BrainWave Generator 3.1.12

Want to relax? Meditate? Learn faster? Focus attention? Increase your awareness? Try self-hypnosis?

Just put on the earphones and let BrainWave Generator take you to the state of mind you want.
The sound and visual stimulation functions of BrainWave Generator help you

prepare for stressful situations or challenging tasks
improve learning results
alleviate sleeping problems and headaches

In 1839, German experimenter Heinrich Wilhelm Dove discovered that playing two tones simultaneously, one in to each ear, induced the perception of a “beat frequency” when the tones were of slightly differing frequency (generally less than 100 Hz apart).

While an acoustic mixing of the two tones will also produce a beat frequency, what is notable about auditory binaural beats is that there is no acoustic mixing of the tones: the beat percieved by the subject is produced solely within their auditory system. Some researchers believe that this phenomena has it’s basis in the “neural wiring” used for determining origins of sounds in our environment. Some people claim that the technique, if used properly, seems to have the ability to pack a large amount of “sleep-like” rest in to a very short period of time, and also encourage real sleep when otherwise disinclined.

Gerald Oster’s breakthrough in 1973 was to observe that the neural processing of binaural beats can (under controlled circumstances) induce an entrainment of overall brainwave activity (specifically, an oscillation across both hemispheres matching the beat frequency). The neurology of this phenomenon is, according to Oster, tied to the contralateral integration of auditory input taking place in the superior olivary nucleus in the brainstem.

Binaural beats or binaural tones are auditory processing artifacts, i.e. apparent sounds, the perception of which arises in the brain independent of physical stimuli. In nature, two sounds that are similar but slightly shifted in frequency will heterodyne to produce two new frequencies which are the sum and differences of the original two sounds. The brain produces a similar phenomenon internally, resulting in low-frequency pulsations in the loudness of a perceived sound when two tones at slightly different frequencies are presented separately, one to each of a subject’s ears, using stereo headphones. The frequency of the tones must be below about 1,000 to 1,500 hertz. The difference between the two frequencies must be small (below about 30 Hz) for the effect to occur; otherwise the two tones will be distinguishable and no beat will be perceived.

The sensation of binaural beats is believed to originate in the superior olivary nucleus, a part of the brainstem. They appear to be related to the brain’s ability to locate the sources of sounds in three dimensions.

One of the most remarkable features of the binaural beat phenomenon is the spectrum of purposes it is used for, ranging from laboratory “hard-science” to the most personal explorations of consciousness imaginable. From neuroscience to meditation, and even to explorations of purported “out of body” phenomena. Interest in binaural beats can be classified into two categories. First, they are of interest to neurophysiologists investigating the sense of hearing. Second, there are those who believe that binaural beats may influence the brain in more subtle ways through the entrainment of brainwaves and can be used to produce relaxation and other health benefits. Some people believe that binaural beats can influence functions of the brain besides those related to hearing. This phenomenon is called frequency following response. The concept is that if one receives a stimulus with a frequency in the range of brain waves, the predominant brain wave frequency is said to be likely to move towards the frequency of the stimulus (a process called entrainment).

The stimulus does not have to be aural; it can also be visual (see Dreamachine). However, using alpha frequencies with such stimuli can trigger photosensitive epilepsy.

Directly using an infrasonic auditory stimulus is impossible, since the ears cannot hear sounds low enough to be useful for brain stimulation. Therefore, binaural beat frequencies must be used.

According to this view, when the perceived beat frequency corresponds to the delta, theta, alpha or beta range of brainwave frequencies, the brainwaves entrain to or move towards the beat frequency. For example, if a 315 Hz sine wave is played into the right ear and a 325 Hz one into the left ear, the brain is supposed to be entrained towards the beat frequency (10 Hz, in the alpha range). Since alpha range is usually associated with relaxation, it is supposed to have a relaxing effect.

Effects of brain stimulation range from relaxation and meditation to self-hypnosis and alleviation of headaches and migraines.

Examples of possible uses for brain stimulation:
* Enhancement of learning capabilities (super learning)
* Sleep induction (for treating insomnia or just for falling asleep quicker)
* Focusing attention and enhancing awareness
* Alleviation of headaches and migraines, as well as other pain
* Preparation for stressful situations
* Self hypnosis and/or subliminal programming

WARNINGS !
1. Improper use use of brainwave synchronization by means of binaural beats
can cause seizures and even death.

2. The following people should not use brain entrainment products like BrainWave Generator:
* People subject to any forms of seizures or epilepsy
* People using pacemakers
* People suffering from cardiac arrhythmia or other heart disorders
* People taking stimulants, psychoactive drugs, or tranquilizers
If you fall in any of the above categories, do not try to use BrainWave Generator!

3. If you experience headaches or dizziness while using this program, stop immediately. Although rare, some people have described feelings of dizziness and headaches while using this software.

BrainWave Generator works on Windows 95/98/2000/NT/XP and requires a stereo-capable sound card.

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