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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Many experts will tell you that IQ scores (and general intelligence levels) are static and cannot by increased. Surprisingly, these experts manage to completely ignore a mass of evidence to the contrary.Evidence which is growing daily, and is very difficult to ignore. First of all, cognitive abilities are not static. Scores on IQ tests can fluctuate based on numerous factors: general health, stress level, anxiety, the presence of conditions such as ADD or ADHD, sleep regularity, etc. Even more than that, many recent studies have shown that IQ can be significantly increased using certain treatment methods. In other words, yes you can absolutely increase your IQ.
Here is one fascinating example: Professor Thomas Budzynski conducted experiments with a small group of underachieving college students from Western Washington University. Using a method called brain entrainment (using light and/or sound pulses to change the brains electrical patterns), the students all experienced significant improvements on both test scores and IQ tests. Amazingly, the students continued to improve even AFTER the treatments had ended. In yet another study, Budzynski found that this therapy could also increase the cognitive abilities of the elderly. The study participants showed measurable increases in bloodflow to the brain and increased cognitive function.
In another study, Drs. Susan and Siegfried Othmer found that significant IQ increases were possible using brainwave training.
The most startling results were in subjects with ADHD who had a starting IQ under 100… in these cases, IQ scores shot up by 33 points on average.
Numerous other tests have confirmed the above findings: using brainwave technology, it is possible to raise your IQ and increase cognitive function. Exactly how is this possible? Budzynski’s study found that when participant’s brainwaves were stimulated, bloodflow to the brain was increased. The excellent results of using brainwave technology on ADHD cases suggests that focus and mental clarity are also involved, and in fact focus and clarity themselves may result from specific brainwave states. But what if you are not a senior? What if you don’t have ADHD? Is it still possible to increase your IQ? Yes, absolutely.
Study participants without any existing conditions measured dramatic increases in IQ, from 5 to 15 points on average. Also, study participants treated with brainwave therapy routinely reported feelings of increased calm, focus, lowered anxiety and better learning, even after the experiments were over. So why do people persist in thinking that IQ is a static number? It is quite simple: Old beliefs die hard, particularly when they shake the foundation of blindly accepted scientific beliefs.
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.