Brainwave entrainment
The purpose of Brainwave Entrainment is tuning the brain to frequencies (beta, alpha, theta, delta, gamma) associated with certain states of consciousness. Think of various mental activities such as
- 'sleep’,
- 'concentration and focus’,
- 'joy’,
- 'inner calm' and
- in 'meditative state of consciousness'.
Our brains are an incredibly complex network of neural processes, and the activities within our brains can be measured as brain waves. By measuring brain waves, we see that the brain continuously adapts to what our senses perceive and how we process that information. In doing so, brain waves tell us what mood a person is in and the associated mental activities.
Meditate better with Brainwave Entrainment
What you see here is a measurement spanning several minutes, where the red line in particular stands out: Delta – thinking. Somewhat restless at the beginning. Then occasional peaks where you see more space between Delta and Alpha, and at the end, everything is restless again. The peaks are moments when I briefly opened my eyes and looked at the measurement.
Synchronizing the brainwaves
Because our brains continuously adapt to the most dominant signals they receive through the senses, they can also be stimulated. Through the conscious use of 'binaural' and 'monaural' rhythms and isochronic tones, or Brainwave Entrainment, we can steer the brainwaves, as it were. The synchronization of both hemispheres – Hemispheric Synchronization – is a desired end result of Brainwave Entrainment. It is a state of consciousness in which both brain hemispheres show the same patterns and activity. It is often said that people with better synchronization are happier, emotionally stable, and less susceptible to mental illness. This is particularly evident in people who meditate regularly and report being happy with their lives.
The frequency bands of brain waves
A distinction is made between different bandwidths of consciousness and their corresponding frequencies. When referring to frequencies, we speak of Hertz, which corresponds to 1 wave or vibration per second.
Beta – 12 to 30Hz
Brainwaves in the Beta bandwidth are associated with our normal waking consciousness. These are associated with alertness, logical thinking, problem-solving ability, concentration, and other active mental activities. You are also in this state of consciousness while exercising and talking to other people.
Higher levels of Beta can be the result of stress, excitement, or restlessness. Even though you need to be in a Beta state of consciousness to perform your normal daily activities, many people operate in the higher stress-related frequencies.
Alpha – 7 to 12 Hz
Alpha brainwaves are slower in frequency compared to Beta and therefore naturally lead to a more relaxed state of consciousness. This state of consciousness is common among people who are naturally calm and relaxed. It is like daydreaming or closing your eyes to meditate. This frequency promotes imagination, memory, concentration, and creativity, and reduces stress, which benefits learning.
Meditation leads to an increase in Alpha frequencies in the brain and the ability to maintain this in daily activities. Generally, more Alpha is observed in children than in adults.
Theta – 4 to 7Hz
Theta brainwaves are observed during deep relaxation and meditation, light sleep, and/or REM sleep, during which you dream. It is also where the subconscious is active and you are able to arrive at deep insights and intuition. It is in this state of consciousness that we attain higher universal insights that can change our lives.
It sounds contradictory, but the lower the brainwaves, the easier one learns. Theta is the state of consciousness in which visualizations, inspiration, and creativity are powerful. Meditation and yoga are often praised as beneficial because they generate these theta frequencies in the brain. Many people also have paranormal experiences due to higher sensitivity during theta.
Delta – 0.5 to 4Hz
Brainwaves in the Delta bandwidth have the highest amplitude and are observed in deep sleep. These frequencies form an opening to mystical experiences and the collective unconscious. Naturally, we are all aware of the healing effect of a good night's sleep, which is associated with these frequencies.
Experienced yogis who are able to enter deep meditation may be able to connect with their subconscious. Things such as self-healing, higher insights, and wisdom regarding many aspects of life and our existence are attributed to this.