Binaural Beats &
The Frequency Following Response
Binaural Beats or "binaural tones" are an auditory effect that is created in the brain when two tones of slightly different frequencies are played separately into each ear. This effect was discovered in 1839 by Heinrich Wilhelm Dove and is now commonly used with great effect to create audio technology that enhances meditation.
Normally, when a sound reaches your ears, your brain uses this information to help decipher where the sound is coming from. Think of it this way...if your hear a noise that originates slightly to your left, then the sound will not only be a little louder in your left ear, it also arrives at your left ear a few milliseconds sooner than it arrives at your right ear. You may not notice this effect on a conscious level, but your brain certainly does. So your brain is very sensitive to small variations in the frequency of sounds, and to the way those sounds reach your ears.
When you listen to binaural beats, your brain is subjected to an effect that is perceives as a constant fluctuation in the directionality of the sound. This is really just an auditory illusion. The rate of this fluctuation can be controlled by the use of specific sound frequencies. For example, by playing a tone of 200 Hz in the left ear, and 210 Hz in the right ear, a fluctuation of 10 Hz is detected by the brain. The difference between the two frequencies could be called a "sub harmonic" – a sound that is below the threshold of human hearing. However, this sub-harmonic binaural frequency may still be detected as a slight pulsing sound. This pulsing, or beating, is why we call them binaural "beats". Binaural beats cause the brain to adjust its dominant frequency to match the sub harmonic frequency of the beating sound. This is what is known as the "frequency following response".
For a more detailed explanation of how binaural beats are actually created, check out this article on Binaural Frequencies.
Here’s where it gets exciting…We can take advantage of the frequency following response by creating binaural frequencies that help to induce specific brainwave frequencies. For example, we know that someone who is in a state of deep meditation may have a dominant brainwave frequency of say, 6 Hertz (6 cycles per second). When you listen to binaural tones that have been programmed to produce a 6 Hertz sub harmonic frequency, your own brainwaves will follow the frequency of the beat, and will naturally adjust in sympathy.In other words, binaural frequencies can be used to adjust the dominant frequency of your own brainwaves, leading to a state of deep meditation. This is what we call "Binaural Meditation". Binaural frequencies can lead to other altered states of consciousness, from light relaxation, to deep sleep, but more often they are used to dramatically accelerate and deepen meditation.
Why aren’t binaural beats more well known?To quote Paula A. Hussey, Ney York Times:
“There is over 70 years of solid research behind brainwave entrainment, or commonly referred to as Binaural Beats. So why hasn’t it become better known? Mainly because our culture is very much dependent on drugs, and, in comparison to the pharmaceutical giants, there is not a lot of money to be made in entrainment: it is inexpensive, easy to use at home and can be a viable solution to a huge variety of problems. Also, the idea that software or an inexpensive piece of hardware is able to directly affect the brain sounds preposterous at first, until you read the research and discover the science behind it. I have found that most people are skeptical until the day they actually experience a product that utilizes Binaural Beats.”
Blending the BeatsBy themselves, binaural tones sound rather plain, and for that reason they are usually blended with soothing music or nature sounds. In this way, binaural music works on two levels. First of all, the music itself gives your mind something soothing to occupy itself with, so that you are less inclined to continue mulling over troublesome thoughts. Secondly, the binaural beats themselves have a direct effect on your brain activity, gradually slowing the activity of the mind and literally guiding you into a state of deep meditation. Profound stillness and deep relaxation is the aim of meditation, and this is exactly what you will enjoy when you listen to our binaural music downloads. You'll love the pleasant, soothing sound of our binaural meditation recordings! In recent years, binaural meditation programs have become notoriously expensive, now costing hundreds, even thousands of dollars. We'd like to offer you an alternative to some of the more expensive brainwave entrainment products that are available today. Our aim is to provide you with a cost effective way to meditate more deeply and with greater ease. The fact is, our binaural meditation recordings are as powerful (if not more so) than any brainwave entrainment product you will ever find.
Please follow the link below for instant binaural mp3 downloads. You're on your way to a seriously deep and totally relaxing meditation experience!
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