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During hypnosis the
brain shows a characteristic sequence of brain wave activity. This can
now be artificially reproduced through the use of audio tones; a process
known as brain wave entrainment.
If you are in a particular state, for
example, very anxious, then you will produce a unique 'signature' of
brainwaves. This applies equally to other states, such as learning and
the focused concentration of competitive sport.
These are states that can take a long
time and a lot of physical effort to attain. It is an appealing idea
that all that hard work and application could be bypassed and the
perfect mental state produced through rapid artificial means.
This page is going to show you how
this is done.
Firstly, we are going to review the different
types of brain wave and the states that are generally
associated with them.
Secondly, we will look at hypnosis and the
brain wave signatures that have been observed in people while
undergoing hypnosis.
Thirdly we will look at psychoacoustics
and brain wave entrainment and how it has been used to produce
individual and groups of brain waves to modify peoples' state.
Fourthly we will look at brain wave
entrainment specifically with regard to inducing a hypnotic state.
Finally there are some links to free and
retail software suppliers so you can try it for yourself.
Types of Brain Waves
Brain Waves
|
Name |
Frequency |
Characteristics |
| Lamda |
~200Hz |
Self awareness,
higher levels of insight and information. Tibetan monks that
walk barely clothed for days through the snow have exhibited
high levels of these. They are difficult to measure and little
is known about them. They are carried on the very slow moving
Epsilon Waves (<0.5Hz). |
| Hyper Gamma |
~100Hz |
| Gamma |
38 - 90Hz |
Important in harmonizing and unifying
thoughts processed in different parts of the brain. Combines
different perceptions. Suppressed totally by anaesthetic. Found
in all parts of the brain. Self awareness and insight. |
| |
40Hz |
The core frequency. Important in
cognition, especially coordinating simultaneous processing in
all parts of the brain. Deficiencies exhibit learning
difficulties. Produced during hypnotic states. |
| Beta |
12 - 38Hz |
Wide awake, alert, focused, analyses and
assimilates new information rapidly, complex mental processing,
peak physical and mental performance, cannot be sustained
indefinitely otherwise exhaustion, anxiety, and tension result.
|
| |
15Hz-18Hz |
Mid Range Beta Neuro-feedback
training that produced alert behaviour, useful in depression
cases. |
| |
12 - 15Hz |
Low Beta Also known as
Sensory Motor Rhythm (SMR) - vigilance, reduced mobility,
shallow breathing, less blinking, fixed attention and eye focus,
enhancing through neuro-feedback reduces epileptic symptoms and
has a calming effect (ADHD sufferers). |
| Beta-Alpha |
12Hz |
Hyper-efficient in processing single
tasks as it can focus on the details as well as the overall task
at the same time |
| Alpha |
7.5 - 12Hz |
Mental coordination and resourcefulness,
relaxation, alert but not mentally processing anything, inward
focus, calmness, at ease, deep breathing and closed eyes can
amplify alpha production, peak around 10Hz. |
| Alpha-Theta |
7.48Hz |
Primary ionospheric resonance (Schumann)
frequency. Stimulates retrieval of memories from the
subconscious. |
| Theta |
4 - 7.5Hz |
Memory access, learning, deep meditation,
sensations, emotions, the threshold of the subconscious,
dreaming. |
| |
6.2 - 6.7Hz |
Frontal Midline Theta -
Cognitive activity, maths problems, sustained attention,
extrovert personality, low anxiety |
| 4.5Hz |
Shamanic trances, Tibetan mantras,
Buddhist chants all use this frequency to access altered states
|
| ~4Hz |
Object naming |
| Theta-Delta |
~3.5Hz |
Long term memory access |
| Delta |
0.5 - 4Hz |
Deep sleep, human growth hormone release,
low blood pressure, low respiration, low body temperature. No
muscle movement - Reticular Activating System (RAS) shuts this
down. |
| Epsilon |
<0.5Hz |
The state Yogi's go into when they
achieve "suspended animation" where no heart beat, respiration
or pulse are noticeable. |
Brain Waves During Hypnosis
For a long while it was thought that alpha wave
patterns were characteristic of hypnotic states. It is now understood
that it is theta and to some extent delta waves and 40Hz gamma waves
that are predominant. Other wave patterns occur, even active beta waves,
but these are due to the content of the suggestions and the images
created by them.
The sequence seems to run something
like this.
As the you relax and then close your eyes
there is a brief build up of alpha waves.
As the induction (see about hypnosis)
develops there is an increase in theta and to a lesser extent delta
activity and the alpha activity drops away.
This continues until the end of the hypnotic
deepening.
During the therapeutic suggestions the brain
wave activity can vary depending upon the nature of these
suggestions and the effect they are having. Generally during this
period the delta and theta wave activity begins to slowly subside.
Through the whole hypnotic process there is a
gradual increase in 40Hz gamma wave activity.
During termination the alpha activity and
finally the normal beta activity returns.
This pattern is especially noticeable
in highly hypnotisable subjects.
If you want to read more about this
then the following article from the April 2004 issue of the American
Journal of Clinical Hypnosis presents some interesting research and a
review of previous ideas.
See the brain wave research article.
Psychoacoustics - Binaural Tones
If slightly different audible tones are played to
each ear through stereo headphones then as the brain puts these two
sounds together it creates brain waves of a frequency equal to the
difference of the two tones.
For example, if the left ear was
played a 200Hz tone and the right ear a 210Hz tone the brain will
respond with a 10Hz brain wave (termed a frequency following response).
If you want to know more about the
theory and the research then see the
article by Bill Harris at the Centerpointe Research Institute.
Brain Wave Training Hypnotic States
The significance of this is that with a careful
choice of frequencies, you can rapidly alter your state.
For example, you can reproduce the
patterns of brainwaves associated to falling asleep as the activity
descends rapidly through alpha into theta and delta waves.
Many other states have been induced
by the method such as learning, meditation and creativity. You can stack
and overlap different binaural tones to produce quite complex states.
Where somebody shows abnormal brainwave patterns, such as ADHD
(Attention Deficit) or psychotic episodes, it is possible to train the
brain back into a more normal pattern. The possibilities are enormous,
and though research is still in its infancy, you can see how useful this
could be both therapeutically and for self improvement.
In the case of hypnosis then you can
produce a sequence of tones to mimic the normal course of a hypnotic
session. For example:
A period of alpha waves at the start behind
the pre talk, at say 10Hz, a frequency known to stimulate serotonin
and produce relaxation
A gradual build up of theta which will remain
the dominant wave pattern, at perhaps a frequency of 4.5Hz. This is
the frequency used by Shamanic drummers to induce trance states.
A gradual build up of delta waves
Towards and during the reinforcement phase
and termination introduce a 'learning' theta frequency at around
4Hz.
You can try a short period of alpha during
termination.
If the final aim is to feel refreshed and
revitalised then end with a beta wave wide awake frequency depending
upon the nature of the therapy, for example around 13.8Hz (calming
for ADHD) or 17Hz (alert for depression).
Using Brain Wave
Entrainment Products
There are a number of products out on the market that
allow you to create your own binaural beats and record them to sound
files.
The good news is that a chap called
Jim Peters has developed and made freely available a binaural tone
generator called SBaGen. It does everything that any of the retail
products do but you have to run it from the command line (Start>Run>Type
"cmd" press Enter). You can combine the tones with backing tracks,
hypnotic induction tracks, sound effects or generated noise. A great
tool if you are stepping into the arena of brain wave entrainment.
Many thanks to the Jim Peters for
being so generous with his time and effort. Link to his
SBaGen site here.
There are other products that have more friendly graphic interfaces and
a few extra features. The two I will mention here are:
Brain Wave Generator
Neuro-Programmer 2.0 . This is a sophisticated
product that allows you to develop quite deep altered states.
create complex layers of binaural tones.
Add voice over suggestions.
Add background music.
Link to sound and light and strobe
systems.
Text to speech.
..and a whole host of other features.
Visit the web site for a complete guide to the product.
Brain Wave Research
I have an ongoing research program
into brainwave entrainment and will be publishing the initial
conclusions on this site in the future. It seems that due to the complex
nature of wave interaction in the brain, simple frequency overlaying is
a pretty random exercise. Best to emulate an already existing pattern
rather than go wild with the impressionists brush.
I am also coming to the conclusion
that it is not only the actual frequencies that are important but the
sequence and timing that is most significant. Very little is known about
this, though there has been work done at the Monroe Institute. Meanwhile, best wishes with all your
brainwave entrainment endeavours. I would be happy to hear about any of
your experiences or ideas. So don't hesitate to
contact us or to contribute below.
Useful brainwave links. |
