What is Brainwave Entrainment, Brain Wave Stimulation & Binaural Beats?
When a person practices deep meditation & relaxation, he or she is entering the Alpha brainwave state. Alpha is only one of the five main brainwaves we currently recognize. Our brainwaves dominate our moods and activity; Scientific research discovered that the frequency of the electrical pulses in the brain 
determine which brain wave state we are presently working in.
Certain sound and light pulses have been created that can actually stimulate the frequency of our brainwaves, changing them and therefore our state of mind. This is the nature of brainwave Entrainment and Binaural Beats. The most commonly categorized frequencies are; Beta, Alpha, Theta, Delta and Gamma.
Though naturally there is never only one absolute brainwave speed operating at any one time, there is usually one that dominates the rest and therefore dominates our moods and actions:
Sound is a most powerful force and one that affects us on many different levels. Consider how years ago companies used gentle tones within elevators of early skyscrapers to ease the fear and tension of the occupants – elevator music! Imagine Jaws without its theme tune! A horror film without tension building and nerve jumping Soundscapes, a chic flick without its romantic sound tracks – get the idea?
How Do Brainwave Entrainment Sessions Work?
The correct way to guide or entrain the brain with sound toward the desired brainwave pattern is to first create pulses of sound frequency that the brain neurons will begin to synchronize with – like a room full of people who all begin to dance in rhythm to the beats of a music track.
Once this synchronization is estimated to take place, usually about six minutes into an uninterrupted session, the sound pulses begin to gradually change frequency to guide – or entrain – our brainwaves to the target frequency and thus produce altered states of mind.
The kinds of tones used in an entrainment session can vary, some mainly use Binaural Beats and some combine Isochronic tones to create the pulses. Other music, sounds and nature tracks can also be combined with the pulses, allowing the listener to enjoy and ‘relax’ into the experience more.
What Are Binaural Beats?
Sometimes called Binaural Music, a binaural beat works by creating a sound frequency that would not usually be audible to us. For example, it is possible to create a frequency of 10hz by playing 210hz in one ear of a headphone, and 200hz in the other ear. The brain processes the frequencies and only hears the difference between the two – in this case, 10hz.
They may not always be the most efficient way to entrain the brain because our brains ‘sound mixing’ capabilities reduce the depth of the resulting sound to less than a whisper, therefore not providing a strong pulse for the brain to synchronize with.
Binaural Beats use the brain to first process the information and then ‘hear’ the tones; they are only made possible by the use of headphones. Binaural Beats also depend on an equal operation of BOTH hemispheres (sides) of the brain , and may therefore not be effective for some.
However they can be useful as they provide a very hypnotic response, perhaps because the brain is more inwardly involved in the processing of the sound?
What Are Isochronic Tones?
The tones sometimes used in sessions are Isochronic tones and tone based pulses. They provide a very consistent, clear cut rhythm; they stop and start exceptionally fast allowing the brain to synchronize more easily and precisely. They produce an extremely strong response and can provide the most effective way to stimulate the brain .
How Do We Use Brainwave Entrainment?
These sound sessions are used in a variety of ways. Some use them to achieve a deep state of relaxation or meditation. There is evidence that certain frequencies can alleviate such conditions as ADD, Depression, Stress, Anxiety and more. Harvard Medical School professor Herbert Benson states in his book;
The author Donna Oxley strives to provide relevant information & insight into the many liberating benefits of meditation & self improvement. Her website www.relaxmp3.co.uk provides inexpensive Mp3 sessions relating to meditation by sound – including hypnotic binaural beats, brainwave entrainment, simple nature sounds.
