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 music | nature sounds
Many people, once they reach a certain point in their meditation progress, feel that they need something more. In such cases, different people come to different conclusions. For example, some people believe that they need to go out and buy a special chair, or go learn new techniques. However, I have found a series of audio that combines the use of relaxing effects with the implementation of technologically advanced tones which force the human brain to operate on a different, more meditation-friendly frequency.
Once I started listening to the audio tracks, I began to notice a difference in my overall consciousness and “deepness” in my meditations within a week! I read somewhere that the effectiveness and overall improvement of listening to such a technology was comparable to the progress that very focused, passionate meditators (such as certain monks) are only able to achieve within years!
The secret is that these products force the brain to “switch gears,” or more specifically, frequencies. There are four main frequencies of the brain, and the most important of these frequencies is the Theta frequency. The Theta waves result in the mind entering a dream like sleep state, but, one conscious, it allows the mind to enter such a deeper state of meditation, which would only naturally be achieved after a much longer period of meditation.
Another great advantage these products have over that of a chair is that they simply require a small amount of focus, and the extensive progress begins on its own. This product is perfect for people who feel like their meditations have just become repetitive, or feel as though they have simply reached a type of “meditation plateau.”
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.