| Recently professionals in the areas of psychology, | | | | electrical activity commonly called a brainwave pattern, |
| neurology, medical health and self-help have begun | | | | because of its "wave" or cyclic nature. "Entrainment" is |
| utilizing the power of brainwave entrainment (BWE) in | | | | a naturally occurring response where similar |
| their work with patients and clients. Advances in the | | | | frequencies tend to synchronize with each other. |
| effectiveness of brainwave entrainment have been | | | | Entrainment is a principle of physics. This frequency |
| significant. | | | | following response (or “FFR”) appears in |
| The benefits of BWE have been validated by a large | | | | chemistry, neurology, astronomy, pharmacology, and |
| body of research over the past thirty years. | | | | biology. For example in 1656, a Dutch scientist named |
| Brainwave entrainment has been proven to provide | | | | Christian Huygens, was working on the design of the |
| significant improvement in people’s lives, for | | | | pendulum clock. He found that if he put two |
| example: | | | | unsynchronized clocks side by side they would slowly |
| · Reduce the symptoms of depression | | | | synchronize to each other. |
| and Seasonal Affected Disorder; | | | | You do not need to invest a lot of money to use BWE |
| · Improve immune system function; | | | | technology. There are a number of recorded |
| · Relieve insomnia; | | | | products that are embedded with brainwave |
| · Reduce anxiety and panic; | | | | entrainment frequencies, and can be very effective. |
| · Increase feelings of calm, relaxation | | | | However, you do need to know what benefit you are |
| and well-being; | | | | seeking, and what brainwave frequency is therefore |
| · Improve creativity and intuition. | | | | the right one for you to entrain for that specific |
| You may have heard of BWE, but thought that it must | | | | purpose. As always, caveat emptor, let the buyer |
| be expensive, difficult to use, and require becoming a | | | | beware. If a recording promises brainwave |
| client of a biofeedback professional. Or you may | | | | entrainment but does not tell you specifically what |
| have seen brainwave entrainment recordings and | | | | effects that recording will produce, you may not |
| wondered how to choose one to provide the specific | | | | receive the benefit you are seeking. For instance, the |
| effects and benefits that you desire. Let me address | | | | frequency range indicated for enhancing immune |
| these concerns, but first, what is brainwave | | | | system function is 6 to 12 Hz, in the Theta brainwave |
| entrainment? | | | | band. If you listen to an Alpha band BWE recording, it |
| Brainwave entrainment is a relatively young but rapidly | | | | will not affect the brainwave frequencies found |
| growing field that involves the study of how altering | | | | through research to affect your immune system |
| brainwaves naturally can allow people to easily enter | | | | function. Therefore, some education prior to |
| states of increased intelligence, creativity, relaxation, | | | | purchasing and using a product is in order. |
| and more. The brain is made up of billions of brain | | | | Brainwave entrainment is safe, and it will not harm you |
| cells called neurons, which communicate with each | | | | to listen to a frequency other than that indicated for |
| other using electrical signals. All of these neurons | | | | your purposes; however, you will not derive the |
| sending signals at once produce a large amount of | | | | benefits you seek. |