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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Throughout our day the brain operates on different frequency waveforms. When a person is entering a state of deep relaxation, such as falling asleep, meditation or hypnosis, the brain changes to a lower frequency.
This change in frequency can be induced by synchronizing the brain with brainwave entrainment recordings. These recordings have been specially prepared to allow the brain to enter the different states of mind at will, and there are entrainment recordings for many different uses.
Here are the different brainwave frequencies;
Beta 12Hz to 38Hz – Beta is a wide awake, focused and alert state of mind, often when a person is at the peak of mental and physical performance. This state can not be maintained for long periods without exhaustion and anxiety setting in.
Alpha 7Hz to 12Hz – Alpha is associated with mental coordination and resourcefulness. A relaxed but alert state, with calmness and inner focus. Deep breathing and closed eyes can intensify alpha production.
Theta 4Hz to 7Hz – Theta is a state of learning and deep meditation. It is the threshold of the subconscious and a state of dreaming.
Delta 0.5Hz to 4Hz – Delta are the brainwaves we generate when we are in a deep sleep. Delta is associated with cellular repair, low blood pressure and low breathing cycles.
There are also higher frequencies such as Gamma (38Hz to 90Hz) Hyper Gamma (around 100Hz) and Lamda (around 200Hz)
These often work in conjunction with the main brainwave entrainment frequencies to intensify the brainwave entrainment process.
By allowing the brain to synchronize with these frequencies the mind can enter many different states and allow us to achieve things that we once thought impossible.
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.