Academic literature on the topic 'Brainwave entrainment'

The author discusses a conceptual framework for the organization and performance of music that has its basis in the frequency relationships of the Schumann Resonances and in the principle of binaural beats. He describes the steps he took in conceiving the project, the technical issues involved in realizing the goal of live data transmissions from a remote location and the creation of the three-dimensional overtone series that is the project's theoretical centerpiece. He also lays out his philosophy of improvisation and treads lightly into the curious gray areas where science mutates into leaps of faith.

Background: Brainwave entrainment (BWE) using rhythmic visual or auditory stimulation has many potential clinical applications, including the management of chronic pain, where there is a pressing need for novel, safe and effective treatments. The aim of this study was to gain qualitative feedback on the acceptability and usability of a novel BWE smartphone application, to ensure it meets the needs and wishes of end users. Methods: Fifteen participants with chronic pain used the application at home for 4 weeks. Semi-structured telephone interviews were then carried out. A template analysis approach was used to interpret the findings, with an initial coding template structured around the constructs of a theoretical framework for assessing acceptability of healthcare interventions. Structured data analysis generated a final modified coding structure, capturing themes generated across participants’ accounts. Results: The four main themes were ‘approach to trying out the app: affective attitude and ethicality’, ‘perceived effectiveness’, ‘opportunity costs and burden’ and ‘intervention coherence and self-efficacy’. All participants were willing to engage with the technology and welcomed it as an alternative approach to medications. Participants appreciated the simplicity of design and the ability to choose between visual or auditory stimulation. All the participants felt confident in using the application. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate preliminary support for the acceptability and usability of the BWE application. This is the first qualitative study of BWE to systematically assess these issues.

The interplay between the human brain and the environment is both dynamic and mysterious. For millennia phenomena have been experienced and observed by our ancestors of all cultures. But in the present Anthropocene age for human beings, many scientists still dismiss phenomena as “anecdotal” and not worthy of study. Beware the reductive power of science and research – good science advances on the wings of hypotheses. Genetics has loaded the gun but our environment pulls the trigger. There are no unnatural or supernatural phenomena – there are only very large gaps in our knowledge of what is natural. Thus the many bountiful phenomena which are covered in five domains of this paper have natural explanations – in physics and geophysics – in the slow brainwaves of human beings capable of entrainment – the waves of Natural systems – in action at a distance – in the piezo-electric signals generated by the crystals surrounding the pineal gland and our dna – itself a Fractal antenna. As the Roman Senator Seneca wrote “The language of truth is simple.”

The auditory system is a crucial element in our interaction with the environment, linked with several cognitive functions such as attention, memory and language. Further characterizing the neural mechanisms explaining auditory processing may help to understand better these connections, and ultimately improve our knowledge on numerous clinical conditions associated with abnormal auditory processes, including language impairment, schizophrenia or autism spectrum disorder. With the present thesis, we aimed to contribute to the characterization of two different mechanisms of brain function within the auditory domain, as measured with electroencephalography (EEG). On the one hand, evoked activity, reflecting subjacent cognitive process time-locked to the processing of the stimulus. On the other hand, induced brain oscillations, referring to brain rhythms which self-emerge, related with several cognitive functions, and are modulable by acoustic input. Within the first mechanism, two studies are included. In the first study, we focused on deviance detection, a defining feature of the auditory system consisting on the detection of stimuli breaking a previously encoded acoustic regularity. Here, we measured middle latency and long latency responses, two evoked potentials reflecting activity from different hierarchical levels of auditory processing, and demonstrated a functional dissociation between them in the encoding of deviant probability. In the second study, we focused on the Frequency-following response (FFR), an evoked potential following the periodical features of the acoustic stimulus, aiming to disentangle its cortical contributions as a function of stimulus frequency. By combining EEG with an inhibitory transcranial magnetic stimulation (the continuous Theta Burst Stimulation, cTBS) paradigm, we aimed to transiently inactivate auditory cortex and compare FFR recorded before and after this inactivation. However, our results suggested cTBS did not affect the auditory evoked potentials recorded, and it may be ineffective to produce inhibitory effects in the auditory cortex. Concerning the second mechanism of brain function studied, induced oscillations, in the third study we aimed to disentangle whether binaural beats, an auditory illusion produced by the dichotic presentation of two pure tones with slightly different frequencies, would modulate ongoing oscillatory activity in the brain at different frequency bands. Using strict control and baseline-treatment-washout sessions, our results suggest no modulation of brain rhythms in any of the frequency bands measured occurs during or after binaural beat stimulation, as compared to baseline. Overall, with the findings of these three studies, we hope to have contributed to the better understanding of the neurophysiological basis of auditory function.
El sistema auditiu és un element crucial en la nostra interacció amb l'entorn, vinculat a diverses funcions cognitives, com l'atenció, la memòria i el llenguatge. Una millor caracterització dels mecanismes neuronals que expliquen el processament auditiu pot ajudar a comprendre millor aquestes connexions i, en última instància, millorar el nostre coneixement sobre nombroses afeccions associades amb processos auditius anormals, com trastorns del llenguatge, esquizofrènia o trastorns de l'espectre autista. Amb la present tesi, el nostre objectiu va ser contribuir a la caracterització de dos mecanismes diferents de la funció cerebral dins el domini auditiu, mesurats amb electroencefalografia (EEG). D'una banda, l'activitat evocada, reflectint processos cognitius subjacents associats en el temps al processament de l'estímul. D'altra banda, les oscil·lacions cerebrals induïdes, referint-se als ritmes cerebrals que emergeixen per si mateixos, en relació amb diverses funcions cognitives, i són modulables pels estímuls acústics. Dins el primer mecanisme, s'inclouen dos estudis. En el primer estudi, ens centrem en la detecció de desviacions, una característica definitòria del sistema auditiu que consisteix en la detecció d'estímuls que trenquen una regularitat acústica prèviament codificada. Aquí, mesurem les respostes de latència mitjana i llarga, dos potencials evocats que reflecteixen l'activitat de diferents nivells jeràrquics de processament auditiu, i demostrem una dissociació funcional entre ells en la codificació de la probabilitat de la desviació. En el segon estudi, ens enfoquem en la resposta de seguiment de freqüència (Frequency-Following Response, FFR), un potencial evocat que segueix les característiques periòdiques de l'estímul auditiu, amb l'objectiu d'esbrinar les seves contribucions corticals en funció de la freqüència de l'estímul. Combinant EEG amb un paradigma d'estimulació magnètica transcranial inhibitòria (continuous Theta Burst Stimulation, cTBS), el nostre objectiu va ser inhibir transitòriament l'escorça auditiva i comparar la FFR registrada abans i després d'aquesta inhibició. No obstant això, els nostres resultats van suggerir que la cTBS no va afectar els potencials evocats auditius registrats, i pot ser ineficaç per produir efectes inhibitoris en l'escorça auditiva. Pel que fa al segon mecanisme de la funció cerebral estudiat, les oscil·lacions induïdes, en el tercer estudi vam intentar diferenciar si els polsos binaurals, una il·lusió auditiva produïda per la presentació dicòtica de dos tons purs amb freqüències lleugerament diferents, modularien l'activitat oscil·latòria en curs a el cervell en diferents bandes de freqüència. Emprant controls estrictes i sessions amb línia base, tractament i post-tractament, els nostres resultats suggereixen que els ritmes cerebrals en curs no es van modular en cap de les bandes de freqüència mesurades durant o després de l'estimulació amb polsos binaurals, en comparació amb la línia de base. En general, amb les troballes d'aquests tres estudis, esperem haver contribuït a una millor comprensió de les bases neurofisiològiques de la funció auditiva.
El sistema auditivo es un elemento crucial en nuestra interacción con el entorno, vinculado a varias funciones cognitivas, como la atención, la memoria y el lenguaje. Una mejor caracterización de los mecanismos neuronales que explican el procesamiento auditivo puede ayudar a comprender mejor estas conexiones y, en última instancia, mejorar nuestro conocimiento sobre numerosas afecciones asociadas con procesos auditivos anormales, como trastornos del lenguaje, esquizofrenia o trastornos del espectro autista. Con la presente tesis, nuestro objetivo fue contribuir a la caracterización de dos mecanismos diferentes de la función cerebral dentro del dominio auditivo, medidos con electroencefalografía (EEG). Por un lado, la actividad evocada, reflejando procesos cognitivos subyacentes asociados en el tiempo al procesamiento del estímulo. Por otro lado, las oscilaciones cerebrales inducidas, refiriéndose a los ritmos cerebrales que emergen por sí mismos, en relación con varias funciones cognitivas, y son modulables por los estímulos acústicos. Dentro del primer mecanismo, se incluyen dos estudios. En el primer estudio, nos centramos en la detección de desviaciones, una característica definitoria del sistema auditivo que consiste en la detección de estímulos que rompen una regularidad acústica previamente codificada. Aquí, medimos las respuestas de latencia media y larga, dos potenciales evocados que reflejan la actividad de diferentes niveles jerárquicos de procesamiento auditivo, y demostramos una disociación funcional entre ellos en la codificación de la probabilidad de la desviación. En el segundo estudio, nos enfocamos en la respuesta de seguimiento de frecuencia (Frequency-Following Response, FFR), un potencial evocado que sigue las características periódicas del estímulo auditivo, con el objetivo de averiguar sus contribuciones corticales en función de la frecuencia del estímulo. Combinando EEG con un paradigma de estimulación magnética transcraneal inhibitoria (continuous Theta Burst Stimulation, cTBS), nuestro objetivo fue inhibir transitoriamente la corteza auditiva y comparar la FFR registrada antes y después de esta inhibición. Sin embargo, nuestros resultados sugirieron que la cTBS no afectó los potenciales evocados auditivos registrados, y puede ser ineficaz para producir efectos inhibitorios en la corteza auditiva. Con respecto al segundo mecanismo de la función cerebral estudiado, las oscilaciones inducidas, en el tercer estudio intentamos diferenciar si los pulsos binaurales, una ilusión auditiva producida por la presentación dicótica de dos tonos puros con frecuencias ligeramente diferentes, modularían la actividad oscilatoria en curso en el cerebro en diferentes bandas de frecuencia. Usando un controles estrictos y sesiones con línea base, tratamiento y post-tratamiento, nuestros resultados sugieren que los ritmos cerebrales en curso no se modularon en ninguna de las bandas de frecuencia medidas durante o después de la estimulación con pulsos binaurales, en comparación con la línea de base. En general, con los hallazgos de estos tres estudios, esperamos haber contribuido a una mejor comprensión de las bases neurofisiológicas de la función auditiva.

A presente dissertação centra-se na exploração de dois fenómenos: batimentos binaurais e tons isocrónicos. Estudos científicos sugerem a existência de um potencial terapêutico promissor nestes fenómenos pela sua influência sobre frequências específicas das ondas cerebrais. Como tal, através da realização de um estudo exploratório, foi procurado clarificar as características necessárias de um estímulo auditivo desta categoria para desencadear efeitos específicos no ouvinte. Foram dadas ferramentas a um grupo de 30 sujeitos para gerarem estímulos auditivos como os acima descritos com base em dois objetivos: através da escuta, alcançar um efeito subjetivamente calmante num primeiro momento e, num segundo momento, subjetivamente estimulante. As escolhas feitas pela amostra demonstraram uma preferência pelos estímulos oscilando ou pulsando principalmente na gama de frequências theta para o efeito calmante e alfa para o estimulante. Igualmente evidenciaram um uso de tons isocrónicos significativamente mais recorrente para o efeito estimulante e uma nítida prevalência do uso de uma forma de onda sinusoidal para ambos os efeitos. Demonstraram ainda uma forte preferência em combinar a escuta dos fenómenos com ruído branco e/ou rosa. Salienta-se a existência de uma margem de erro elevada conferida pela dispersão dos resultados, sendo necessária a realização de mais estudos deste tipo sobre a matéria, igualmente com o intuito de validar os achados da pesquisa científica existente neste tópico, que identicamente necessita de mais desenvolvimento, particularmente sobre tons isocrónicos.
The present dissertation focuses on the exploration of two phenomena: binaural beats and isochronic tones. Scientific studies suggest the existence of a promising therapeutic potential in these phenomena due to their influence on specific brainwave frequencies. As such, through an exploratory study, it was sought to clarify the necessary characteristics of an auditory stimuli in this category to trigger specific effects on the listener. In order to assess specific characteristics of binaural beats and isochronic tones that are able to trigger distinct sensations, a group of 30 individuals were subjected to an experiment, where, through the use of a custom developed software, each subject was asked to manipulate an audio synthesizer with the aim of achieving calming and stimulating effects. The choices made by the sample demonstrated a preference for the stimuli oscillating or pulsing at the theta frequency range for the calming effect and alpha for the stimulating one. They also showed a recurrent use of isochronic tones for the stimulating effect and a clear prevalence in the use of a sinusoidal waveform for both effects. Additionally, they demonstrated a strong preference in combining the phenomena with white and/or pink noise. It should be highlighted that there is a high error margin due to the dispersion of the results and it is necessary to carry out more studies of this type on the matter, also with the purpose of validating the findings of the scientific research on this topic, which identically needs more development, particularly on isochronic tones.