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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It is no secret nowadays that brainwave entrainment works although some sectors of the neuro-psychological and medical fields are still not totally sold-out on this technology. It has been proven that using binaural tones or beats in stereo result to the entrainment of brain waves. Another type of tone or beat has also been discovered – the isochronic type. For the sake of those who do not know, while binaural tones (which, by the way was discovered way back in 1839 and only started gaining popularity in 1973) require the use of stereo equipment in order to take effect, isochronic tones do not. Isochronic tones are basically mono. And the latest buzz is that isochronic beats perform better in entraining brainwaves! What if we use both? A binaural-isochronic combination. What is its effect in our all too average mental prowess and our brain evolution?
The creation of a binaural tone sound file is relatively easy, given the proper software. There are several software available today that can satisfactorily deliver in terms of outputting stereo sound containing binaural tones or beats. One needs only to create a tone in one channel, say the left channel, and another tone differing by a few hertz in the other channel. In case a ramp is desired, that is, a binaural tone that either gradually increases or decreases its beats over a specific period of time, then the same basic procedure is repeated, although, depending on the software used, creating a ramp may be a bit more complex than making a plain steady binaural tone. The use of a ramp, by the way, is a quicker approach of invoking the frequency following response (FFR) for brainwave entrainment purposes.
In creating an isochronic tone, the same procedure may be applied but this time, the aim is to output a mono file, or at least a sound file that contains the same sound on both channels. Now, making a binaural-isochronic combination gets to be a bit more complicated in that the alignment of both the isochronic beats and the binaural beats have to be precise in order to be effective. And the difficulty increases when ramps are involved in the process. This is why one does not get to see a lot of products out there that can claim to have both types of beats in them.
What is so novel about a binaural-isochronic combination? First off, it has been established that people who do not have 100% hearing capacities have less chances of benefitting fully from listening to a purely binaural tone sound file. Isochronic beats tend to help them in this area. Secondly, while isochronic tones can be thought of as an external approach, binaural is internal. Researches sometimes refer to the binaural beat as the ‘third beat’. While the 2 tones are heard from the outside through the stereo channels, the binaural beat is supposed to be heard internally by the brain. It does not exist. It is only the brain’s interpretation of the 2 external stimuli. Thus, combining binaural and isochronic tones makes for a dual approach to the brainwave entrainment process; a synchronized internal-external attack. Common sense alone tells us that a combination of two effective approaches would result to a more effective outcome. And the good thing is, new research findings also turn out to be in agreement with this assumption. Given a widespread utilization of this technology, it is a certainty that the human brain evolution would leap from its current average use of 10% capacity to something way way above this.
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.