Brainwave Entrainment


Binaural Beats - About Brain Waves - Download MP3 Sample

We are often asked how brainwave entrainment works, and so we have laid out the following information in order to give an introduction to the technology, if you have any questions please do e-mail us. Brainwave entrainment is primarily concerned with brainwave patterns; the human brain is constantly producing electrical signals, which allow the the brains neurons (brain cells) to communicate with each other. Because the brain is literally made up of millions of neurons, the amount of electricity produced is extensive and therefore it is measurable when using certain equipment such as an Electronencephalograhy (EEG) Device. These electrical brain signals are known as 'brainwaves'. The following image shows a brainwave recording from an EEG device:
Brainwaves

 

Frequencies and Entrainment

The aim of brainwave entrainment is to induce the brain into a specific targeted brainwave frequency. It is therefore important to understand the nature of human brainwaves and what they appear to do. EEG recordings show that there are different types of brainwaves each working on a different 'frequency'. These frequencies are measurable in Hz in much the same way a radio signal can be measured. It is interesting to realize that the brain produces different brainwave frequencies depending upon its current activity. For example whilst in daily activity, the brain tends to operate between the frequencies of 12hz to 38hz, this frequency is know as the Beta Frequency. There are also a number of other dominate brainwave frequencies. Using brainwave entrainment each of the following (and any other) frequency can be stimulated within the individuals brain:
  • Beta - 12hz to 38hz: This is the frequency of alert activity - it is the dominate state during our waking hours. When our brainwaves fall below the beta threshold we can often find ourselves entering a more relaxed or sometimes even a 'sluggish' state. Using the beta frequency is an ideal way of increasing our mental alertness.

  • Alpha - 8hz to 11hz: Alpha is the state of relaxation, rest and light meditation. This state is dominate whilst you are awake but not totally mentally active. For example you maybe sitting down and relaxing. The alpha frequency has been noted to be stimulated whilst watching TV, which explains why many people people can relax in front of the TV. The alpha frequency is extremely useful, and is one of the states aimed for whilst meditating.

  • Theta - 3hz to 8hz: We enter the Theta frequency when we first fall asleep. It is also the state our brain enters when we dream, and therefore is often used for hypnosis. The theta brainwave frequency is an extremely deep state, and has been noted in many meditators whilst in a 'altered state of consciousness', for example the frequency of 4.5hz has been observed in Buddhist monks and shamanic traditions.

  • Delta - 0.2hz to 3hz: This is the frequency of deep sleep (some experienced meditators can actually retain awareness during deep sleep by using delta wave entrainment).

In addition to the above, a growing number of scientific studies have shown that the brain and body also respond to a variety of other specific frequencies.

Brainwave Entrainment

BrainwavesBrainwave entrainment is the process of using sound to synchronize brainwaves with a desired frequency. There is a famous experiment made in 1665 by physicist Christiaan Huygens. In this experiment Huygens noticed that two clock pendulums would always synchronize with each other, no matter how unsynchronized they were initially. Brainwave entrainment works in much the same way; when a person listens to a sound set at a specific frequency - after a period of a few minutes the brain will begin to synchronize with the frequency - this is known as Frequency Following Response (or FFR). Using this phenomenon it is possible to induce the human brain into all manner of desired frequencies to achieve specific results. For example when the brainwave synchronizes with a sound set to the frequency of 2hz, it will induce sleep.

There are a number of different brainwave entrainment technologies, each capable of entraining the brain. Some of these technologies are very well known, such as binaural beats, others are less known, yet in most cases are actually more powerful than binaural beats. It is actually possible to use a combination of these technologies to achieve optimal results. Some of the technologies we use on our Brainwave-Sync CDs and MP3s are listed here:
  • Binaural Beats - The human ear is incapable of hearing frequencies as low as those necessary for brainwave entrainment. This is where binaural beats come in; two frequencies are generated, one sent to each ear. For example one ear receives a signal of 100hz whilst the other ear receives 105hz. The brain cancels out the difference between the frequencies, in this case 105hz - 100hz = 5hz. 5hz is a low level theta frequency. Binaural beats are the most common form of brainwave entrainment, but they are by no means the most powerful. This is why we encode all our CDs with other additional forms of entrainment technology.

  • Isochronic Tones - are formed in a very different way than binaural beats. Isochronic tones work by modulating the volume of a tone. This tone then becomes a rhythmic pulse, capable of inducing brainwave entrainment. The 'speed' of the pulse determines the frequency.

  • White Noise - is a signal which covers all frequencies. In very general terms white noise is effective because it forms a constant uninterrupted sound, which is ideal for the mind to focus upon. White noise can be adjusted in tone, and can sound like anything from rain, to waterfalls to hissing. Beware of CDs which claim to be recordings of rain - when they are in fact simply white noise.
We also use a number of other brainwave entrainment technologies, including Harmonic Box X, Monaural Beats amongst others.

All of our entrainment technologies are embedded with great care into the music, audio or sounds used on each CD. In this way we ensure a pleasant listening experience whilst providing the best possible and most powerful entrainment effects.

See this page for information on uses and benefits of brainwave entrainment.
Further details on the Brainwave-Sync Technology.
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