Akhir-akhir ini saya tertarik mencoba beberapa software yang menghasilkan suara berfrekuensi “unik” untuk menstimulasi otak saya. Frekuensi unik ini disebut binaural beat, frekuensi ini diklaim dapat menghadirkan relaksasi dalam waktu yang relatif singkat, membantu dalam mencapai suasana meditasi dengan lebih mudah, meningkatkan konsentrasi, membantu menyembuhkan berbagai macam penyakit, bahkan ada yg mengklaim frekuensi untuk menurunkan berat badan, membantu berhenti merokok dan yang fenomenal menyembuhkan HIV. Sounds really good.
Piliham saya jatuh pada BrainWave Generator , alasan saya adalah software ini punya forum untuk penggunanya submit preset frekuensi hasil karya mereka yang bisa saya download. Alasan kedua adalah free trialnya yg 30 hari paling lama. Alasan ketiga adalah software ini satu-satunya yang cr*ck-nya saya dapat. Ups, alasan terakhir just kidding.
Hari pertama saya coba BrainWave Generator, adalah waktu sebelum tidur dengan menggunakan headphone. Frekuensi yang saya pilih adalah Sleep Induction (Gently moves the brain frequency down to 3Hz, with a fadeout at the end). Saya cukup kaget akan efek yang ditimbulkan, saya bahkan tidak ingat betapa cepatnya saya tertidur. Dan ketika bangun saya sedikit bingung, karena saya tidur sekitar jam 2 pagi dan ketika bangun jam 5 pagi saya merasa sudah cukup tidur. Ini aneh, padahal jam tidur rata-rata saya adalah 5 jam. Kemudian saya tahu kalau frekuensi ini juga dapat mereduksi waktu tidur kita sekaligus meningkatkan kualitasnya.
How it works ?
Stimulating the brain
The easiest way of applying stimulus to the brain is via ears and eyes. Since humans cannot hear sounds low enough to be useful for brain stimulation, special techniques must be used. One such special technique used is called binaural beats.
If the left ear is presented with a steady tone of 495Hz and the right ear a steady tone of 505Hz, these two tones combine in the brain. The difference, 10Hz, is perceived by the brain and is a very effective stimulus for brainwave entrainment. This 10Hz is formed entirely by the brain. When using stereo headphones, the left and right sounds do not mix together until in your brain. The frequency difference, when perceived by brain this way, is called a binaural beat.
To get a stimulus of 10Hz, you may use tones of 495Hz and 505Hz, or 400Hz and 410Hz, or 862Hz and 872Hz, or so on. The only requirements are that the tone is heard well enough and that it is below about 1000Hz. Below 1000Hz, the wavelength of the sound is sufficiently small so that the sound waves curve around the skull.
What frequencies?
EEG (electroencephalography) technology is used to measure brain’s electrical vibrations from the surface of the scalp. The resulting EEG pattern will contain frequency elements mainly below 30Hz. The frequencies are categorized into four states as follows.
State Frequency State of mind
Delta 0.5–4Hz Deep sleep
Theta 4–8Hz Drowsy (also first stage of sleep)
Alpha 8–14Hz Relaxed but alert
Beta 14–30Hz Highly alert and focused
The effects
Helping in meditation
Meditation is essentially about willingly being able to alter one’s brain frequency to a desired state. While meditators have traditionally used several years to learn the techniques of meditation, you can now attain the same effect with brainwave entrainment. No special training or great discipline is required. Good meditation frequencies are in the alpha range, from 8Hz to 13Hz.
When a certain brainwave state is experienced and practiced over a period of time, the brain will “learn” the state change and it will become easier to self-produce the desired brainwave state at will. Thus, using brainwave entrainment, you can expect to get some of its effects later even without any external stimulus.
Reducing learning time
The theta state (4Hz–7Hz) has been found to increase learning capabilities. In fact, children spend more time in theta state than adults, which probably explains the accelerated learning capabilities of children.
Alpha frequencies are also useful for learning purposes. You can play language cassettes, subliminal tapes, etc. during an entrainment session for a maximum effect.
Reducing sleep needs
Some people have found that half an hour a day of the Theta state can replace up to 4 hours of sleep.
Treatment of certain mental diseases
Brainwave entrainment is used in treatment of depression, low self-esteem, attention deficit disorder, drug and alcohol addiction and autism, to name a few.
Brainwave entrainment has also been found helpful in alleviating headaches and migraines.
