Brainwave entrainment

Brainwave Entrainment

Brainwave entrainment (pronunciation: /ˈbreɪnwɛɪv ɛnˈtreɪnmənt/) is a method to stimulate the brain into entering a specific state by using a pulsing sound, light, or electromagnetic field. The pulses elicit the brain's 'frequency following' response, encouraging the brainwaves to align to the frequency of a given beat.

Etymology

The term "brainwave entrainment" is derived from the words "brainwave" and "entrainment". "Brainwave" refers to the rhythmic or repetitive neural activity in the cortex of the brain, while "entrainment" is a term originally derived from complex systems theory, and describes the way that two or more independent, autonomous oscillators with differing rhythms or frequencies, when situated in a context and at a proximity where they can interact for long enough, influence each other mutually, to a degree dependent on coupling force, such that they adjust until both oscillate with the same frequency.

Related Terms

• Frequency following response: This is a naturally occurring phenomenon where the human brain has a tendency to change its dominant EEG frequency towards the frequency of a dominant external stimulus.

• Binaural beats: These are auditory processing artifacts, or apparent sounds, the perception of which arises in the brain independent of physical stimuli. This effect was discovered in 1839 by Heinrich Wilhelm Dove.

• Isochronic tones: These are regular beats of a single tone used for brainwave entrainment. Similar to monaural beats, the interference pattern that produces the beat is outside the brain so headphones are not required for entrainment to be effective.

• Electroencephalography: This is an electrophysiological monitoring method to record electrical activity of the brain.

• Neurofeedback: This is a type of biofeedback that uses real-time displays of brain activity—most commonly electroencephalography (EEG)—in an attempt to teach self-regulation of brain function.

See Also

• Meditation
• Hypnosis
• Biofeedback
• Neuroscience
• Psychology

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Brainwave entrainment
• Wikipedia's article - Brainwave entrainment

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