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.
binaural beats benefits | binaural beats focus
Monaural beats, isochronic tones and binaural beats downloads are all types of brainwave frequency recordings which can easily be downloaded for use at home. The method that they use is called brainwave entrainment which is a method of reprogramming the brain without effort and inducing a meditative or mind altering state
Although there are machines which use not only sounds, but combine flashing lights, to induce brainwave entrainment patterns, the easy way of experiencing the phenomena is through brainwave entrainment mp3 or CD recordings, of which the former have the advantage of being immediate accessible and portable so that they can be played back for listening at home or on the move.
There is no need to invest in an expensive electronic machine to sample the benefits of brainwave entrainment as there are a variety of downloads made available for a diverse range of effects, such as:
Opening Chakras
Energy boost
Increased Confidence
Creativity
Boost immune system
Auric reading
All of these utilize the ability of brainwave entrainment to induce a pattern of behaviour associated with a specific brainwave frequency. The way that binaural beats work is by exploiting the brain’s tendency to decipher two closely related frequencies as a single beat. This effect is likely to explain why certain musical passages have proved to have a beneficial effect on the audience.
Monaural beats downloads and isochronic tones are also brainwave entrainment methods but employ a slightly different, but very effective, method of affecting the brain. They target specific frequencies directly and have a longer lasting and more specific effect on the brain and can be played through loudspeakers rather than having to be played through headphones as is the case with binaural beats mp3s.
Our hearing is generally not able to sense any frequencies lower than 20 cycles per second (20Hz) so binaural beats are very effective in being able to induce the effect by using a frequency of say 106Hz in one channel and 100Hz in the other thus creating an effect of a 6Hz beat and as the brain synchronises with this beat the effect will be to go into an alpha state.
Similarly, the frequencies can be used to produce a motivational effect, or energy boost and there are even sessions targeted at accentuating psychic senses and chakra opening.
The ambient noises laid down as a backing track for these sessions are very pleasant and relaxing to help the beats take effect. When the beats are targeted to reach Alpha and Theta states all psychic and intuitive powers can be sharpened and tuned and the ability to facilitate these altered mind states is one of the most popular uses of 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.
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.