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 has been scientifically documented that people with attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have different brainwave patterns than most other people. When people with attention deficit disorders attempt to study, read a book, or write an article, their brainwaves remain in the theta brainwave state. Typically, attention problems stem from lacking beta brainwaves. Beta brain waves are associated with organized thinking, the ability to comprehend vocabulary, and spell words correctly. Beta brain waves are also linked to highly focused and goal-oriented states of mind.
The most common method used to get them out of this state and back in a more conscious, logical, mental state of functioning is through the prescription of stimulant drugs. These stimulant medications literally trigger a spark in the beta brainwave pattern of the person with attention problems. These beta brainwaves then increase and the person with A.D.D. is able to concentrate. There are other methods of increasing beta brain waves that are safer and more effective than taking a stimulant medication that many people don’t even know about.
A few methods include: Neurofeedback, biofeedback, and brainwave entrainment. All of these three methods are safe because they directly target the brainwaves of the person with attention deficit disorder and help them learn how to consciously change their brainwaves from a theta state to a beta state when attention is required. This means that when the person with an attention deficit is forced to write an article or take a test, he or she will be able to call up beta brainwaves for an improved ability to concentrate. When the test is over, he or she will be able to shift their brainwave state back to the theta range.
The goal of brainwave training with neurofeedback, biofeedback, and brainwave entrainment into the beta brainwave range is to help the individual with A.D.D. recognize how to change their brainwave state. Essentially, they are being taught how to change the inner workings of their brain through their brainwaves. The success rate of brainwave technology has been very high for helping people with attention deficit disorder to overcome their problems with focus.
Not to mention, stimulants have been found to have potentially unwanted side-effects and are sometimes even dangerous. Some parents of children with A.D.D. are finally catching on to the fact that there are alternative ways to change brainwaves besides having their son or daughter take medication. New technology to target the deficiency in beta brainwaves is important due to the fact that it does actually work. Too often people with attention deficit problems think that taking medication is the only answer to their problems, when this is clearly not the case.
There have been other forms of technology and practices that have been proven to be effective. Too many times we get caught up in thinking that medication is the only resolution, when we should be considering other techniques like beta brainwave entrainment or beta brain wave geared biofeedback to help overcome the obstacles of mental disorders. If you know someone with attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder that may benefit from changing their brainwaves with new technology, be sure to let them know about this article.
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.