of our body heart beat by heart beat, using thinking and breathing tools, and once I have practiced this a few times, because it is easy to learn, I can cue a relaxation response, actually much more than a relaxation response, on any given heart beat.

The name of this tool is called Heartmath and it has grown out of another new field of knowledge, neurocardiology, which is the study of the hearts own nervous system.

It turns out that your heart has a brain, which can learn and make decisions independently of any other brain I have. In fact, the heart’s brain sends much more data about how we are doing emotionally up than the upper brain sends down.

Just like EEG brainwaves can be trained so that I manage attentional styles, heart rate variability coherence can be trained so that I can manage the time between heart beats.

A coherent heart beat feels good, and bathes the inside of my body with the anti aging hormone DHEA, rather than adrenalin and cortisol, which diminish or stop neurogenesis and neuroplasticity if present too much or too frequently.

Heart rate variability biofeedback also opens the higher perceptual centers of the brain too, for brain storming, so I want to learn to use this tool regularly.

Since I am a late life parent of late life children, I want to manage the aging process, and not trust that I have good genes.

Heart rate variability is a key piece of my aging wellness process, along with the use of various computerized brain fitness programs which help me continue high rates of neurogenesis and neuroplasticity.

And there is research on them, particularly the IMPACT study from April of 2009.

Stress management is an inside job, and can be steered, like I steer my car, with thousands of small adjustments to changing variables. That way I do not hit any potholes.
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.

Brainwave Entrainment Take the Stress Out of Sex Using Brainwave Entrainment

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.
relaxing music sounds | meditation music download free relaxation
Stress kills a great sexual experience, on so many different levels, including, and maybe most importantly, in the mind. Brainwave entrainment is a clinically proven neurological tool that uses sound to coax dominant brainwaves into a specific frequency, that is conducive to remove stress, which then frees the mind and body enabling a better sexual experience.

Sex on Stress

· When you are stressed, your brainwave frequency is in high beta, and in this state, your brain releases too much of cortisol, a stress hormone. This hormone shuts everything down, literally, that doesn’t have to do with your survival. Having great sex, in the brain’s perception, does not have anything to do with your survival, so it is one of the first things to go.

· Your brain cells talk to each other and when stressed, hormones knock out the happy messengers, and you can become depressed. Depression sucks the life out of having sex.

· If you are in a constant state of stress, you cannot tune into your partner or even the moment, for that matter. You just won’t “feel” the moment.

· While in this stressed state, ridiculous fears will arise, and you will start worrying about things like the appearance of your body… (you know what I mean-do you think she’ll notice the birthmark on my butt kind of thoughts)… or your performance, or where your relationship is going. You’ll start worrying about everything except what is at hand-a sexual experience.

· Because you are in this state, you attract that insecure thinking right back from your partner. More times than not, if you are stressed and not “in the moment”, your partner won’t be either and is probably just going through the motions (as are you, really).

· You will notice this and it will distress you. Your fight or flight response, from the limbic brain will go off.

· And then WAM, your body constricts your blood vessels (yes, your genitals have blood vessels), reducing blood flow everywhere except for the parts that you might need to run or fight. And you usually don’t fight or run with your genitals. (FYI, a cockfight is a blood sport between two roosters).

· Erection and vaginal engorgement all go away.

· Sex is over.

Entrainment Gives Back Your Libido

· Brainwave entrainment will alter your brainwaves and take you out of the high-beta frequency. Once you have left this state, stress disappears and the brain releases hormones and opiates that make the mind happy. Worries disappear, and you feel great relief which leads to all kinds of good feelings. And if you train your brain to go to this “happy place”, over time (about the time a habit take to form), this nice space will become your new default.

· When your brain is releasing endorphins, it heightens your ability to sense your body, and your partner,and the good emotions associated with your sexual experience.

· You’ll almost feel psychic because you’ll be able to pick up what emotions you and your partner are feeling.

· Everything about you, will pay attention to your sexual experience and by law of attraction, like attracting like, your partner will be paying attention, too.

· Because you’ll be able to almost read your partner’s mind, and know what it is they’d like to experience, you will become a better lover.

· And if you are a better lover, you’ll have a better sexual experience, free from stress.

Brainwave entrainment can take the stress out of sex, release “good-feeling” hormones, and enable you to have a great sexual experience.
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.

Brainwave Entrainment Stop The Overproduction Of Cortisol With Brainwave Entrainment

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.
alpha brain waves meditation | soft relaxing music
Stress is your body’s way of responding to the good and bad experiences that cross your path in this very busy, manic life we all live in. Brainwave entrainment can stop the release of overproducing stress hormones like cortisol and activate areas of the brain that remove that excess cortisol, repairing the damage it may have caused.

Brainwave entrainment synchronizes your brain’s dominant frequency to a specific repeated rhythmic frequency, using isochronic tones or binaural beats, to alter your state of consciousness. Entrainment will stimulate different areas of the brain releasing different chemicals for a specified unique experiences….like the removal of stress and anxiety.

When you feel stress, your brain releases chemicals into your blood that give you tons of energy and strength. This is fantastic if you are in physical danger. It’s not so fantastic if there is no physical danger and you are reacting to something emotional and there is no place for all of that energy and strength to go. You worry, and worry some more, building it up, storing it in your mind and body.

Your brain changes.

Your body changes because it swallows all of those stress hormones, and begins to weaken.

What Too Much Cortisol Does To Your Mind and Body

Suppresses your immune system by telling it to shut down and die.
Messes up healing
Will course through your body for three days after 20 minutes of stress.
Shrinks your thymus gland-it regulates your immune system
Encourages your immune system to attack your body’s own tissue, leading to any number of autoimmune system diseases like lupus, arthritis, IBS, and fibromyalgia.
Suppresses the production and activity of white blood cells so they lose their ability to work in the immune system.
Inhibits the production of natural killer cells that are responsible for identifying and destroying cancer and virus cells.
Accelerates the growth of cancer cells.
Encourages the growth of new blood cells in tumours.
Deposits fat around your abdomen which contributes to heart disease, high blood pressure, impaired cognition, high cholesterol.
Suppresses thyroid function.
Decreases bone density.
Imbalances blood sugar maybe leading to diabetes.
Slows down wound healing.
Creates the need for higher levels of hormones-thyroid, insulin, estrogen, testosterone-to do the same job.
Is toxic to brain cells.
Causes short term memory loss.
May contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and senile dementia.
Is the primary cause of osteoporosis.

How Brainwave Entrainment Curbs The Overproduction Of Cortisol

Brainwave entrainment stimulates the creation of new neural pathways between the right and left hemispheres of your brain, balancing it, while releasing chemicals that reduce and repair the damages of cortisol.

Calms your body and mind while it maintains alertness. You’ll go inside and lose sight of the physical world for a while.
Allows you to sleep better, fall asleep easily, stay asleep through the night. When we sleep, we heal.
Lowers the cortisol levels while boosting your immune system.
Reduces levels of other stress-related neurochemicals like adrenaline, norepinephrine, ACTH.
Increases levels of DHEA and Melatonin.

Melatonin helps you create a restorative sleep, so that you have good physical energy when you are awake, by triggering the body to self-heal. Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that rids the body of toxins that can stimulate cancer cells.

DHEA is a steroid hormone that is referred to as the “superhormone”. Heavy amounts of cortisol depletes the body of DHEA, leaving your body susceptible to aging and disease. When entrainment releases high levels of DHEA, your body is at its vibrant and healthy best, able to fend off disease effectively. This hormone is the best buffer against cortisol.

Releases neurochemicals that secret natural opiates or endorphins that raise your sense of happiness while lowering anxiety and depression.
Activates dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is associated with the pleasure system of your brain, providing feelings of enjoyment and reinforcement, to motivate you to perform certain activities or think in certain ways that will be rewarding to you.

Brainwave entrainment synchronizes your brain’s dominant frequency to a specific repeated, rhythmic frequency using isochronic tones or binaural beats, to alter your state of consciousness.

Entrainment will stimulate areas of the brain releasing different chemical for a specified unique experience….like the removal of stress and anxiety.

Neural synchronization creates states of deep meditation and gives you the benefits of long-term, deep meditation, but much more quickly.You can feel the effects almost immediately.

You’ll feel a sense of something letting go…like what it feels like to take off a too tight, pair of jeans.
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.

Brainwave Entrainment The Three Stages Of Stress

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.
delta meditation | betabrand
Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or challenge that doesn’t have an outlet or resolution. When the “fight or flight” signal is activated, the mind triggers different organs to dump large amounts of stress hormones and chemicals into the body. If there is no let up, no counterbalance to the stress response, the stress hormones will continue dumping into the blood stream, eventually causing harm, by breaking down the body.

First Stage Of Stress-The Alarm Reaction

Body releases adrenaline and cortisol to combat stress and stay in control in direct response to the “fight or flight” reaction.
Your heart beats faster, more blood coming to it because the immune system, reproductive system, and gastrointestinal system are shutting down.
You breathe faster and sweat more.
Your muscles tense, ready to help you run if you need to.
Your eyes dilate so you can take everything in.
Your stomach clenches.

Second Stage Of Stress-When The Stressor Doesn’t Go Away

Body keeps releasing adrenaline and cortisol, stress hormones.
Your blood pressure rises.
Your blood sugar levels rise so that you have energy to run if you need to.
Your body starts breaking down and is left vulnerable to disease.

Third Stage of Stress-The Exhaustion Reaction

Body has run out of its reserve of body energy and immunity.
Your head aches, you can’t sleep, and you may develop ulcers or even asthma.
You suffer mentally, physically, and emotionally.
The adrenals, that produce the stress hormones, become exhausted.
Your blood sugar levels decrease leading to less stress tolerance and illness.
Depression and anxiety are well established.
Fatigue sets in.
The immune system falters making the body more susceptible to illness, infection, and diseases like cancer, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.
Arteries clog by large amounts of cholesterol released by the body during stress.
Addiction may come into play if the stressor doesn’t go away.
Your heart rate stays elevated.
Your blood pressure stays high, sometimes even when you are on medication.
Your gastrointestinal system is all out of whack. You can experience IBS, diarrhea, constipation and great stomach pain.
You can’t sleep.
You pee all the time.
You feel nauseous and may even vomit through the course of the day.
Your mouth is dry.
Your hands are cold.
You are itchy, and you can’t find a reason why.
You get startled easily.
You hurt all the time, and the doctor can’t find a physical reason.

Once stress has reached the third level, you are in serious trouble and need to find a way to alleviate the high stress in your life.

Brainwave entrainment is a clinically proven technology that can change your brainwaves by manipulating your brain with specially designed recordings. Entrainment has been shown to be very beneficial in the treatment of stress, actually reversing its damages to the body.

Don’t wait for the third stage of stress.

Get rid of that stress, as soon as possible, before it harms you and your body permanently.
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.

Brainwave Entrainment Combat Stress Using Audio Books

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.
relaxing music | brain wave frequency
Stress is the bane of many people’s lives – in fact some studies would suggest that we ALL suffer from stress of one kind or another. Whether this is true or not, we surely could all benefit from some of the suggested remedies to stress and one of the most effective is losing ourselves into another world. People don’t connect the fact that because audio books are narrated, they are almost like drama – so we can really lose ourselves in the story. Even non-fiction books can be very soothing, so here are some general guidelines to follow when using audio books to de-stress.

o To wash away stress, try taking a 20-minute “sound bath.” Put a relaxing audio book on your MP3 player or CD player, then lie in a comfortable position on a couch or on the floor near the speakers. For a deeper experience, you can wear headphones to focus your attention and to avoid distraction.

o Choose a book with a slow rhythm – maybe even the brain wave type audio books – and let it do its work on you.

o As the book plays, allow it to wash over you, rinsing off the stress from the day. Focus on your breathing, letting it deepen, slow and become regular. Concentrate on the silence between the words in the book; this makes relaxation more complete.

o If you need stimulation after a day of work, go for a self development book or something associated with a high achiever. Concentrate on the fact that you’re just as good as they are and dream about a BIG goal that would make your life complete.

o When going gets tough, go for a book that’s easy listening and a really good story that you can lose yourself in – easy for a short time.

o Take walks with your favorite book playing on the walkman or MP3 player – perhaps on the way to work or the gym. I find a self motivation tape like Tony Robbins can really help you reassess your life and aim higher.

o Listening to brainwave music has been scientifically proven to have a positive effect on your brain and hence your life. Don’t be put off by feeling that it’s all a bit ‘new age’. It is relatively new, but be grateful that research has proved that we can alter our mental states almost mechanically.

Stress can often be relieved by just giving our brains a short rest and treating them to some stimulation. Why not try it the next time you’re feeling frazzled?
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.

Brainwave Entrainment How to Overcome Stress With Isochronic Tones Brainwave Entrainment MP3s

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.
different brain waves | ambient meditation music
Stress is rampant in modern Western societies. Combine that with poor eating habits and lack of exercise and you’ve got the current scenario where the new generations are less likely to live as old as the ones that came before them. Stress doesn’t just reduce lifespan; it dramatically hampers our quality of life. So what can be done about it?

Ideally, a major lifestyle change would take place in our societies. Most of us need to exercise more and balance out our responsibilities with the need to take some time for ourselves. We need to gradually change our consuming habits to alleviate stressful debt loads, material clutter and toxins we put in our bodies. Whatever your situation may be, there are probably lifestyle changes that can significantly reduce your stress levels – but these also need to happen over time and gradually, otherwise they aren’t likely to endure.

Isochronic Tones: An Audio Technology To Quickly Induced Relaxed States

On the path to achieving a more balanced and wholesome existence, there is an interesting and effective audio technology that can quickly bring about relaxed states: isochronic tones.

Isochronic tones are sound recordings that consist of repetitive sound pulses that synchronize brainwaves to the frequencies of the sounds themselves. It is a form of brainwave entrainment. If you listen to isochronic tones designed to slow down your brainwaves, your body and mind will naturally become calmer as you enter a more peaceful state of consciousness.

Extensive scientific research has demonstrated that while we are busy during our daily activities, our brains operate in what is called the beta frequency range. This means the brain generates brainwaves between 12 and 30 Hertz – an active and relatively speedy state to be in. A stressed person would be generating brainwaves in the higher end of that range. This has direct consequences on other physiological and psychological functions: the heart beats faster, the breath is shorter, the mind is crowded…

Spending Time In The Alpha State

Isochronic tones designed to reduce stress slow down the brainwaves from their active beta range to the alpha level of 8-12 Hz. These are the same brainwaves that naturally occur when the body and mind are in relaxed states. As our minds settle into these frequencies, relaxation naturally ensues. There is nothing to do, really, except to allow the sounds to gently slow down our brainwaves.

Spending time in the alpha state is regenerative and necessary to enjoy a wholesome life. We can, of course, do it by ourselves with meditation and engaging relaxing activities such as visualizations or simply enjoying a quiet moment. But even as stressful situations continue to be part of our lives, isochronic tones can offer a great helping hand in maintaining balance.

Isochronic tones recordings can be combined to aforementioned relaxation activities or be utilized on their own. Quality isochronic tones MP3s will have some relaxing music to accompany the tones. This makes for a more pleasant experience than just listening to repetitive sound pulses. Expect to induce relaxed states in 15-25 minutes with a brainwave entrainment recording. It may be safely listened to more than once a day. While headphones are not necessary they are recommended as they help to block out surrounding distractions.
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.