Binaural Beats
 When
signals of two different
frequencies (sounds) are
presented, one to each ear, the
brain detects phase differences
between these signals. The brain
processes this anomalous
information differently when
these phase differences are
heard with stereo headphones or
speakers. A perceptual
integration of the two signals
in precieved in the brain,
producing the sensation of a
third "beat". The difference
between the signals waxes and
wanes (this is the "wavy" sound
heard in the hypnotic sessions)
as the two stereo sounds mesh in
and out of phase. The binaural
beat is perceived as a
fluctuating rhythm at the
frequency of the difference
between the two auditory inputs.
Binaural beats
can easily be heard at the low
frequencies (< 30 Hz) that are
characteristic of the EEG
spectrum (Oster, 1973). This
perceptual phenomenon of
binaural beating and the
objective measurement of the
frequency-following response (Hink,
Kodera, Yamada, Kaga, & Suzuki,
1980) suggest conditions which
generate brain waves activity
and altered states of
consciousness (hypnotic trance).
There are a growing amount of
research efforts reporting
changes in consciousness
associated with binaural-beats.
"The subjective effect of
listening to binaural beats may
be relaxing or stimulating,
depending on the frequency of
the binaural-beat stimulation"
(Owens & Atwater, 1995).
Binaural beats in the delta (1
to 4 Hz) and theta (4 to 8 Hz)
ranges have been associated with
reports of relaxed, meditative,
and creative states (Hiew,
1995), and used as an aid to
falling asleep. Binaural beats
in the alpha frequencies (8 to
12 Hz) have increased alpha
brain waves (Foster, 1990) and
binaural beats in the beta
frequencies (typically 16 to 24
Hz) have been associated with
reports of increased
concentration or alertness
(Monroe, 1985) and improved
memory (Kennerly, 1994).Mind-Fit
uses the differing rates of
Binaurual beat stimulation
during the induction and therapy
parts of its sessions to aid in
the progressive relaxation
aquired when entering the
Hypnotic state.
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