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Brainwave Entrainment
The Science Behind the Beats
 Brainwave
synchronization
is the practice to
entrain one's
brainwaves to a desired
frequency, by means of a
periodic stimulus with
corresponding frequency. The
stimulus can be aural as in the
case of
binaural beats, or visual,
as with a
Dreamachine.
Overview
Brainwave
synchronization is a private
case of functional
brain connectivity concept,
whereas functional connectivity
is defined as the temporal
correlation between
spatially-remote
neurophysiological events,
expressed as deviation from
statistical independence
(temporal correlation) across
these events in distributed
neuronal groups and areas, which
produce the brainwaves (for the
recent review see
Fingelkurts An.A., Fingelkurts
Al.A., Kähkönen S.
Functional connectivity in the
brain – is it an elusive
concept? Neuroscience &
Biobehavioral Reviews. 2005,
28(8):827-836). As authors have
stated, "the functional brain
connectivity has become one of
the most influential concepts in
modern
cognitive neuroscience,
especially given the current
shift in emphasis from studies
of functional segregation to
studies of functional
integration."
Binaural
beats
- Main
article:
Binaural
beats
Brainwave
synchronization (entrainment)
may be achieved when
audio
signals are introduced to
the brain causing a response
directly related to the
frequency of the signal
introduced. Two tones close in
frequency generate a
beat frequency at the
difference of the frequencies,
which is generally
subsonic. For example, a 500
Hz tone and 510 Hz tone will
produce a subsonic 10 Hz tone,
roughly in the middle of the
alpha range. The resulting
subsonic tone may affect the
state of
mind of the subject.
Brainwave
frequencies
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citations.
- Main
article:
Electroencephalography
The following
summary shows frequencies that
might be used in brainwave
synchronization and the related
brain waves and mind states.
- Gamma:
26–80 Hz. Can result in
higher mental activity,
including perception,
problem solving, fear, and
consciousness. In some
studies have been linked to
ESP, heightened insight,
and
OBE's.
- Beta:
12Hz - 38Hz. This is
subcategorized into SMR,
beta 1 and beta 2.
- SMR
(12Hz - 15Hz) can result
in relaxed focus,
improved attention.
- Beta
1 (15Hz - 20Hz) can
increase mental
abilities, IQ, focus.
- Beta
2 (20Hz - 38Hz) can
result in anxiousness
and hightened sense of
alertness.
- Alpha:
8Hz - 12Hz. This frequency
can result in a state where
the brain is awake, but not
processing much. Often used
for
meditation. Also
associated with a feeling of
being "in the zone" and
dreaming (REM sleep) and
states of creative reverie.
- Theta:
3Hz - 8Hz. Associated with
the hypnogogic state right
after one wakes up or begins
to fall asleep (drowsiness).
Can be used for
self-hypnosis.
- Theta
1 (3Hz - 5Hz)
suppression can result
in improved
concentration and
attention while reducing
hyperactiveness
(after the session).
- Theta
2 (5Hz - 8Hz) can result
in a very relaxed sleep.
This frequency range is
often related to
paranormal/spiritual
experience.
-
Schumann
resonance
(7.83hz) associated with
the hypnogogic state,
out of body experiences,
and various hormonal
releases. Also happens
to be a set of spectrum
peaks in the ELF portion
of the Earth's
electromagnetic field
spectrum.
- Delta:
0.2 - 3Hz. This frequency
range usually results in
deep sleep.
Although some
studies have shown that these
frequencies do provide help in
treating certain medical
conditions,
[citation needed]
there is not a wide acceptance
by the medical community to
adopt the practice of brainwave
synchronization for
emotional/mental disorders. The
fixed, constant frequency of the
synchronization is less helpful
than techniques such as
classical
neurofeedback or learning
meditation, which naturally
generate brain wave frequencies
that differ from person to
person and may vary from minute
to minute.
Wikipedia information about
brainwave synchronization
This article is licensed under
the
GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the
Wikipedia article "Brainwave
synchronization".
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