Light and Sound Technology
Articles from the Voyager XL user's guide
This article first appeared in the Voyager
XL User Guide
© Copyright 2008 Theta Technologies.
The study
of "brainwaves" has played a vital role in the understanding of how
the brain and mind function. Discovered in the 1920s by German researcher Hans
Berger, these tiny electrical signals mirror the shifting patterns of mental
activity. They are measured by attaching special sensors, called electrodes, to
the scalp; these pick up brainwave activity which is then measured by an
instrument called an electroencephalograph, or EEG. Brainwave activity tends to
fall into four groups: beta, alpha, theta and delta. These categories are
associated with the rapidity of oscillation (frequency) of brainwaves. As it
turns out, certain patterns of brainwave activity are also associated with
specific mental states.
Beta is associated with
normal, waking consciousness; attention directed towards the external
environment. You are most likely in the "beta state" as you read
this. Beta waves oscillate between approximately 14 and 30 times per second
(Hz).
Alpha is relaxed, not
thinking about anything in particular, sometimes a pleasurable feeling of
"floating". Often dominant in certain kinds of meditation, alpha
waves have for the past twenty years been associated with calm, lucid mental
states (the "alpha state"). They are also often detected during dream
sleep. Alpha waves oscillate between 9 and 13 times per second.
Theta Found in states of
deep relaxation, theta activity is also associated with bursts of creative
insight, twilight ("sleep") learning and vivid mental imagery. It is
also found in more advanced meditators. Theta waves oscillate between 4 and 8
times per second.
Delta This slowest of
brainwave activity, is found during deep dreamless sleep and sometimes in very
experienced meditators. They oscillate between 1 and 3 Hz.
Your
brainwave activity is constantly shifting and changing during the day and
night. Virtually every form of mental and physical activity will cause changes
in this activity. Abrupt, unexpected noises or other events will quickly alter
your brainwave patterns. Even watching TV can dramatically alter brainwave
activity in an undirected manner.
Over the
years many techniques have been developed to allow you to enter these states,
particularly alpha and theta, at will. Most methods, such as meditation,
require years of regular practice to master. Alpha wave biofeedback, quite
popular in the 70s, requires the sometimes awkward placement of electrodes as
well as considerable practice.
The
Frequency-Following Effect:
In the
1940s researcher Gray Walter discovered that brainwave activity tends to mirror
flickering light, particularly in the alpha and theta frequencies. This effect
has become known as the "frequency-following effect." A familiar
example is the tendency to slip into a relaxed or dream-like state while gazing
into a fire the flicker rate of which happens to average in the alpha/theta
range!
More
recently, sound has been shown to produce similar results, particularly pulsed
sound and binaural beats. This last effect, binaural, results when one ear
hears a pure tone of a slightly differing pitch than the other ear. The brain
then actually synthesizes the difference between the two. The portions of the
brain associated with hearing tend to fall into step with this pleasant, gently
pulsing rhythm. The combination of pulsed light and binaural beat frequencies
can be a particularly effective tool for relaxation and preparation for
meditation. Pulsed sound in the form of musical rhythms has been entraining
people for thousands of years.
Research
conducted at the Monroe Institute and elsewhere suggests that both binaural
beats and flickering light stimulation can synchronize the activity of the left
and right hemispheres of your brain. It is thought that this synchronization
can increase the flow of information between the two hemispheres, thereby
accelerating learning and increasing creativity.
Altering
your mood:
Another
benefit of light/sound technology lies in its ability to interrupt negative
emotional response loops. Examples of such "loops" include moderate
levels of anger, worry, sadness, irritability and depression. Let's say that
you've had a tough day at the office. On your way home a driver cuts sharply in
front of you without signaling, nearly causing an accident. You arrive at home
with a "short fuse", growling at your children or spouse. You realize
that you are experiencing an undesirable mental state, but don't know quite how
to change it. All too often, the solution may be to have a few drinks or switch
on the TV. A nap can be effective, but you don't want to take the time. What
are the alternatives?
Before
showing you how to reduce this sort of emotional response, let's examine what
happens when an event has a negative emotional impact. When the event first
occurs, you respond directly. So when your boss snarls at you, you respond
internally, even if you cannot voice your response directly. The problem lies
in what can happen next: you mentally "act out" the exchange a number
of times, and respond emotionally to each of these imaginary events. This is
what we call a negative emotional response loop, because you are repeating
(looping) your emotional response in a series of make-believe events that can
stretch out over hours or days. Often times you may not even be aware that this
process is taking place. If your boss is a real jerk, then after a number of
unpleasant encounters you may become upset just by being near him or her.
An
awareness of your mental process is an important step in changing your
emotional response. Another step is to interrupt the feedback loop. Sleep is an
effective way to do this, which is why you often wake up feeling refreshed and renewed.
Nobel Prize winner Sir Francis Crick hypothesizes that dreaming serves a
necessary function by clearing away the various loops and impressions of the
day on a synaptic level.
A much
faster technique is to run a session with your Voyager XL. One of the Relax or
Energize sessions should do, especially in the 10-30 minute range. The trick is
to run a session that is long enough to divert and refresh you, but not long
enough to put you to sleep. Why is this effective? Because the pulsing light
and sound saturates your senses and constantly directs and diverts your
attention towards the rhythms and patterns of the experience. Try it! Chances
are that after a few weeks of regular use, you will generally feel calmer and
more centered.
