What is Brain Wave Entrainment ?

Those of you who have been following some self-help programs lately and especially if you have been following subliminal messaging have probably come across something called ‘brain wave entainment’ (BWE for short). Now don’t get the two confused because they are quite different (for an explanation on the differences, see my article ‘Subliminal Messaging or BWE, Which One Does What?’)

So How Does it Work?

In short brain wave entrainment is a new pratice that allows us to have control over which brain wave states we enter into so that we can use our minds more effectively. It works by using aural (or sometimes visual) stimulus to induce the mind into a desired state (for example, to sleep) by the use of specialised software. This practice usually works because the human brain has a tendency to change its frequency to follow an external stimulus.

What are the Different Brain Frequencies?

The brain uses electromagnetic energy to function and the energy emanates from the brain in the form of waves. There are four categories of brainwaves which vary in frequency from the lowest frequency delta to the highest frequency beta. Everybody, regardless of gender, age or race has the same waves and can be described as:

BETA – 13-30 cycles per second – the state we are in when we are fully awake and alert. The is the optimal state to be in when we are working or engaged in any activity that involves concentration or strong mental powers.
ALPHA – 7-13 cycles per second – the state we are in when we are relaxed or engaged in light meditation or hypnosis.
THETA – 4-7 cycles per second – the state we are in when we are day dreaming, dreaming, in deeper meditation or experiencing paranormal phenomena such as out-of-body experiences or ESP. It is the state we are in when ordinary everyday tasks become so automatic that you can mentally disengage from them and your mind floats towards more a more free-flow state. Much creative thinking occurs during this state.
DELTA – 1.5-4 or less cycles per second – the state of deep, dreamless sleep

There is also a fifth type of wave called Gamma which are the fastest of the brainwave frequencies and allow us to be in the highest state of focus possible. They are associated with peak concentration and are the brain’s optimal frequency for cognitive functioning. Gamma waves are also said to connect your senses and thought processes together in a unified whole, as well as acting as a natural anti-depressant, boosting your mood, empathy, and compassion.

Successful people are able to access alpha, beta and delta waves at various times during the day and gamma waves at times when a peak performance is required.

Generally we don’t need any help reaching a beta state or a sleeping state (unless you are one of those people that suffers from insomnia). The alpha and theta states are the ones which are of most interest to people seeking to change their life patterns are these are the states we are in when we are most open to suggestion. Although people who are looking for something to put them in a state of peak performance look to increasing their gamma output.

For this reason, the majority of BWE technology on the market focusses on the Alpha State. If you would like to try some free samples, there are plenty of them all over the internet in MP3 forms that you can easily download and be listening to in a matter of minutes. My suggestion is to try some samples from ‘My Mind Shift’. I’ll even give you the link,or click on the banner.