Getting Into the Rhythm of Binaural
Beats With Brainwave Entrainment
The entire building trembled from the
reverberations as the Japanese drummers of Kodo reached new crescendos. The
traditional opera goers at New York’s Lincoln Center were engaged but not a toe
was tapping. The rhythmic beats of the drums had lulled the crowd into a
hypnotic trance. Drums have been
altering states since ancient shamanic tribes began dancing on the earth, but
modern man has only recently become consciously aware of the binaural beats
behind this phenomenon.
The use of auditory stimulation to
induce meditative states and alter consciousness has been growing in
popularity. Binaural beats are a form of
mind altering brainwave entrainment. When two sounds close in frequency are
played, one into each ear, the brain synthesizes these frequencies to produce a
third, lower frequency equal to the difference between the two. For example, frequencies of 250 and 260 hertz
(hz) would create a binaural beat of 10 hz. This low frequency beat plays in a
rhythmic pattern due to a wavering effect, or oscillation, within the central
nervous system.
One of the most powerful applications
of binaural beats is in brainwave entrainment: the ability to tune into
specific brainwaves – alpha, beta, theta, delta or gamma, for example – to
control brainwave activity. In brainwave
entrainment, binaural beats have numerous applications, including to:
Achieve a deeper state of relaxation during meditation
– When neurotransmitters in the brain pick up brainwave activity, they begin to
make changes in brainwave activity. Binaural beats allow one to choose specific
frequencies to achieve the desired meditation result. For example, deep
relaxation can be achieved with binaural beats in the alpha range (7-11 Hz).
For a deeper meditation, try theta (4-6 Hz) waves. Lucid dreaming is achieved in the delta
(4 Hz)
Alter consciousness – Meditation is the act of altering
consciousness. The experience may range from achieving a deeper state of
relaxation – more alpha waves – to experiencing more extreme changes in
consciousness, such as one that can induce an out-of-body experience (OBE).
Binaural beats activate the brain’s reticular activating system which, in turn,
stimulates the thalamus and cortex, altering the elements of
consciousness. Mental states that can be
affected by expanding consciousness include arousal states, attentional focus
and level of awareness, according to the Monroe Institute, which pioneered work
in brainwave entrainment and binaural beats in the 60s and 70s. The Monroe Institute views binaural beats as
one of several techniques used in a guided induction process to alter
consciousness. A seminar or brainwave
entrainment tape is a good place to start.[1]
Reduce symptoms of ADD/ADHD –
Symptoms of ADD/ADHD, one of the autism spectrum disorders, include social,
behavioural and language deficits. Although the exact causes of ADD/ADHD are
still being investigated, these deficits relate to underactive areas of the
brain caused by abnormal brainwave frequencies that affect beta
brainwaves. When it comes to normalizing
brainwave activity in a person with ADD/ADHD, binaural beats can hit just the
right frequencies.
Binaural beats have been applied in
many other areas, including sleep induction, pain management, stress reduction
and in the treatment of depression.
Brainwave entrainment through binaural
beats is a powerful and easily accessible tool for inducing a new state of
mind. If the shamanic drummers could use
binaural beats to harmonize the earth’s frequencies, consider the
life-enhancing benefits of actively using them in your life.
[1] Holmes Water, F. (1997). Accessing anomalous states of
consciousness with a binaural beat technology. Journal of Scientific Exploration. 11 (3) pp. 263-274. Retrieved from, http://www.monroeinstitute.org/research/accessing-anomalous-states-of-consciousness-with-a-binaural-beat-technology/
