Neuroplasticity: Brainwave Entrainment

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My last article, Neuroplasticity: Meditation and Anxiety, dealt with exploring the realm of meditation and its impact on brain plasticity & how it can help anxiety sufferers. We found that meditation not only reduces anxiety symptoms but it can actually facilitate the reverse changes to the brain that was caused by anxiety. We saw how meditation has the ability to alter the brain’s gray matter which is responsible for memory, seeing, hearing, executive functions, impulse control, emotions and speech. Having learned the significant ability of meditation, you would think that everyone would be doing it.

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“Everything changes, nothing remains without change.”
-Buddha

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Today I wanted to explore the area of Brain Entrainment, another Neuroplasticity Self-Directed intervention. It fascinated me because many people have been raving about listening to these brainwave entrainment audio programs that induce sleep, decrease stress, facilitate alertness, assist with meditation, & enhance brain functioning, etc. I didn’t understand how it worked but was very excited to look into its role with neuroplasticity. Thank-you for joining me in this adventure into Brainwave Entrainment.

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What Is Brainwave Entrainment?

According to OM Harmonics (http://www.omharmonics.com/blog/brain-entrainment) in their article called, ”What Is Brain Entrainment? What Can It Do For You?”, they described Brain Entrainment as being “a proven method of producing a desired brainwave frequency (such as meditation) by synchronizing brainwaves to a specific frequency from an external audio stimulus. When a rhythmic beat is played, the brain quickly syncs its activity to match. This is called the “frequency following response.” Different states of consciousness correspond to different frequencies:”

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“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world:
the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
-George Bernard Shaw

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• Beta: you are alert and awake; “high beta” is when this activity becomes frenzied, and when you experience the stress response.

• Alpha: you are relaxed and meditating; your mind is open (to new ideas), creative, intuitive and unconstrained by self-imposed limitations.

• Theta: You are in very deep meditation or light, dreaming sleep.

• Delta: you are in very deep, dreamless sleep.

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“Change will not come if we wait
for some other person or some other time.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
We are the change that we seek.”
-Barack Obama

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This article went on to say that Brain Entrainment Technology is new but the concept is as old as music. Historically we know that many different cultures used rhythmic chanting and drumbeats as a means to induce a trance-like state because of its hypnotic quality and the ability to create different states of consciousness. It can change a person’s mood with different type of beats. As an example, some slow beats can sooth while fast, quick beats can energize. A key point is that brain entrainment beats can’t be heard like music because they are below the threshold of your hearing but the brain does register these beats at the same time. So any music soundtrack can be played like music with the added brain entrainment beats.

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What is the Concept of Brainwave Entrainment?

In Mind Amend (https://www.mindamend.com/brain-hub/brainwave-entrainment-methods/how-brainwave-entrainment-works), I learned from their article, ”How Brainwave Entrainment Works”, that the brain continually produces electrical activity, even when an individual is asleep. Research studies have found that this electrical activity can be recorded in the form of brainwave patterns (brainwaves). These brainwaves could be influenced and adjusted when it was stimulated with certain types of beats and tones. This process is called Brainwave Entrainment. If we look back in history, we know that these brainwave patterns have been used well before our time, in the form of drums and chanting. Some of these old techniques are still used today.

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“The most beautiful experience
we can have is the mysterious.
It is the fundamental emotion
that stands at the cradle
of true art and true science.”
-Albert Einstein

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Mind Amend also discussed a very interesting phenomena about the concept of naturally occurring synchronization. They said that the brain’s synchronization ability was not just confined to the brain. It also universally appears in other areas as well including chemistry, biology, neurology, pharmacology, medicine, astronomy, etc. Here are some examples:

• If you put a number of pendulum clocks on the wall and started them at different times, you will find that within a day or sooner, all of the pendulums will start to synchronize with each other in perfect unison.

• Studies have shown that when a group of women live and sleep very closely together, after a while their menstrual cycles will start to adjust and happen at the same time.

• If you ever listen to an audience clapping, you will notice that if it goes on for a while, people will start to clap in tune with each other, without consciously thinking about it.

I think these are extraordinary examples of synchronization. I’m sure you have experienced some of these coincidences!

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How Does Brainwave Entrainment Work?

According to Brainwave Love (http://www.brainwavelove.com/how-does-brainwave-entrainment-work) in the past, the most common method of using specific brainwave states was through the use of Binaural Beats where one type of beat was played in one ear while a different beat was played in the other ear. The brain would automatically take these different beats and create its own beat which is essentially a combination of the two introduced beats. An example they gave was if one beat was at 100 Hz and the other at 110 Hz, the brain would then resonate at 10Hz. This makes the two hemispheres of the brain synchronize.

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"Man cannot discover new oceans
unless he has the courage
to lose sight of the shore."
-Andre Gide

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Brainwave Love also said that the Brainwave Entrainment Industry has found that using Isochronic tones (regular beats of a single tone that are used turned on and off rapidly) and Monaural beats (use only one beat) together have been more effective and useful because this type is a lot easier on the brain and it seems to facilitate a specific brainwave state faster and better because it doesn’t need to go through the process of synchronizing two different frequencies.

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So how does all this work? According to Zen Lama (https://www.zenlama.com/the-beginners-guide-to-binaural-beats-brainwave-entrainment) brainwave entrainment stimulates the brain’s brainwaves through the use of what they call carrier frequency tones which are inaudible to the ear while at the same time, the brain does register them. By repeatedly bombarding these tones, the “brain becomes conditioned to these frequencies and remembers how to activate brain states that correspond to peak performance states.” This state of performing at the highest potential is called Whole Brain Functioning.

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“Happiness is achieved when you stop waiting
for your life to begin and start making
the most of the moment you are in.”
-Germany Kent

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The most popular and best way to use brainwave entrainment is through the use of audio recordings with headphones or earphones. The sounds you hear can be soundscapes, bells or other types of music. You will not hear the tones and pulses embedded in the sounds. Usually the carrier sounds are soothing and relaxing. Just for your information these carrier tones and pulses are called binaural beats and/or Isochronic tones.

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The following information is from Finer Minds (http://www.finerminds.com/meditation/truth-behind-brainwave-entrainment): “Beta waves are the quick waves of 13 to 30 times per second (Hz). These brainwave patterns are generated naturally when you are awake. Alpha waves are at 8 – 12 Hz which generally occur during rest while in a deep relaxation meditation or a quieting the mind activity. This is the desired range for meditators. Theta waves exist between 4 – 7 Hz. This state is commonly referred to as the dream or “twilight” state. Theta is associated with learning, memory, REM sleep and dreaming. Memory development is also enhanced while in this state. When in a theta brainwave state, memory is improved (especially long-term memory), and access to unconscious material, insights and creative ideas is increased. Delta waves usually occur when we are asleep. As we fall asleep the dominant natural brainwave becomes delta. Delta waves are the slowest waves ranging from .5 to 3 Hz.

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What Are The Brainwave Entrainment Benefits?

According to Finer Minds “research has shown that by stimulating different brainwave ranges, benefits can extend to improving learning, memory, creativity, motivation, relaxation, sleep, focus, energy levels and problem solving – while decreasing stress and pain levels.” It also said that benefits also include improved breathing patterns, higher physical energy, a more positive outlook, and general a better mood. Another significant benefit is the relaxation felt by the individual using brainwave entrainment.

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This article also stated that brainwave states impact mental function and that with today’s lifestyle and more stress and anxiety, there seems to be a more alerted state of being which can lead to diseases in the mind and body.

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"Life is inherently risky.
There is only one big risk
you should avoid at all costs,
and that is the risk of doing nothing."
-Denis Waitley

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Is Brainwave Entrainment Beneficial For The Anxiety Disorder Sufferers?

In a post by Jason Stephenson called, ”Brainwave Entrainment and Anxiety” (http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/brainwave-entrainment-and-anxiety), there are clinical studies that show that brainwave entrainment seemed to help reduce the symptoms of anxiety as well as reducing depression and stress. It went on to state that there are approximately 40 million people in the U.S. suffering from an anxiety disorder. This is a very high number.

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Thankfully there have been some studies that have observed the effects of brainwave entrainment on anxiety symptoms. According to this article, “The Journal of Neurotherapy published a study in 2009, which conducted a test on women with seasonal affective disorder. Audio-visual entrainment devices were used in this study. After the test, the anxiety and depression symptoms of participants went down significantly.”

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So it seems that there is strong evidence that proves that there is a relationship between brainwave entrainment and anxiety lessening. The article also stated the researchers are coming up with new ways to use this technology for anxiety treatment and state that there are many websites that offer brainwave entrainment tracks for people with anxiety disorders.

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“It’s not a terrible thing that we feel fear
when faced with the unknown.
It is part of being alive, something we all share.”
-Pema Chodron

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Is Brainwave Entrainment For Everyone?

According to Brain Wave Love (http://www.brainwavelove.com/how-does-brainwave-entrainment-work), brainwave entrainment isn’t for everyone. People should be careful, cautious and use common sense when using this process. Too much brainwave usage can cause some adverse side effects like mental overload, foggy headedness, and other possible side effects. They advised that people need to follow the instructions on the product and its warnings. Children under the age of 18 should not use this. The article gave a warning to not use this while driving or operating heavy machinery. Using good common sense and being educated about this product is a good thing to do before starting.

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Thank-you for reading my article on Neuroplasticity: Brainwave Entrainment If you would like to follow me, please check HERE

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These are my previous article on Neuroplasticity & Anxiety if you are interested in reading it:

Neuroplasticity: Hope For People With Anxiety?
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-hope-for-people-with-anxiety

Neuroplasticity: How to deal with Anxiety Disorders Like Panic Attacks
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-how-to-deal-with-anxiety-disorders-like-panic-attacks

Neuroplasticity: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-cognitive-behavior-therapy-cbt

Neuroplasticity: Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy

Neuroplasticity: Self-Directed Neuroplasticity Exercises
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-self-directed-neuroplasticity-exercises

Neuroplasticity: Music & Music Therapy
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-music-and-music-therapy

Neuroplasticity: Meditation and Anxiety
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-meditation-and-anxiety

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