The Beginners Guide to Brainwave Entrainment
Cindy Locher, BCH The Beginners Guide to Brainwave Entrainment
What is Brainwave Entrainment?
Essentially ‘entrainment’ is a process of synchronising two different beats so that they become harmonious. Brainwave entrainment (BWE) is an assisted form of meditation using sound or light pulses or both.
Your body contains an autonomic entrainment mechanism that synchs you up with strong, external rhythms, pulses or beats. We naturally entrain to the rhythms around us, although we are not aware of it most of the time.
Brain entrainment can be brought about by means of sounds that entrain brainwaves into certain natural and beneficial frequencies.
Think of it like a piano that needs re-tuning in order to play the notes at the right pitch. The process works by ‘entraining’ the brain to work better and become more in tune with its optimal mode of functioning.
Who uses brainwave entrainment?
Brain wave entrainment is used by people who want to make rapid change in their behaviour or state, and create lasting changes in their lives. It is sometimes used by educators who play the tones in the background during a class to help increase learning and concentration.
It is also becoming more common to find that health professionals such as psychologists, medical doctors, and yes, hypnotherapists, are integrating binaural tones and other brain wave entrainment processes into their patients’ treatment.
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Why do we need brainwave entrainment?
I am sure that I don’t need to explain how we all suffer with stress in one form or another. The effect of stress creates a hormone in our body called Cortisol.
Increased levels of Cortisol are very damaging to the brain and body.
High levels are linked to numerous health problems such as; depression, reduced bone-density, thyroid problems, reduced cognitive performance, reduced muscle tissue, lowered immunity, blood-sugar imbalances, inflammation in the body, increased abdominal fat, and cholesterol imbalances.
The ‘cure’ for stress and reduced Cortisol is meditation. However the benefits of meditation come with regular practice can take years to perfect.
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How does brain entrainment help?
In traditional meditation practice, you are taught to focus on something to help still your mind and discipline yourself to remain focussed.
With brainwave entrainment audios and technology you don’t need to maintain focus in order to reap the benefits because technology creates the same brain waves in mere minutes that traditional meditation may take years for you to achieve.
It is therefore a short cut to extraordinary results and also a form of meditation without effort.
What are the benefits of using brainwave entrainment?
The benefits are the same as traditional meditation. The primary difference is that you experience the benefits faster with brainwave entrainment technology.
It’s a well known fact that people who practice traditional methods of meditation usually require 5 to 8 years of disciplined effort before they realize deep positive transformations from their practice.
These transformations can be described as improving physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual well-being.
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The benefits:
1. The first noticeable benefit everyone experiences is stress relief. 2. You experience an increase in your stress threshold. 3. You feel calm, centred and optimistic.
Over time, due to a change in hormone levels in your body, you will:
Experience greater vitality and look younger than your age. Think more effectively Be more creative Possess deeper insights Be more emotionally balanced and expressive Be more congruent in your actions and productivity Your body is enabled to produce hormones essential for growth and rejuvenation.
Your stress hormones, cortisol, decreases as other hormones such as serotonin, catecholamines, DHEA, melatonin, endorphins and HGH increase.
Is there scientific and clinical evidence to prove the benefits of using brainwave entrainment?
Yes.
Dr Vincent Giampapa, the head of Longevity Institute International and Past- President of the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine, tested the effect of audio brainwave entrainment on hormones. He found increase levels in melatonin and DHEA, and reduced levels in cortisol.
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To sum up briefly this is what they found
In certain brain wave frequencies the brain releases numerous highly beneficial substances, including (HGH) human growth hormone. As we become older, the brain creates lesser quantities of these beneficial substances and we therefore develop various ageing symptoms and diseases.
At the slower Alpha and Theta brainwave patterns, production of DHEA and melatonin increases significantly. One study noted an increase in DHEA of as much as 44%. Some even had DHEA increases of up to 90%. Impressive and encouraging findings, I’m sure you will agree.
You can also find support for the therapeutic benefits of the use of brainwave entrainment in a peer review article, Comprehensive Review of the Psychological Effects of Brainwave Entrainment by Tina L. Huang, PhD; Christine Charyton, PhD.
It confirms the benefits of brainwave entrainment on super-learning, improved memory, I.Q, alleviating migraines and depression and enhancing creativity.
How does brainwave entrainment work?
Our brain is like a electrical organ made up of billions of nerve cells called neurons. They fire electrical signals and oscillate in distinctive arrangements called brainwave patterns.
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These patterns are closely connected to your thoughts, emotions, moods, biological chemistry, everything you do, and really, everything you perceive you are.
These electrical signals of the brain can be shown on EEG monitors. They look like wave forms. These wave forms are called brainwaves and are grouped into Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta waves.
These brainwaves have been known to be associated with different peak mental states. For example:
Dreaming sleep: Creativity, insights and problem solving abilities are known to be associated with theta waves. Dreamless sleep: Our body’s growth hormones are mostly secreted in the delta state. Let’s be honest, the average person will never take the time or discipline to entrain their brain for optimal brainwave activity and therefore never achieve the heightened states of ‘super consciousness’ acquired by Zen, Tibetan and Shaolin Monks are not easily accessible.
Hence, the average person tends to under-achieve in life.
However, these states can be remembered and assessed through the use of neuro-technology such as brainwave entrainment.
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Peak performance and whole brain functioning
Brainwave entrainment stimulates these brainwaves through the use of carrier frequency tones that are inaudible to the ears but that the brain can register.
By repeatedly entraining the brain with these tones, your brain becomes conditioned to the frequencies and remembers how to activate brain states that correspond to peak performance states.
This state of performing at your highest potential is called whole brain functioning.
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How do you use audio brainwave entrainment and what does it sound like?
The most popular and effective brainwave entrainment is the use of audio recordings with headphones or earphones. When you listen to brainwave entrainment audios you will often hear soundscapes such as rainfall, forest streams, Tibetan bell, singing bowls. Some will include ambient music.
These sounds you hear do not create the brain entrainment. The entrainment is created by inaudible frequency tones or pulses embedded in the sounds. The soothing sounds that you hear mask the actual carrier tones or pulses.
These carrier tones and pulses are called binaural beats and/or isochronic tones. They are two vibrating or oscillating systems.
When they interact with each other they synchronize, and this synchronisation is what creates whole brain functioning and thereby an inner environment for you to produce and experience peak performance.
What are Binaural Beats?
Also know as Binaural Tones are sounds that influence the brain. This effect was discovered by Heinrich Wilhelm Dove in 1839 and it has been used widely since the 20th Century to help people relax, meditate, manage pain, reduce anxiety, and be more creative for more than 150 years.
When you listen to binaural beats/tones, you are actually listening to two slightly different pitched frequencies. Each frequency goes to each of your ears independently. When this happens your brain responds by creating a third tone, making up the difference between the two frequencies. This shift in frequency then shifts your brain’s consciousness and changes your state.
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Over the years this binural tones have been thoroughly tested and researched. The brain entrainment technologies of today are scientifically proven to be effective, having a powerful effect on people’s mental, physical and emotional health and well-being.
Thus, with this powerful brain entrainment technology it is now possible to bring about profound and significant change in a controlled and measured natural way with no will power required.
What are Isochronic Tones?
Isochronic tones are a powerful advancement in the field of brain wave entrainment. They are computer generated, rhythmically pulsed beats that safely, gently and effectively guide and entrain your brain to the most optimal brainwave frequencies. They also don't require the use of headphones to be effective. For that reason, I designed the audios at www.HypnosisFirst.com with isochronic tones.
You can choose the range of frequencies you want to experience For example, if you want to focus attention to concentrate, you would choose an isochronic tone on the alpha wave range (7-13 Hz). On the other hand, someone wanting to reach deep meditation would set them down into the theta wave range (4-7 Hz).
These tones need to be audible, so you will hear them along with the music in the brain waves to the desired state more quickly. Headphones are not necessary (although often still recommended). However, this gives you greater flexibility in how you use the audios.
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How do I use audio brainwave entrainment? In my experience it is best to listen to your brainwave entrainment audios for 30 minutes a day to start with. Once your brain is entrained (90 days) you may listen to 22 minutes twice a day.
When you listen daily for a period of time, you are exercising your brain. After a period of use, you seem to be able to reach those areas of your brain at will to perform functions that you would not have been able to do before.
I have found it most beneficial to get into a routine and either listen at night before bed or just upon waking up in the morning.
Do not listen while you are driving or working.
When can I experience the benefits?
Instantly when you use it the first time. Those who use it within days experience deep relaxation and stress reduction.
I have had clients report back to me that they are able to cope better with their work, think more clearly and generally feel more contented with life.
From what I have seen, I’m also certain that you will feel more connected with your environment and both feel and appear to be more at peace grounded and poised.
What’s more, as your brain entrainment practice develops and your left and right brain are being entrained to communicate with each other more effectively you will experience increased physical, mental and emotional well- being.
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Who will benefit from brainwave entrainment?
Everyone so long as you are above age 17 and is not suffering from epilepsy or is wearing a heart pacemaker. You should also not be pregnant.
In general brain entrainment is a good self-help and self-actualization method for folk who suffer from stress.
It’s also great for people that find it hard to concentrate (or pay attention).
Research shows that it is very effective as a way to regain and maintain their attitude and physiology of youthfulness.
And of course it is a key self-improvement method and discipline for those who with to get ahead in life through expanding and living their true potential.
If like me you have been interested and active in the mind-body-spirit movement for any length of time I’m pretty sure that you have used creative visualisation. Most likely you have heard about or used some form of brainwave entrainment too.
As you may know, entraining your brainwaves can be a highly effective method for personal growth. Different brainwave states will produce differnt results for you.
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So what are brainwaves?
Your brain is made up of billions of brain cells called neurons, which use electricity to communicate with each other.
The combination of millions of neurons sending signals at once produces an significant amount of electrical activity in the brain, which can be detected using sensitive medical equipment such as an electroencephalogram (EEG).
This electrical activity of the brain is commonly known as a Brainwave pattern, because of its cyclic, ‘wave-like’ nature.
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You can train your brain to change your brainwaves by learning meditation and relaxation techniques. However, it can take weeks, and for some people even years to experience the proven and powerful benefits of brainwave entrainment through meditation alone.
There is also a short cut to getting the best from your brainwaves by using an audio tone known as binaural beats.
Binaural beats effectively entrain and synchronise your brainwaves to enhance any specific brainwave pattern. This allows you to rapidly enter states of relaxation, focus, high-energy, or meditation whenever you want.
What are the benefits of modifying our brainwaves?
In general, we are accustomed to being in the beta brain rhythm. We are in a Beta brainwave pattern when we are consciously alert. It is the default and dominant brainwave for most of us most of the time. We are in Beta when we feel agitated, tense, hurried, pressured, afraid and stressed. The frequencies range from 13 to 60 pulses per second in the Hertz scale.
When we alter our brain rhythm to alpha, we are slowing our brainwaves down. The benefit of this is that we put ourselves in the ideal brain state for optimal performance and super learning.
We become better at analysing complex situations, learning new information, memorising data, and performing elaborate tasks,
Some forms of meditation, relaxation exercises, and activities that enable a sense of calm, also naturally create this alpha state.
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According to neuroscientists, the effect of decreasing the brain rhythm from beta to alpha via deep relaxation techniques and the use of binaural beats brain entrainemnt, changes the levels of certain beneficial brain chemicals.
Studies show that alpha states significantly increase beta-endorphin, noroepinephrine and dopamine. These naturally occurring chemicals are linked to feelings of expanded mental clarity and generate an internal environment for new learning and accessing previously learned information. This positive effect lasts for hours and even days.
The Five Categories of Brainwaves Beta brainwaves (14 to 32 Hz alert, focused)
Beta is the most common brain wave pattern: Beta brainwaves are produced when we are wide awake, alert, active and engaged in mental activity, usually involving more the rational, reality-oriented left hemisphere of our brain. When beta wave activity becomes very intense, our brain hemispheres become less synchronized. Beta state is required to function properly in your everyday life.
Features and Benefits of a Beta State
This is the brainwave for the fight-flight response Increased concentration and alertness Improved logic, reasoning and critical thinking Feelings of anxiety, stress, scatty unfocused thought above about 23 Hz NOTE: Excessive Beta brainwaves are also a feature of insomnia
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Alpha brainwaves (7 to 14 Hz relaxed yet aware, meditative)
These are lower frequency waves: The state is generated when our thoughts are really not concentrated and our minds wonder freely, or we are in a relaxed state such as meditating or daydreaming. We also experience Alpha Brainwaves when we are gently busy with routine tasks like pottering in the garden, taking a shower, putting on makeup, doing light housework. Alpha is considered to be the bridge between the conscious mind and the subconscious mind.
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Features and Benefits of an Alpha State Our brain hemispheres become naturally synchronized, or in-phase with each other. Relaxed detached (absent-minded) awareness and daydreaming mind. Enables us to remember our dreams and meditative states. Link between conscious and subconscious mind, gateway to meditation. Receptive to casual and auto – suggestions (hypnosis state) Increased vividness benefits creative visualization and triggers imagination Increased memory retention , concentration & focus for super learning
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Health benefits of alpha brain waves include: Reduced anxiety Alleviates stress and depression Reduces chronic pain Reduction of high blood pressure Increases athletic performance Increased cerebral blood flow Increased motivation, energy, and happiness Theta brainwaves (3.5 to 7 Hz deep relaxation, twilight state)
Theta brainwave states have been used in meditation for centuries: It is common for people to feel as if they are in a trance, where the mind feels as though it may have gone to sleep although it is conscious of what is happening around it. Theta induces a capacity for prolonged daydreaming, where a loss of time may be experienced.
Theta waves are also conducive to visualization and creativity and the mind in this very relaxed state is highly receptive to direct suggestion under hypnosis. As with Alpha, in Theta our brain hemispheres are synchronized and we experience whole brain functioning.
Features and benefits of Theta brainwaves Increased sense of inner peace and emotional stability Deep relaxation Improved memory Heightened intuition and inspiration Calms the chatter of your mind Increased psychic abilities and sense of spiritual connection
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Health benefits of Theta brainwaves
Speed healing, improved physical healing Sleep onset and better more restful sleep Release beneficial hormones related to health and longevity Reduce mental fatigue Reduction of anxiety and stress NOTE: Research has proven thirty minutes a day of Theta meditation can dramatically improve a person’s overall health and well-being. Theta meditation has also been known to result in a reduced need for sleep.
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Delta brainwaves (0.1 to 3.5 Hz deep sleep )
This is the slowest band of waves that our brains produce and they occur when we are in deep, dreamless sleep. These waves are very beneficial for the body which restores and heals itself when in this state. The delta state releases anti-aging hormones, including melatonin and DHEA. Human growth hormone (HGH) is another anti-aging hormone that is increased when delta brainwaves are occurring inside the brain, due to the stimulation of the pituitary gland. HGH maintains the skin, bone density, cartilage, and the joints in your body as well as speeds up the healing process of joint and cartilage injuries. HGH can also help heal physical pain.
In healthy amounts, delta brainwaves can also cause a person to have an advanced state of empathy, understanding, and compassion for others. Delta is the place of deepest relaxation, deepest healing, deepest spiritual connection and deepest connection with the subconscious mind. It is considered to be the gateway to the unconscious mind and the collective unconscious, bringing access to the universal psyche or mind.
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Gamma brainwaves (40Hz or higher: zen mind mastery)
Gamma brainwave states are the most rapid in frequency. Gamma hase long been considered the the brainwave that is able to link and process information from all parts of the brain. It is the frequency that brings with it the ability to process large amounts of information in relatively small amounts of time. Think of generating more Gamma activity as getting a processor upgrade for your brain.
Unfortunately Gamma brainwaves have received the least attention and research, although more attention is currently being paid to them.
Having high amounts of Gamma Brainwave activity has been associated with:
Having high levels of intelligence Being compassionate Having high amounts of self-control Having greater than average feelings of natural happiness. Increased awareness through your five senses Research has indicated at moments when bursts of precognition or high-level information processing occur, your brainwaves briefly reach the Gamma state.
Each of us can use brainwave entrainment to achieve a variety of results. You may want to target a specific brainwave frequency range to help you relax,. On the other hand you may want to increase you creative energy, improve your memory, deepen your sleep or get better results when playing a sport.
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What do you think?
Have you used brainwave entrainment to enhance your meditation, increase concentration or to help you sleep? Have you downloaded the free brainwave entrainment audios from this site? We would love to hear about your experiences.
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