January 2008

Monthly Archive

Beta Brainwave Test: 15 To 18 Hz Trial

Drew 23 Jan 2008 | : Beta Brainwaves, Boost Brain Power, Brainwave Experiments, Brainwaves

Mostly because I haven’t given this range a valid shot for brainwave synchronization, I’ve decided to do a 2 week trial of listening to the 15 to 18 Hz beta brainwave range. The session I’m using is called “Energy / Motivation” and can be found in the program Mind Stereo’s built in session library.

Why did I decide to try this?

I’ve decided to try this range for several reasons. The number one reason is that my verbal skills have declined lately. Though I’ve found 10 hz alpha to make a person calmer, beta can definitely make a person more talkative and focused in conversations. I have listened to several higher beta sessions before (up in the 20 - 30 hz range), but never a session around 18 hz. I am hoping that this session will increase my energy and focus on my website projects, and provide my readers with some valuable insight towards this brainwave range.

What’s my gameplan?

I plan on listening to each “15-18 hz session” through the program called Mind Stereo. This program can be found in my recommended products section of the website for purchase. This program allows me to listen to my favorite music while engaging my brain in “brainwave synchronization.” A nice feature of Mind Stereo is that isochronic tones automatically are embedded into your favorite songs [without doing any work] and you literally only hear your song (none of the brainwave tone)! After about 5 minutes of listening to a brainwave synchronization session, you begin to feel the brainwave effects and the fact that the isochronic tones are definitely synchronizing your brainwaves.

Hopefully I will be able to report back to the blog with some positive, brain boosting results!

Popularity: 11% [?]

Why Boost Your Alpha Brain Waves?

Drew 18 Jan 2008 | : Alpha Brainwaves, Brainwaves

Alpha brain waves appear on the E.E.G. in most people when they are in a relaxed state like “right before falling asleep” or immediately upon awakening. Alpha brain waves are common in extroverts with low traits of neurosis and anxiety. Caffeine and stress deplete the amount of natural alpha brain waves produced by the brain. In the alpha brainwave state, the mind is clear and focused, while the body is relaxed and calm. There are many reasons that you should be interested in increasing the amount of natural alpha activity in your brain.

Key reasons being:

  • A sense of a relaxed mind & body - The alpha brain wave will calm you down quicker than you’d ever imagined. I really didn’t think the alpha brainwave could do much for my high stress levels, but after about 5 to 10 minutes of listening to a customized brainwave entrainment session, I immediately was calm and relaxed! The alpha brainwave actually increases the neurotransmitter “serotonin” - which is low in people with depression and anxiety.
  • Enhanced creativity - The alpha brainwave has been linked to highly creative minds. Most people’s brainwaves shift to the logical “beta” brainwave when involved in a task requiring them to become creative. In creative people’s brains, the alpha activity actually increases when they need to be creative on the fly. Their brains actually ’shift’ to the alpha brainwave and the amplitude increases.
  • A state of “flow” - A state of flow can be described as life moving along quickly because there are really no mental obstacles such as stress or anxiety. To keep it simple: as new situations arise, you are able to successfully deal with them and move on to the next phase of life. Many successful people know how to tap into the state of “flow” when they need to do hard business work. For all writers out there, the state of flow is the exact opposite effect of writer’s block. “Flow” would mean that as a writer, you would be able to quickly produce quality content and not get mentally “stuck;” your mind keeps bringing more information.
  • “Superlearning” - “Superlearning” is a phenomena of the alpha and theta brainwave ranges that has been studied by many scientists. The fact is, when you are in a lower brainwave pattern, the brain is able to absorb and learn more new information in a much quicker period of time. The “superlearning” state of mind is optimal for learning a foreign language or a new skill!
  • Relaxed, yet “aware” - The nice thing about the alpha brainwave state is you can remain very relaxed, yet still be “aware” of your surroundings and “conscious” of what’s going on. If you dip in to too low of brainwaves i.e. the theta range, you will be very relaxed, but not as aware of your environment. The too much theta activity is found in the E.E.G.’s of people with A.D.D. & A.D.H.D. And the 10 Hz alpha brainwave is considered to be the safest brainwave!
  • The “safest” brainwave - If you get up into the beta brainwave range, too much stress and logical thinking can run your mind in circles. Too much theta and you are relaxed, but not very aware. The alpha brainwave can be considered the “perfect mix” or “border” between the beta range and theta range. Some people actually are born with zero alpha activity in their brains. Does this mean that they cannot ever add alpha activity? Absolutely not! In fact, it would most likely highly benefit the person lacking the alpha rhythm.

If you would like to experience the alpha brainwave state, I recommend either purchasing or trying one of my featured recommended products. I personally use all of my recommended products and have had much personal success with them. I still use the software to improve my focus, decrease my stress levels, and to boost my productivity. Feel free to ask me any questions you may have about the products.

Other ways to increase the alpha brainwave include:

  1. Meditation
  2. Biofeedback/Neurofeedback
  3. Yoga
  4. Visualization
  5. Deep breathing
  6. Light & Sound Machines

I had a very unique personal experience with increasing my alpha brainwave pattern via Neuro-Programmer 2. I thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely noticed a change in my consciousness that I may not have been fully ready to experience.

Popularity: 10% [?]

5 Ways To Make Your Brain Happier [Part 2]

Drew 16 Jan 2008 | : Boost Brain Power

Note: you may also be interested in the original article 5 Ways To Make Your Brain Happier (as this article is part 2).

1. Brainwave entrainment

Though brainwave entrainment is not for everyone, it definitely can be used to create positive changes in brainwaves with tremendous results. I currently use the program Neuro-Programmer 2 Professional and have found it enhances the quality of my focus, deepness of my sleep, and heightens my awareness.

I have experimented with various brainwaves, each has their purpose. If you are stressed out, the alpha rhythm will definitely make your brain feel calmer, happier, and more relaxed. Where as a person with ADHD who has too many relaxing brain waves would benefit and feel better using the beta brainwave range in their training.

If you ever consider buying Neuro-Programmer 2 (an awesome program) or Mind Stereo (another awesome program), I’d appreciate if you do it through my “recommended products” section.

2. Neurofeedback

The aim of neurofeedback is to be consciously able to produce healthy brainwave patterns. If you don’t know about what neurofeedback could potentially do for your brain, I suggest checking out the Biocybernaut Institute and reading about the technology and testimonials. Neurofeedback is different from brainwave entrainment in the fact that you consciously learn to ’shift’ your brainwaves where as brainwave entrainment causes your brainwave pattern to match that of a stimulus.

With brainwave entrainment you are forming new neural-pathways, but you aren’t learning to consciously control your brainwaves. It also promotes natural flexibility and strengthens existing brainwave patterns. Though neurofeedback may be quite expensive, if you’ve got the money, it could prove to be one of the best investments you’ve ever made.

3. Meditation

If you haven’t heard that meditation is good for your brain, it’s about time you crawled out from that rock. Proper meditation practices have been scientifically proven to make a person happier. Meditation increases brain activity in the left-prefrontal cortex which is associated with advanced thought processing and positive emotion.

Testimonials from experienced meditators say that the meditation practice “gives them more control over thoughts and emotional responses.” The great thing about meditation is that it’s totally free and will make your brain happier. Scientific testing in the United States reveal that areas of experienced meditator’s brains associated with good mood and positive feelings are MUCH more active than the rest of the population.

This is because they put forth the necessary effort via meditation to make their brains’ happier;) Experienced meditators really are happier and calmer than other people. Apparently, the amount of time spent meditating also has an effect on exactly how happy you become.

“We can’t rule out the possibility that there was a pre-existing difference in brain function between monks and novices,” says Prof. Davidson (a neuroscientist), “but the fact that the monks with the most hours of meditation showed the greatest brain changes gives us confidence that the changes are actually produced by mental training. Meditation opens up the possibility for the brain to be altered intentionally. Just as running and weight training shape the body, meditation shapes the gray matter.

4. Goal setting

Goal setting triggers mental activity in the brain’s left hemisphere which is associated with advanced thought processing and positive emotions. I don’t know about you, but just the process of goal setting gives me a huge jolt of energy and excitement. Though just setting goals will give you feelings of happiness, to make that happiness permanent, you must actually complete them.

It will keep a successful cycle going composed of: goal setting>>> happiness>>>completing the goal>>>feeling even happier & fulfilled>>>setting a new goal. When you set goals and accomplish them, feelings of happiness naturally follow. Setting goals gives your life a direction and purpose. Once you have set your goals, work toward achieving them consistently for a happier brain.

5. Learn to laugh, haha

Everyone loves a good comedy. Laughter releases brain hormones called “endorphins” which can be described as the brains natural anti-depressants. People that have the tendency to laugh a lot not only appear happier, but actually have happier brains! So, which came first the happy brains or the laughter? Well, that doesn’t really matter, as long as you keep laughing, you should have a happier predisposition.

Laughter lowers harmful chemicals such as cortisol and catecholamines, which are both released by the adrenal glands when feeling stressed. So do the math: lowered stress chemicals = lowered stress = happier mood. You could be even supercharging your happiness if you practice something like “Laughter Meditation” for which I included a link: laugh your brain into a better mood.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Next Page »