Light and Sound Machines – Meditation Training Wheels for the Brain?

 

Stress relief, superlearning, heightened focused concentration, creativity, superlearning, easy changework, instant Samadhi. These are goals that can be reached if you use a Light and Sound Machine. Sometimes called a Brain Machine or Audio and Visual Stimulation (AVS), these devices allow the user to reach states of being in a controlled way.

 

Neurologists have studied the brain since the late 1800’s seeking ways to help people with brain injuries and learning dysfunctions. Recent discoveries have reached the general population. If something can help a subject with a learning disability or brain injury, what could it do for a “normal” person?

 

The brain has 100 billion neurons generating and transmitting electrical signals. These signals can be detected by devices called EEG machines (electroencephalograph) One of the big discoveries was the correlation of brain waves to states of being. Stress, alertness, relaxation, mediation, and sleep have been shown to match particular wave patterns. Neurologists have given these brain wave patterns names taken from the ancient Greek Alphabet. Typical alert behavior registers at 30 or more hertz (cycles per second). Alpha state is a condition that is easily achieved by closing the eyes and relaxing. 7-13hz is the range for the Alpha condition. Sleep is the lowest frequency at 0.5 to 3hrz.

 

The most difficult state to achieve and maintain is the in-between state of Theta (3-7hz). It is the state found in the brains of meditation masters. Many students of meditation work for years to reach the Theta state reliably and consistently. Either the mind wanders off into some train of thought or it falls asleep. What if there was a way to quick and easy way to learn how to meditate?

 

In the late 50’s a radio broadcaster named Robert Monroe was experimenting with sound tones for super-learning. He discovered that sound frequencies created certain effects in the brain. When two different frequencies are played in both ears the brain will resonate at the vibration that is the difference between the two tones. If one tone is played in the left ear at 110hz and 100 is played in the right ear the brain waves will resonate at 10hz, which is the same as Alpha Waves. The same effect is triggered by flashing or flickering light. That is why looking at a campfire is so relaxing. The flames just happen to flicker at the alpha rate. He coined the term Frequency Following Response (FFR).

 

Light and Sound Machines are devices that bring that experience from the lab into your home for a fraction of the cost. Typically they consist of a controller, stereo headphones and lightglasses. The controller is a computer that creates the light and sound sessions. There is a user interface for selection of time, and the combination of desired frequencies or brain states. They can be selected manually, or a pre-programmed session can be picked. Headphones provide the sound with high quality comfort. The lightglasses are like opaque sunglasses with two or more LED lights positioned over the eyelids.

 

Here are some features that can be found in superior brain machines:

 

• Rechargeable batteries – nothing worse than a blissful L&S session cut short due to dead batteries.

 

• Input jack – add music or hypnosis recordings to the sessions

 

• Programmability – custom design your own sessions.

 

• Two or more output jacks – share the experience

 

• Ramp up ramp down – a gentle beginning and end

 

• Download sessions via computer – add to your collection

 

• Color choice – red, green or yellow -what is your preference?

 

• Carry case or bag – safely store and transport

 

• Ongoing customer support – what happens when you have a question or problem?

 

My personal experience with brain machines started in the late eighties. I discovered the book Megabrain by Michael Hutchison. He described various technologies for accessing and enhancing brain states such as brain machines, float tanks, nutrition, and electro-stimulation.

 

I purchased a basic AVS unit from a direct mail advertisement and began to use it regularly. I experienced some sublime peak experiences using it along with meditation tapes.

 

The system I am using now is called Nova Pro by Photosonix. I have used it for approximately ten years. It is a real workhorse and creates beautiful experiences for me. The only trouble I have had is with the headphones. They had to be replaced after the phone cord got sucked into a vacuum cleaner. Totally my fault, but easy enough to go to any department store and pick up a new set of headphones.

 

So, where do you get a Light and Sound Machine? There are a number of manufacturers and even more distributors for them. I have discovered that there is a cost savings by going directly to the manufacture if you can. That is why I picked the Photosonix unit. I got a great price for it. I am still using it after all this time.

 

Ebay is a good source for a great bargain on an L&S machine. Some are sold brand new, others are used and at a remarkable savings.

 

Amazon is an excellent source. They carry the book Megabrain and Light and Sound Machines

Intel Extends Effort On Brain-Machine Interface

Thought controlled technology or brain–machine interface is the direct communication between a brain and an external device. The technology can assist, or repair human cognitive or sensory-motor functions. However, the technology is accompanied with serious objections about privacy violations and other possible abuses, various organizations are exploring its commercial potential.

Intel Corp, the world’s largest chipmaker has also joined the technological quest to allow people to operate computers, television sets and cell phones solely with their thoughts.

Intel joins the bandwagon

According to the Chipzilla, if developers could decipher the brain activity and patterns, then it can be possible to access the global information network simply by using thoughts, and it will open enormous new opportunities for computing technology.

Scientists have examined the brain’s electrical activity and flow of blood when people think about certain words and actions, and have identified patterns that PCs can be programmed to read. It would provide new possibility to a number of fascinating applications.

Recent Efforts

Recently, it has been demonstrated that persons suffering from severe ailments like paralysis have changed TV stations, turn on lights and write on a computer through brain-reading gadgets.

Similarly, Emotiv Systems of San Francisco has designed a headset, which can allow users to control video games by their thoughts rather by any joystick. Further, Honda had shown a robot whose arm can be mentally controlled by a person last year.

In the 2010 Winter Olympics at Vancouver, InteraXon’s Bright Ideas has demonstrated and also allowed people to switch on/off the lights at major Landmarks in Ontario using thought alone. It is one of the largest thought-controlled computing installations ever created.

Microsoft’s Project Natal

Nintendo, Japan based video game company has been offering its users to direct game action by waving the controller around through its Wii-mote since last year. For example, for a bowling action, gamer have to swing the Wii-mote in a bowling motion. On the similar path, Microsoft is working on Project Natal, its controller-free gaming and entertainment experience on the Xbox 360 video game platform.

The Project Natal comes with a sensor, which is about 9-inch wide horizontal bar and allows 3D motion sensing, facial and sound recognition of the players. The sensor features an RGB camera, depth sensor, microphone and required software.

The new application will work as an add-on for the Xbox 360 console and will allow users to manage or play games, movies or anything with their hands alone and without touching any hardware. It is different from what Intel is trying to do, but the concept is similar.

Discussion

If the chipmaker succeed in developing thought-controlled technology, it could be beneficial to mankind as well as military applications. Hence, there is need for the judicious use of the technology and to respect users’ privacy, so that the technology could not go into the hands of evil.