Brainwave Technologies
Rhythm, applied to the mind.
01Foundations
What entrainment is.
Neurons communicate in rhythms. Large populations of them cycle together at frequencies we can measure with EEG, and different ranges of that activity are associated with different kinds of mental states: the slow waves of deep sleep, the faster waves of focused problem-solving.
Entrainment takes advantage of a simpler, older phenomenon: biological systems tend to synchronize with gentle external rhythm. Present rhythmic light, and a portion of the visual system responds at that rhythm. Combine rhythmic light with rhythmic sound, and you have audio-visual entrainment, or AVE.
Used carefully, sessions of this kind are designed to make certain states easier to settle into: relaxation, drowsiness, steady attention. They are tools for practice and exploration, the way a metronome is a tool for musicians.
They are not medical devices, and we are careful never to describe them as one. Where research supports a use, we say so. Where it is early or mixed, we say that too.
02Methods
How the tools work.
01
Audio entrainment
Slightly offset tones in each ear (binaural beats), amplitude-modulated tones (monaural beats), or rhythmic pulses of sound (isochronic tones) invite a follow rhythm through the auditory system.
02
Visual entrainment
Eyes-closed LED glasses or light panels present gentle rhythmic flicker. The visual system responds to rhythmic light readily, which is why photic stimulation is one of the oldest tools in the field.
03
Audio-visual combined (AVE)
Light and sound presented together at a matched rhythm. Most research and commercial devices use combined stimulation, and it is the format our own products build on.
03Reference
The five bands, in plain language.
Delta
0.5-4 Hz
The slowest band we work with, dominant during deep, dreamless sleep. Delta-range sessions are used in wind-down and sleep-support contexts.
Theta
4-8 Hz
Associated with drowsy, meditative, and highly imaginative states. Theta sessions are common in relaxation and pre-sleep practice.
Alpha
8-12 Hz
Linked to calm, wakeful relaxation. Alpha is a frequent target for unwinding, stress-down, and meditation-support sessions.
Beta
12-30 Hz
The band of ordinary, alert thinking. The lower end of beta is often used in focus and attention sessions.
Gamma
30-45 Hz
The fastest common band, studied in relation to attention and how the brain binds information together. An active research area.
04Practice
Responsible use is part of the design.
Next step
Experience it for yourself.
Our first entrainment products are in development, and early-access groups are forming now.