Scientific Information on Binaural Beats
For many years scientists have been using electroencephalogram (EEG) machines to measure brainwave activity. From this research scientists have determined that our mental states are directly related to the brainwave frequencies we experience.
These brainwave frequencies have been divided into five major groupings, namely:
Delta (0.1 Hz to 4 Hz)
Delta brainwave frequencies are typically present in our brains when we are in deep sleep. Delta frequencies are also crucial for rejuvenating our physical body, and for physical healing.
Theta (4 Hz to 7 Hz)
Theta brainwave frequencies typically occur when first waking up in the morning and during daydreaming. Theta frequencies are useful for processing mental information, inspiring creativity, and developing intuition.
Alpha (7 Hz to 12 Hz)
Alpha brainwaves typically occur when we are alert but relaxed. Alpha frequencies are very good for mental processing, and increasing intelligence. They are heavily used in the accelerated learning process for this reason. Some people have successfully raised their IQs using certain alpha frequencies.
Beta (12 Hz to 30 Hz)
Beat brainwave frequencies, typically occur when we are awake and alert. They are stimulated by drugs such as caffeine, which is why sports people often use caffeine as a supplement to increase physical energy. When beta frequencies exceed 18Hz we can start to feel jumpy and edgy. As the frequencies increase, we can start to become angry or panicky. Stress typically increases beta brainwave frequencies.
Gamma (30+ Hz)
Gamma brainwave frequencies typically occur under conditions of extreme duress, such as shock or serious physical injury. A highly stressed person may have gamma brainwaves present if he or she isin a state of “freaking out” or is experiencing a breakdown.
Brain Profiles:
Below we can see two typical brain profiles. The profile on the left is for a typical stressed person, while the profile on the right portrays a relaxed person. The profile on the right is the type of brainwave profile stimulated by Instant Relaxation™.
(click for larger image)
As you can see, the stressed person on the left has a large number of beta waves. The left and right brains are out of synch, with more left-brain beta and gamma activity, and high right-brain theta and delta activity. What happens in this scenario is that the person struggles to think clearly and feels “hyped up.” The person in this state is most likely feeling anxious, edgy, and stressed. Because the left brain is overly active and the right brain is overly passive, the person tends to be overly critical and therefore is at risk of suffering depression.
Now compare that to the brain profile of the relaxed person. This person's brain hemispheres are in synch, leading to true whole-brain thinking. He or she has very few beta waves, except for the beneficial low beta waves. Therefore, the person feels very calm, focused, rational, serene, and balanced. The brain is thinking clearly, and the person is able to make accurate, rational decisions.
Binaural Beats Brainwave Stimulation
In 1839, Dr. Heinrich Wilhelm Dove discovered binaural tones. Scientifically, a binaural tone is an artifact from brain processing that results from the brain’s hearing two sounds that are similar but slightly shifted in frequency. The brain then hears a third frequency, which sounds like a gentle humming or beating.
Depending on how the frequency is produced, the humming sounds are termed either monaural beats, binaural beats, or isochoric beats.
Today, either binaural beats or isochoric beats are used for brainwave stimulation. For Instant Relaxation™, we have decided to use binaural beats for three key reasons:
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It is easier to create complex brainwave patterns, that vary over time
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Binaural beats, don’t over stimulate the brain
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Binaural beats, involve the brain more directly in the relaxation process
Because Instant Relaxation™ utilizes binaural beats, we will take a moment to explain how they work in detail.
Binaural beats work by presenting two similar tones of slightly different frequency to each ear. In the diagram above, a 500 Hz tone is played in the left ear, and a 510 Hz tone is played in the right ear.
When the brain hears these two slightly different tones, its auditory processor produces a third tone, which is heard as a beating sound. The beating sound has a frequency that is comprised of the difference between the frequencies of the tones played in each ear. In this case, the third tone would have a frequency of 10 Hz (510 Hz – 500 Hz = 10 Hz).
This third tone is known as a binaural beat, as it sounds like a beating sound in your head.
But the brain’s auditory processor also does something else. Not only do you hear the third 10 Hz tone or binaural beat, but your entire brain actually begins to resonate at 10 Hz. As you may recall, 10 Hz is a calming alpha brainwave frequency, so the 10 Hz binaural beat will actually calm you down.
Because binaural beats are created by the brain, they actually balance and synchronize your brain’s hemispheres, creating true whole-brain thinking.
Scientific Research Supporting the
Effectiveness of Binaural Beats
“Clearly we are on the frontier of a marvelous new field with untold possibilities. The ability to map and entrain brain waves, and the states they represent, gives us a powerful new tool to effect human change and growth. It has been shown that induced brain wave states can effect human changes and growth.
It has been shown that induced brain wave states can affect super learning, increased creativity, sleep induction, pain control, behavior modification, focusing of attention and relief from stress, increased longevity and slowing of the aging process, increased memory, and dramatic improvements in mental and emotional health. We invite you to participate as we leap into the 21st century.”
You can download this paper by clicking here.
D. Brian Brady of
Northern Arizona University tells us this in his scientific research paper entitled, "Binaural-Beat Induced Theta EEG Activity
and Hypnotic Susceptibility"
“Thus, the observed trends in theta activity following introduction of the binaural-beat sounds allows one to state, with a good deal of certainty, that it is the effect of the binaural-beat sounds and not merely the passage of time, the measurement operation, or some other independent event that effected the observed increases in theta activity.
During the post-session interviews, no descriptions of unpleasant experiences were reported, Individual reports of each stimulation session varied from profoundly insightful to pleasant and relaxing.”
You can download the full paper by clicking here.
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And that’s why we decided to use binaural beat sound technology for Instant Relaxation™ — because it allows us to use convenient audio to produce profoundly deep relaxation... a relaxation, that is just about impossible to create using any other means.
Click here to listen to a free trial of Instant Relaxation™ now.
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Noah Blumenthal
