Brainwave Entrainment

[joyrex]

Binaural beats are auditory brainstem responses which originate in the superior olivary nucleus of each hemisphere.

This binaural beat is not heard in the ordinary sense of the word (the human range of hearing is from 20-20,000 Hz). It is perceived as an auditory beat and theoretically can be used to entrain specific neural rhythms through the frequency-following response (FFR)--the tendency for cortical potentials to entrain to or resonate at the frequency of an external stimulus. Thus, it is theoretically possible to utilize a specific binaural-beat frequency as a consciousness management technique to entrain a specific cortical rhythm. (from http://web-us.com/thescience.htm)

Some institutes are doing research on this technique and providing products. One such is The Monroe Institute (http://www.monroeinstitute.org/). They offer Hemi-Sync audio CDs and tapes and when one listens to these regularly, TMI claims that you will for example:

- improve self-control
- move beyond the physical
- learn foreign languages
- recover lost abilities

Some research papers are also available for viewing.

Another institute doing the same thing, CRI (http://www.centerpointe.com/)

Placebo effect comes to mind as explanation for alleged success stories, but could this kind of 'technology' actually bring about changes in the brain? Thoughts..? :)

[joyrex]

If I may ask, and I hope someone will answer,

Is the subject described totally unfamiliar to skeptics or others here?

Or is the lack of replies and speculation because people see this immediately as total horsesh*t that couldn't work? :)

I'm doing some testing with this technology and have some results, which of course is anecdotal..

But you can 'testdrive' it by yourself too (no need to pay the high price for CDs if you've looked at the webpages), most of these are available from peer-to-peer networks for download. If moderator sees this as an attempt to spread illegality, I will edit it out

[arcticpenguin]

Originally posted by joyrex
If I may ask, and I hope someone will answer,

Is the subject described totally unfamiliar to skeptics or others here?

Or is the lack of replies and speculation because people see this immediately as total horsesh*t that couldn't work? :)

I think the problem is that this is totally unfamiliar, and it would be difficult to tell if it is total BS without digging thoroughly into an obscure field.

My initial guess would be that maybe there is a 'kernel of truth' hidden underneath, with multiple layers of BS on top, but like I said, I would have to look into it a lot more to know.

A brief glance at the Monroe Institute web site does not fill me with awe.

[Dancing David]

The binaural-beat appears to be associated with an electroencephalographic (EEG) frequency-following response in the brain(3). Many studies have demonstrated the presence of a frequency-following response to auditory stimuli, recorded at the vertex of the human brain (top of the head). This EEG activity was termed "frequency-following response" because its period corresponds to the fundamental frequency of the stimulus (Smith, Marsh, & Brown, 1975). Binaural-beat stimulation appears to encourage access to altered states of consciousness.

You will note that they don't define or cite the last sentence, there are many ways to alter consiousness.



I would have to say that this is scientific core of the material, from a truely brief perusal. I am curious why this is citing material from 1975, I am sure that there are studies of auditory processing that are more recent than that. They do cite one source from 1995.

However brain waves on an EEG are of limited use to understanding the underlying principles, it would be like analysing a computer with an am radio(oversimplification). So while there may be this entrainment effect, I wonder at it's menaing and why there is not a whole lot more literature on it.
But hey , if listening to the tapes makes people feel better then Way Cool.

[Dymanic]

Originally posted by joyrex

Or is the lack of replies and speculation because people see this immediately as total horsesh*t that couldn't work?
I don't feel like I know enough to speculate on that. There could be a lot of reasons why there have been so few replies. Maybe they have all been too busy. It seems to me like the forum has been generally pretty slow the last couple of days, but I'm not basing that on any actual figures.

There is some serious research taking place in the areas these sites mention, but if any of them are doing any of it, they definitely seem to be on the 'earn while you learn' plan. It looks like what they have would be somewhat more accurately described as 'brainwave entertainment'.

In 1990, Francis Crick and Christof Koch suggested, hypothetically that consciousness involves an attentional mechanism that temporarily binds neurons together by synchronizing their spikes in 40 hz oscillations. Such a concept produces more questions than it does answers. Properly framing these questions -- let alone anything further -- is something that would be expected to emerge gradually from patient, careful work over decades. The folks behind the sites you linked seem to have taken some ideas like that and run rather far afield of the actual science.

Let's do a sniff test.
From the Intelegen Inc. site:
The [MC2(squared)] program's purpose is to provide tools to more fully experience the potentials of human incarnation by moving into loving communion with the creative life force.

From The Monroe Institute site:
Each TMI Residential Program (with the exceptions of Silent Retreat and Teen Gateway) costs $1,495.00.

From Centerpointe Research Institute site:
Backed by a mountain of scientific research - and proven results for thousands of users

"You have helped me find my joy again. I have never experienced anything like this in all my years! Nothing even comes close to what this program has done for me."
I wouldn't want to jump to any conclusions, but it sure smells like snake oil to me.

[joyrex]

Yeah, thanks for your interest on the subject,

What I can tell is I've had a few experiences with this technology that could perhaps be classified as remote viewing. They have appeared in an 'altered state of mind', in the sense that I couldn't remember immediately what happened.. they were associated with falling asleep / waking up and I could later remember my experience. How should I put it.. the memory of these events is kind of hazy.

I'm not at all experienced at debunking pseudoscience (or have the abilites to do so, apart from common sense) so I'll leave that to someone else.. such as regarding the research that for example Monroe Institute is giving away.

So, it's interesting that I've had these RV experiences (after maybe half years experimenting with different products), it reminds me of that study/research that was done.. I remember reading about it, where OBEs were induced to patients, by stimulus to brain, or something like that. What I'm saying is that these phenomena; remote viewing, astral projection, OBEs, etc.. are, ('I believe'), possible to induce for perhaps everyone and thus people could draw their conclusions from them.

I think this is a great possibility for others to kind of understand the mind state of the 'believers' who have drawn conclusions from these experiments in the sense that maybe reality is of dualistic nature, that maybe there is something else than what we call matter, or materialism. Not in the sense that skeptics would immediately turn to 'believers' but that they could have a better, personal view of the subject they are criticizing.

[TillEulenspiegel]

Well I really don't know BUT, there is a demonstrated effect of loud music ( rock and funk and tribal drum ) having an effect on the beating rate of the heart and the trend that it does attempt to sync to the beat. I read that a long time ago and I'm not sure if it was a mechanism of the auditory sense and the brains influence on the heart or the physical response of the heart itself.

[Dymanic]

Originally posted by joyrex

What I can tell is I've had a few experiences with this technology that could perhaps be classified as remote viewing. They have appeared in an 'altered state of mind', in the sense that I couldn't remember immediately what happened.. they were associated with falling asleep / waking up and I could later remember my experience. How should I put it.. the memory of these events is kind of hazy.

So, it's interesting that I've had these RV experiences (after maybe half years experimenting with different products), it reminds me of that study/research that was done.. I remember reading about it, where OBEs were induced to patients, by stimulus to brain, or something like that. What I'm saying is that these phenomena; remote viewing, astral projection, OBEs, etc.. are, ('I believe'), possible to induce for perhaps everyone and thus people could draw their conclusions from them.
Hmmm. You know, come to think of it, I have some years of what I guess you could call 'experimenting with different products' myself, and what you're talking about sounds familiar -- stimulants to the brain, altered state of mind, memory of events somewhat hazy, etc. Probably nothing that really qualifies as 'research'. But some of these 'experiments' did lead me to certain conclusions. Unfortunately, those conclusions have utterly failed to withstand the test of time.

I think this might be a better place to start (http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Brain-and-Cognitive-Sciences/index.htm)

[joyrex]

I've found that by listening to sounds that produce brainwaves (using these (http://www.toolsforwellness.com/63452.html) - the product descriptions are horribly cheesy though :rolleyes: ) that are in the delta range, I have this exhilarating experience. After a few minutes of listening, I have a few flashes of light or visions which promptly go away. Then I feel as if my body is paralyzed, or totally numb. It happens in an instant and I feel it all over. Not that I couldn't move my limbs and operate normally, though.

Looks like this is a state similar to the one described in TMI pages; Mind Awake/Body Asleep state (Focus 10). I suppose these 'states' actually exist, it just tooks a bit time for the brain to get used to the entrainment process.

Oh well, I'm rather doing this than watching television!

[MRC_Hans]

- improve self-control
- move beyond the physical
- learn foreign languages
- recover lost abilities
(emphasis by me)

Woowoo alert, condition red.

What this thing really says is that loud sound influences our brain. That is not exactly news. The interpretation of HOW this works, and WHICH EFFECTS is has, is, however, entirely unfounded.

We already know of many things that can influence our brain and make us percieve all sorts of things that could be interpreted as supernatural, transcending physical states, etc. etc. All test done on these perceptons show them unequivocally to be entirely subjective.

Hans

:bs:

[joyrex]

Originally posted by MRC_Hans
Woowoo alert, condition red.

What this thing really says is that loud sound influences our brain. That is not exactly news. The interpretation of HOW this works, and WHICH EFFECTS is has, is, however, entirely unfounded.

We already know of many things that can influence our brain and make us percieve all sorts of things that could be interpreted as supernatural, transcending physical states, etc. etc. All test done on these perceptons show them unequivocally to be entirely subjective.You are correct and I'm very aware of this subjectivity. However it doesn't take the fun out of it. Downside of course is, the effects might mess your head if not interpreted carefully.

[MRC_Hans]

Not to mention possible physical side-effects :eek:.

Hans

[joyrex]

Here's a free binaural track
http://www.astralpulse.com/membersfiles/binauralabyss.zip
Note: it is 82Mb / 60m / 192kbps .mp3
Original post (http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7718) (from a rather woowooish forum :D)

[Soapy Sam]

Several years ago, I acquired a device called a Mindlab. This featured synchronised flickering LEDs (mounted in glasses) and complex stereo sound patterns.

The claims made for it included enhanced IQ, improved memory and better sleep (or a reduced need for sleep). The latter was true. It sent me to sleep in no time. They claimed it was "based on" research by the renowned neuroscientist W. Grey Walter, who was (I think) first to point out the connection between flickering lights and brain wave "states". (He also built autonomous robots and was a pioneer of AI in his way.)

When a friend tried the gadget, she instantly responded that she had found herself repeating the mantra she had used years previously when she had tried transcendental meditation. The two methods do seem to produce similar mental effects.

It was a fun gadget and certainly helped me sleep at a time when I was having problems in that line, but if it enhanced my IQ it certainly wasn't by much, despite having plenty scope to work in.

[tamiO]

bump :)

[joyrex]

Claimed "proof" of brainwave entrainment efficency:

http://www.lifetools.com/light%20and%20sound%20devices/science.htm

At the end of page is a link to the full texts. Haven't read them yet myself.

[joyrex]

Some of Jeffrey Thompson (http://www.jeffthompson.com/)'s material is quite powerful (according to anecdotes, including mine). Not even headphones are needed for most the audio material available at that site. Imagine this sort of brainwave entrainment mixed into popular music.. ;)