Lent 2016 – Videos and Workbook

Brainwave Entrainment 101

We have so many tasks and so little time. We are constantly thinking about numerous things related to work and to our personal life. This is naturally very stressful and exhausting. That is why people look for effective methods to get rid of all the tension and fatigue and to feel calm and focused. This is what can help you to achieve. It has gained immense popularity in recent years, but it has actually been used since the 1960’s. Find out everything which you need to know about this method for mental stimulation and relaxation.

What Brainwave Entrainment Is?

The human brain works all the time. No matter what type of activity you do, it emits electrical impulses which are transmitted via the neurons. This is what brainwaves are. Many decades ago scientists discovered that the frequencies of the brainwaves produced during different activities and emotional states vary. When you are involved in intense mental activity the frequency can be as high as 30 Hz. In the dreamless phase of sleep, the frequency falls below 4 Hz. In the first half of the 1930’s, research studies revealed that the frequency of brainwaves can be modified with the use of external stimuli. This is how brainwave entrainment was born.

The stimuli used for influencing the frequency of brainwaves include special rhythmic sounds and light. At present sounds are preferred over light as they are suitable even for people with sensitive eyes. When you hear the rhythmic sound, it is reproduced in the brain via a wave which has the same frequency as the sound wave. It is important to note that while all rhythmic sounds can influence the brain in one way or another, only those which are tuned to have the same frequency as specific types of brainwaves can have a genuine and lasting impact on brain activity and on the mind as a whole. When such a special rhythmic sound is played, the brain responds by producing a wave with the same frequency. The two waves are synchronized. This is what is. This is a natural phenomenon studied by many sciences including biology and physics. Its therapeutic effect is direct. The brain can be fine tuned to help you relax, fall asleep, focus better and many other things.

It is an interesting fact that even though the science behind brainwave entrainment has been known to us for less than a century, this method has been practiced by people for thousands of years. One of the best known forms is meditation. It has also been found that the rhythm of the drums can also influence the brain. That is why it is not surprising that in many tribal cultures drums were used for religious and spiritual rituals and even for healing. Now you do not have to learn meditation techniques or how to play the drums in order to influence your state of mind in the desired direction. You simply need to listen to a special MP3 recording. This method is not only easier and more accessible to everyone. It has also been found to produce positive results more quickly.

The Brainwave Entrainment Technology

There are different types of rhythmic sound stimuli that can be used for brainwave entrainment. The best known and most widely used ones are the . The unique thing about them is that there are slightly different tones going into each of the ears. When the two sound waves interact with each other, a pulse is created. This interaction occurs inside the brain and the resulting pulse is responsible for the entrainment. Basically, it helps to tune your brain into the desired mental state.

While binaural beats are quite potent, they are typically paired with isochronic tones so that the entrainment is more powerful. These tones are evenly spaces and also create a pulse. Instead of using two tones for producing the pulse, one and the same tone is turned on and off. When binaural beats and isochronic tones are combined, the desired effects from the therapeutic method are achieved more quickly and last for longer. That is why the typical modern entrainment system includes both.

As technology advances and more research is done on the functioning of the brain, other types of tones are getting included in the in the sound stimuli. These tones usually focus on certain parts of the brain such as the temporal lobe in order to enhance the effect. In this way, the desired results are obtained with fewer and smaller sessions. They are longer-lasting as well.

One important question that many people ask is whether they will hear just a monotonous beat when listening to the MP3 recordings. This is not the case. The binaural beats, isochronic tones and other rhythms are integrated into sounds and tunes which are pleasant to the ear. These are usually natural sounds like those made by the sea. When you use a system of good quality, you can expect the sound to be pure and pleasant.