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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In 1839, a German researcher, Dr. W.H. Dove, discovered the phenomena of binaural beats audio sounds. He discovered that by introducing sounds of different frequencies into each ear simultaneously, the brain would sense this differential and modulate its own frequency to that differential.
Using this fact, Dr. Dove then knew that by varying the frequency differential, the brainwave frequencies could be manipulated for meditative purposes into the lower ranges of alpha and theta. The modern-day implementation of this principle led to binaural meditation. This means now that almost anyone can learn how to become an effective meditator.
The reason to engage in regular meditation sessions is because meditation has a plethora of health benefits and can be used as a preventive health program. Meditation causes the brain to produce a number of beneficial hormones.
The reason that binaural meditation is attractive is because it is much easier to get into a deep meditative state and it can be done more quickly. This allows your mind and body to revitalize and refresh themselves. The effects will be immediate and also establish a base on which to build long-term positive benefits.
When you adopt a consistent routine of binaural meditation using a binaural beats download for about 15-20 minutes a day, you will begin to notice significant results that will continue to improve with each session.
Boost in feeling of self-esteem
Able to find more creative solutions to problems
Higher levels of intelligent approaches and thinking
Decreased levels of cortisol, which is a stress hormone
Mood and behavior will be improved as a result of higher level of serotonin
Able to overcome addictions such as smoking
Immune system becomes stronger
Less likely to have anxiety or stress attacks
Blood pressure is reduced
It will not be as difficult to achieve effective results from meditation with the aid of a binaural beats download. It can be as simple as finding a relaxed and quiet environment and a set of stereo headphones
The well-known meditation techniques such as sitting, yoga, tai chi, will take longer to learn and more practice. The technique with binaural meditation has a shorter learning curve and is more convenient and easier to use.
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.