Brainwave Entrainment-Does it really work?

The brain is made up of billions of brain cells called neurons, which communicate with each other using electrical signals. All of these neurons sending signals at once produce a large amount of electrical activity commonly called a Brainwave pattern, because of its "wave" or cyclic-like nature. "Entrainment" is a principle in physics, where two cycles synchronize naturally with each other in order to work more efficiently. Entrainment is applied to chemistry, astronomy, electrical systems and much more, but can also be applied to the brain.

When the brain is provided with a stimulus, through the ears, eyes or other senses, it emits an electrical charge in response. This is called a Cortical Evoked Response. These electrical responses travel throughout the brain to become what an individual sees and hears. When the brain is given a consistent, repeating stimulus, such as drum beats or flashes of light, the brain responds by synchronizing, or entraining, its electric cycles to the external rhythm. This is commonly called the Frequency Following Response (or FFR), and it can be used to effectively alter our brainwave patterns.

In the last 10 years, there have been great advancements in the field of brainwave entrainment as it relates to cognitive functioning. Studies have shown that the brains of many people are actually functioning at low capacity. By targeting the specific brainwave band that is related to states of intense concentration and strong focus, scientists have been able to help individuals improve their academic performance. Entrainment can also be used to induce states of relaxation and even deep states akin to deep meditation. This can have profound benefits for people who are seeking to perform certain types of work, art or even attain certain spiritual states.

Research work related to Brainwave Entrainment

In 1999, the Journal of Neurotherapy published a case study conducted by Thomas Budzynski, Ph.D. In the study Dr. Budzynski used 8 college students who were struggling academically. After undergoing audio-visual brainwave stimulation, the students outperformed a control group and significantly increased their grade point average. The GPA for the 8 students continued to rise even after treatment was discontinued!

Drs. Siegfried and Susan Othmer found that neurofeedback brainwave training in the 15-18 Hz range can produce significant shifts in IQ score, particularly with people who are suffering from ADD/ADHD and other disorders. In cases where the starting IQ value is less than 100, the average IQ increase was 33 points! They also found significant improvements in memory, reading and arithmetic. In a one year follow-up, trainees showed major improvements in self-esteem, concentration and self-expression

A lot of real scientific researches have been put into the study of brainwave entrainment, what it is, how it works and what one can use it for. Most of the evidences show that brainwave entrainment works and works beautifully. There are a few things to note. Firstly, positive results do not come overnight although there have been reported cases of users benefiting from their use almost immediately.

Positive results come with consistent and prolonged usage.It takes time for the brain to become habituated with the new brainwave state.

So in the initial stage, one can expect to fluctuate between one’s “normal” brainwaves and the desired brainwave state. With consistent and prolonged use, usually for at least a month, one can gradually see and feel the difference in mental state. Secondly, not all brainwave entrainment products are the same. They are not. The care, professional knowledge and quality that go into the production of these products do make a great difference to the outcome and effectiveness of the end products.

Binaural Beats and Isochronic Tones

They are the two ways to alter the brainwaves

Binaural beats are the most recognized form of brainwave entrainment because it is the earliest. With binaural beats, a slightly different tone is presented into each ear. The tones then combine in the brain to form a pulse or "beat". The pulse heard by the listener is actually the difference between the two tones. For example, if the left ear is given a tone at 20 hertz and the right ear is given a tone of 30 hertz, then the listener will hear a beat of 10 hertz. And the brain will entrain to that rhythm

While binaural beats are by far the most used form of brainwave entrainment, other more modern methods are quickly gaining popularity. The most promising of the new methods is Isochronic Tones. Isochronic tones are a somewhat less well known form of entrainment; however, they have proven to be much more effective. Isochronic entrainment uses a single tone that is manually spaced, turning on and off in a precise pattern. This actually enhances the effectiveness of audio entrainment.

Ultimately, the studies show that a new day has dawned. For those in pursuit of any type of self development, brainwave entrainment can offer an excellent array of benefits

Brainwave Entrainment-Influence on the Subconscious

You have only one mind, but that one mind possesses two distinct and characteristic functional parts. These two functions of your mind are essentially different from each other. Each has its own separate and distinct attributes and powers. Generally the terms conscious and subconscious are used to represent the duality of the mind. the subconscious mind is the real power center of your being

The brain has the power to readjust itself to perform an activity or enact a mental duty with more precision and more clarity. This is called mental conditioning. the brain’s mental power can be boosted with some easy to obtain chemicals like caffeine. Even nicotine has some energetic effects on the conscious brain. but how can the subconscious be influenced? how can we recondition something that we cannot see. The answer is to use the inherent abilities of the brain to produce wavelengths and condition the mind so that the subconscious is more susceptible to positive affirmation.

Any affirmation or habit has to be repeated a number of times for it to reach the subconscious mind, but using brainwave entrainment the subconscious can be influenced directly. It is not like putting in a message subliminally but reconditioning the subconscious naturally. Brainwave Entrainment evokes the cortical in the brain to fire the right frequencies so that the subconscious can be influenced directly

Brainwave Entrainment and Meditation

Everyone knows that meditation is good and it’s benefits are enormous like improved mind power, increased energy levels, less stress but how many of us follow a strict meditation schedule. It would take hours each day and a long time to attain the greatest benefits of meditation and the one commodity that people lack in the modern age is time, everybody wants instant results.

We all form part of the beta frequency during our daily activities however meditation comes in the alpha state, this is the reason why people who start meditation fail as they are not able to hold their minds in the alpha state. Even if you are able to fine tune your body to function in the alpha state very soon you will find yourself fluctuating between the alpha and theta states. The trick is to hold your mind continuously in the alpha state to blissfully meditate. This goal can be achieved by using binaural beats. These recordings can help you achieve the alpha state naturally and easily

Brainwave meditation CD’s basically contain specially created sounds, when listened to with headphones these sounds help to influence your brainwaves-a process known as Brainwave Entrainment. These sounds basically take your brainwaves down to a low frequency state-similar to that achieved after years of meditation practice.

By listening to these CD’s each day you can begin enjoying the great many benefits of meditation yet without the need for endless years of strict practice

Brainwave Entrainment-Benefits

If you are looking for something that can help you change just about any area of your life, then brainwave entrainment could well be the answer to your prayers. Do you know that we use only about 5% of our brain consciously? There is a lot of potential left unlocked in our minds. current research has revealed that only 30% of the brain has been explored and a large part of it remains unexplored. Science and medicine have established that the brain is capable of much more. Brainwave Entrainment is a technology which can be used to control your brain and make it much more efficient and engineered for success. Currently our brains operate at levels far below the optimum rate of performance, using brainwave entrainment our minds can be conditioned and molded to operate at a high performance level.

When the brain reacts to these tones and goes into these altered states (altered forms of consciousness), various and beneficial neurotransmitters and endorphins are released. These are all necessary neuro-chemicals that our brain and body need to function properly, healthfully and naturally. When the brain is stimulated with pulsed sounds (neuro-electrical activity via the nerves originating from the ears), the overall activity of the brain will respond to and align with these pulses. By selecting the desired rate, the brain via the frequency following response (entrainment) can be naturally induced towards the selected brainwave state. It is also because of the frequency following response or entrainment that these pulsed sounds often produce benefits similarly found with deep meditation.

Brainwave entrainment is a powerful self development tool which can help you to master a number of areas in your life like—

· Increase your mental capacity, increase your IQ, be more creative, solve problems quicker, make better decisions, enjoy a photographic memory and dream up new ideas and inventive solutions

· Enjoy more happiness, experience more peace and greater relaxation, dissolve your stress and tension and let go of depression, experience more energy and optimism

· Increase your self-confidence, win friends, become more magnetic, communicate better and become super charismatic

Brainwave deficiencies can lead to depression, insomnia, illness, poor concentration and even accelerated aging. Brainwave Entrainment can be very easy. By tapping our brains we can become happier, healthier and even increase our abilities

Brainwave Entrainment-What is it?

Brainwave entrainment refers to the brain's electrical response to prolonged and rhythmic sensory stimulation, such as pulses of sound or light, that resulted in the synchronization of the brainwaves to the external stimuli. This is why brainwave entrainment is also sometimes called brainwave synchronization. Every state of mind has a unique electrical signature that can be detected in the brain. These signatures are known as “brainwaves.”Brainwaves can be measured and recorded using specialized equipment - such as an EEG machine. That allows us to map what brainwaves are present during certain key states of mind. For example, we know the exact brainwave patterns that exist when we’re relaxed. or focused. or sleeping. By using a process known as brainwave entrainment – which involves playing specially-created audio sounds into each ear – we can actually influence these brainwaves

Generally speaking, Brainwave Entrainment is a process where the brain synchronizes to and resonates with external stimuli. When a brain is given a single stimulus, such as a pulse of sound, it responds by emitting a corresponding electrical discharge. This corresponding electrical discharge is called the cortical evoked response. This electrical activity in the brain can be measured using a machine called an electroencephalograph (EEG) and sensitive electrodes attached to the scalp. When the brain is presented with a rhythmic stimulus, e.g. drum beats, the rhythm is reproduced in the brain in the form of these electrical impulses. When the rhythm becomes fast and consistent enough, our brain electrical impulses start to synchronize with the rhythm. This is called the Frequency Following Response (FFR).

Types of brainwaves

Beta brainwave (13Hz-) is our normal waking brainwave state. When we are highly stressed or emotionally charged such as anger, we get high beta brainwaves, e.g. 30 Hz – 48 Hz.

We experience alpha brainwave (8 Hz-13 Hz) usually when we first wake up in the morning from sleep or as we are about to fall asleep at night. These are called hypnagogic states and are best for mental programming and hypnosis as they are very receptive to suggestions.

This also explains why many people find it easy to meditate first thing in the morning.

Theta brainwave (4 Hz-8 Hz) occurs in light sleep. This is also the range where lucid dreaming and out of body experiences occur. It is also believed that this state is more intuitive and is closely connected to the collective unconscious.

Delta brainwave (0.1 Hz-4 Hz) occurs in deep, dreamless sleep. Generally, people are not conscious when they are in this state. However, some exceptional individuals practicing certain specific meditation techniques can stay conscious while in this state. Our body and mind heal well in this state.

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