Binaural Beats
What are binaural beats?
You may already know that your brain wave frequencies vary
according to mental state. For example, when you are awake and
alert, your brain waves are in the "beta" range of
frequencies. When you are daydreaming or in a light meditation,
your brain waves are in the "Alpha" range of frequencies.
Binaural beats are pulses, sounds or beats, sometimes embedded
in music, that put you in a state by "entraining your brain
waves.
Long before science proved it and it became a technology,
people were ware of this ability of outside sounds to influence
a person's state of mind. They noticed that certain types of
music affected us, for example. If you listen to music containing
beats at a frequency of 10 Hz it will feel very relaxing, because
your brain will begin to follow this frequency and reproduce
the rhythm in the music. You will automatically generate more
brain waves at a 10 Hz frequency and enter a relaxed Alpha mental
state.
Once it was understood why the music affected us, it became
possible to create a technology for altering our brain waves.
This is what binaural beats are. It is also called brain wave
entrainment. What these new products do is embed music, or the
sounds of water or wind, with beats and pulses that entrain your
brain waves to a specific frequency.
States of Consciousness
Here's a quick guide to the classifications of brain wave
frequencies:
Beta (14 - 30 hertz) : Dominant rhythm when awake,
alert or anxious, with eyes open.
Alpha (8 - 14 hertz) : Relaxed alertness; normally
is induced by closing the eyes and relaxing.
Theta (4 - 8 hertz) : Drowsiness; the first stage of
sleep; not common in awake adults, but common in daydreaming
children.
Delta (below 5 hertz) : Deep sleep.
Meditation can stimulate these states (particularly alpha
and theta), and sounds can as well. The latter is the principle
behind brain wave entrainment technologies using binaural beats.
The Uses of Binaural Beats
Would you like to listen to a CD, and have it transport you
easily and quickly to a meditative state? Do you like the idea
of getting all the proven benefits of meditation, without the
self discipline and work normally required? I do, and I've tried
the new brain wave entrainment products. Guess what? They work!
This technology isn't just for the purpose of putting you
into a meditative state. Embed beats of the right frequency in
the music, and you can "wake up" the brain. Put your
mind on a roller coaster trip up and down through the beta to
theta frequencies, and you can stimulate creative thought. Where
can you get them? My current recommendations are below.
Binaural Beats - Steve's Recommendations
(Click a title for more information.)
1. Holosync
Audio Technology - Both myself and my wife love our CDs from
the Centerpointe Institute. We use them to relax, to refresh
our brains and even to put us to sleep. They are a bit pricey,
but we are happy with the results. They offer a one year money-back
guarantee, and you can get a free demo.
2. Binaural
Beats - A cheaper source of quality brain wave entrainment
CDs if you just want one at a time Their newest product is called
the "Worlds First Digital Drug." Others are for various
purposes (better focus, get rid of headaches, become a genius).
3. The
Meditation Program - Each session also contains a unique,
inspiring soundscape created by composer Michael Anasazi. I found
these to be as powerful as our Holosync CDs, and you get all
eight levels at once (though they have a great program and super
support, Centerpointe gets a little expensive for subsequent
levels).
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