Brainwave entrainment 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.
calm relaxing music | binaural beats sleep
Modern science is proving what people have always intuitively known about music; music has the power to heal. Whether using percussion instruments or piano or guitar, the impact is the same; music can soothe the soul and also serve as a bridge between very different people.
At their core, humans are essentially social creatures; we need to communicate with other people. Disabled children often feel alienated from their peers in school and feel that they stand out in public places. There may not be many opportunities for others to get to know them. Disabled children still have all the same basic needs as other children; they need to feel connected.
Music is something that can be shared regardless of age and communication capabilities which is why music has always been a good means for people to express themselves. Piano and guitar are commonly used but percussion instruments are the instruments of choice for children with disabilities and may have better healing properties than other instruments as well due to their strong beat. No formal training is needed to enjoy using a drum yet there is still room for improvement and instruction.
The rhythm in music can have a profound impact on the brain itself, particularly if the beat is a strong one. Brainwaves will actually synchronize to the beat of the music; a faster beat will make the brain more alert and slower beats will be calming. In this way it is possible to positively influence an entire group of children at once. Over time these sessions can train a disabled child’s brain to shift states faster as needed which is important on a day-to-day basis.
Music also has a positive impact on the child’s state of mind making them feel happier, more optimistic and even more loved than before. Sharing music either in a one-to-one situation with an instructor or in a group setting can improve the emotional health of the child leading to a higher quality of life overall. Music can also serve as a means of expression for children who lack the linguistic ability to communicate clearly; as others around them hear their music they feel a sense of connectivity that they lack in their everyday lives.
Music can make a positive impact in the lives of disabled children and is a worthwhile addition that brings the joy back to everyday life. Music enables all children to feel a sense of achievement and build confidence.
Brainwave entrainment 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? ?requency following?response, encouraging the brainwaves to align to the frequency of a given beat.
This ?requency following?response of brainwave entrainment can be seen in action with those prone to epilepsy. If a strobe flashes at their seizure frequency, the brain will ?ntrain?to the flashing light, resulting in a seizure.
On the positive side, this same mechanism is commonly used to induce many brainwave states; such as a trance, enhanced focus, relaxation, meditation or sleep induction. The brainwave entrainment effectively pushes the entire brain into a certain state.
Brainwave entrainment works for almost everyone. It is a great way to lead your mind into states that you might usually have difficulty reaching, allowing you to experience what those states feel like.
THE HYPE
There is a lot of marketing hype around brainwave entrainment. It is sold with promises of increasing IQ, promoting weight loss, ?ind-tripping? enhancing creativity, concentration, inducing spiritual states and more.
While these claims are not entirely true, they are not altogether false either. In practice, the claims are based on an overly-simplistic view of how the brain and the brainwaves function.
THE RUB
People are very seldom deficient in a certain brainwave type in all areas of their brain. Usually the distribution is much spottier, with an excess in one area and a deficiency in another.
We are all different, especially when it comes to the distribution of our brainwaves. Boosting a certain brainwave state may be beneficial for one person, and emotionally uncomfortable for another. Without knowing each person? starting position, entrainment can be rather ?it and miss?
If brainwave entrainment leaves you with unwanted side-effects (see below) or discomfort, you?e probably encouraging a range of brainwaves that are already excessive in some area of your brain. The way around this is to get a brain map to see what your brain? strengths and weaknesses are, and see what (if any) brainwaves could use some encouragement.