Stress Management by Brainwave Entrainment

By On Fang

This is a question commonly asked by a great number of people, looking to find a solution to problems like
anxiety, stress, migraines, or simply exploring various ways to take their meditation practice to a whole new level. Having been skeptical enough to fully research the subject myself, as well as gaining more than seven years of experiential knowledge with brainwave entrainment products, I have meant this article to serve as a starting point for anyone in need of a trustworthy resource in brainwave entrainment research and information.

What is Brainwave Entrainment? Brainwave entrainment is a deliberate process that synchronizes, or entrains natural brainwaves to that of an external stimulus frequency, that is usually auditory and/or visual in nature. When the brain entrains, it duplicates the frequency of the stimulus, causing a change in the electrical activity in the brain. Each different electrical response produces a different brain state or brainwave frequency. Each different brainwave frequency has a specific pattern and can be designed to induce a certain effect or state of consciousness.

Brainwave Entrainment Fundamentals.A common reason of why many people doubt the effects of brainwave entrainment is because the term itself sounds a bit scientific and incomprehensive. That's why we should look at some real life brain entrainment examples. You are probably asking yourself... What? Yes, the brain is meant to adapt, and it quickly changes its state, according to the surrounding environment. Let's take a look at this - when one first wakes up in the morning, they still feel rather sleepy (as their brain has been in a state of sleep); if, however, they look out of the window and see a fire burning in the next building, they will become very alert - the brain has quickly entrained itself to this new state. On the contrary, if the same person goes to a room full of sleepy people, it is likely that they will stay in this same state unless they do something different (make a cup of coffee, go out, etc.).

Scientists have found out that all these states of the mind can be measured, as one emanates certain brainwave patterns, easily detected with an EEG (encephalograph). The alpha brainwave patterns are the ones associated with physical and mental relaxation, while beta brainwaves are emitted during our usual state of alertness throughout the day. Theta brainwaves occur in a state of meditation, while delta brainwave patterns are the ones emanated by our brains during deep sleep. All these have the corresponding frequency, measured in pulses per second; i.e. alpha ranges between eight and twelve pulses per second (Hz), beta ranges between twelve and thirty pulses per second, etc.

To understand how binaural beats, monaural beats, and isochronic tones can improve your overall well-being at a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level a basic understanding of the electrochemical functions of the brain is necessary. Our brain is made up of billions of brain cells or neurons which use electricity to communicate with one another. The combination of millions of neurons sending signals all at the same time produces an enormous amount of electrical activity in the brain. This activity can be detected and mapped using EEG devices. Such mapping shows that the brain is emitting specific frequency brainwave patterns that relate directly to different mental processes all the way from wide awake and highly focused (beta) to deep, dreamless sleep (delta).Following are the 4 most common brainwave classifications as revealed by EEG devices. The brain is a dynamic, living organ. During these dominant patterns, other frequencies still exist and there is no exact, single frequency that our brain operates on.Frequency range Name Usually associated with:13 to 40 Hz Beta waves Active, busy or anxious thinking and active concentration. Throughout the day our brains are in the beta range. At this level we are active, busy, and all our emotional responses are at this level whether we are depressed, irritable, angry, happy, glad, full of energy etc.7 to 13 Hz Alpha waves When we begin to relax or begin to get drowsy, but are still awake and conscious (maybe at pre-sleep) we are said to be at the alpha level.4 to 7 Hz Theta waves Dreams, deep meditation, hypnosis.Defining Binaural Beats, Monaural Betas, and Isochronic Beats.Binaural Beats - Binaural beats require headphones if you want to see results. Binaural Beats work by broadcasting two separate frequencies in each ear. For example, if you want to tune your brain to a 7 Hz frequency, you could play 200 Hz in your right ear, and 207 Hz in your left ear. The brain will compensate for the difference between the two and produce a third tone that will be exactly 7 Hz. This will result in your brain frequency being lowered to the theta level of 7 Hz.Monaural Beats - Monaural beats are the opposite of binaural beats because the input is the same in each ear therefore you don't need headphones but good speakers are always a plus. In the case of monaural beats the sound is the same on each side whether you use headphones or speakers, but the volume must be tuned precisely (not too loud and not too low) for the beats to be effective.

The brain rapidly entrains motor responses to auditory rhythms that are stable and steady, synchronizing states below and above conscious perception thresholds.Different Methods of Brainwave Entrainment.There are three main forms of entrainment used today to alter consciousness.BINAURAL BEATS-one frequency is played in one ear and a slightly different frequency is played in the other. Each ear is connected to the opposite side of the brain and when each half hears something different, it compensates by creating a third beat, that is not really there. The sound only exists in your brain and causes both hemispheres to entrain at a single frequency.

So, does brainwave entrainment really work? All this being said, the actual question that should be asked here is whether brainwave entrainment audios can truly alter your brainwaves, bringing them to one of the above mentioned states (alpha, theta, etc). Again, with the use of the exact same machine - encephalograph (or simply EEG) - it has been proven that yes, they can. Of course, the efficacy of the different audios varies greatly between producers, but this is a whole different theme to explore. The point of this article is to clearly demonstrate that it has been scientifically and materialistically proven that brainwave entrainment audios can bring one's brain to a specifically designed state. Consequently, yes, brainwave entrainment does work in the sense that it can bring you to a state associated with deep meditation or deep sleep, which in turn can ensure further benefits such as improved memory, pain relief, and many more (again, you should rather explore the gains associated with the various brainwave patterns).

The Benefit of Using Brainwave Entrainment.If you want to create a brainwave state that is deficient or impossible to experience consciously, brainwave entrainment can allow you to access that brainwave frequency by guiding your natural brainwaves, using principles in physics.Entrainment happens naturally, everyday, all day, to everyone.Specifically designed brainwave entrainment (entrainment that is targeted), is a beneficial and effective way to produce specific brainwave frequencies, that induce various states of mind, at your will, making it a cutting-edge personal advancement tool.

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