Left Hemisphere: 18 Hz Beta Brainwave Entrainment (Isochronic Tones) – Life Experiment
Created by Drew | : Boost Brain Power, Brainwave Experiments, Brainwaves
I’ve recently been doing an experiment with brainwave entrainment. I started the experiment several days ago and am entraining the left hemisphere of my brain with an 18 Hz beta brainwave frequency. Thus far, my progress has been great and I’m definitely noticing changes. In this article I will discuss the specifications regarding my current brainwave entrainment / life experiment. To create my 18 Hz frequency I used the program Neuro Programmer 2 Professional, which is featured in my recommended products section.
What side-effects are commonly associated with entraining the 18 Hz beta brainwave frequency?
- Outward awareness and sensory processing – The focus of my awareness is supposed to shift from focus on more internal matters to more external matters. For example – my focus may have been more on my emotions and internal feelings rather than on someone else’s. Another example: my focus could’ve been locked on what was going on inside my body rather than the people around me.
- Throws brain’s sodium / potassium levels out of balance - The 18 Hz beta brainwave frequency has been associated with throwing the brain’s sodium and potassium levels out of balance. I don’t exactly know to what degree, but I know that after awhile, it cannot be too healthy. I am also only stimulating my left-hemisphere which may lessen the degree of a sodium / potassium imbalance.
- Mental fatigue - Staying in the 18 Hz beta brainwave frequency for too long can obviously cause mental fatigue. Basically, you end up thinking too much and actually ‘overworking’ your brain. Think of it as you running a mile: sprinting the first 2 laps around the track will probably leave you dead tired for the final 2 laps. Your brain is the same way… Think of 18 Hz as a pretty fast jog for your brain (a speed to fast to run the entire mile at). If you stay in this state too long, you can actually become mentally fatigued. I have yet to experience any yet, but I have only begun the entrainment process.
- Relaxed body / focused mind state of awareness - For certain individuals, the 18 Hz brainwave frequency can allow them to retain a relaxed body + concentration-type state at the exact same time. This is a cool state of consciousness to achieve because the body feels good and the brain is still able to perform all the demanding functions within the beta brainwave state.
- Fully awake / some stress / anxiety - 18 Hz beta brainwaves are associated with being fully awake, fully conscious thinking. Think of it as the exact opposite of brain fog: crystal clear concentration. With that said, this crystal clear thinking and focus can cause stress and anxiety after awhile. Sometimes, when individuals are in this 18 Hz state for too long, they can experience stress or anxiety. As a matter of fact, some people who have anxiety disorders and stress problems are often in too high of beta brainwave states like 18 Hz and would be recommended to entrain the alpha brainwave.
- Memory improvements - It is not a surprise that memory improvements are associated with the 18 Hz beta brainwave because conscious thinking is associated with the recollection of past memories. The beta brainwave state is great for recalling old memories and improving your overall cognition. Your brainwaves are cycling quicker and bring your consciousness more information (from more thoughts) than slower brainwave states.
- Reading speed, speaking, and spelling improvements - Beta brainwaves are associated with the left-hemisphere of the brain (that is where they are largely produced). Because the left hemisphere is associated with thinking, memory, speaking, and spelling, it is no wonder that 18 Hz will do the trick to improve your overall critical thinking and working skills.
- Math improvements / less hypearactivity - Math is another subject that is associated with the left, logical side of the brain. Math improvements are very common when someone is stimulated with the beta brainwave. In fact, 18 Hz has been specifically linked to improvements in mathematics. Also, less overall hyperactivity (in most cases) will be experienced. 18 Hz has been long associated with quieting and / or eliminating the symptoms experienced by most individuals with ADD / ADHD.
What I am hoping to get out of this experiment:
Increases in overall energy levels
I am hoping that the 18 Hz frequency will give me an energy boost (especially in the mornings). I usually feel sluggish in the mornings and don’t want to get up. I remember when I used to be in a high-beta brainwave state I could just jump out of bed and feel excited and ready for the day. I want to experience a little boost in the mornings without drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages. The beta brainwave range should to a great job getting me up and keeping me up in the morning without forcing me to ingest any (potentially harmful) substances.
Improvements in concentration + focus
Though I think that I could concentrate fine before I began the experiment, I have noticed improvements. All I would like is to improve my concentration and focus levels. Improving my concentration allows me to blog more efficiently and stay focused on certain activities. I am able to exercise more efficiently and get tasks done quicker in a smaller period of time; a natural productivity booster.
Increased overall excitement and motivation
If there is one thing that you’ll really feel from beta brainwave entrainment it’s excitement. Every time I get into the mid to high beta brainwave range, I feel excited. Not about anything in particular, just life, the day, or events coming up. Sometimes the excitement is accompanied by anxiety or stress, but it feels really good. It’s similar to the jolt of energy you get when you feel nervous about something (i.e. before skydiving, bungee jumping, a roller coaster, etc.) – except it feels good. This increase in excitement is associated with a more positive mood, and feeling more motivated.
Less negative emotions and negative thinking
Since beta brainwaves are largely associated with the left-hemisphere of the brain, they tend to make an individual less ‘emotional,’ more rational, and more likely to think-before-doing. Usually people in these states are energetic, thoughtful, respectful, and quick-witted. However, on the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the ADD / ADHD individuals and people struggling with depression.
These people are usually very emotional and are usually in a theta brainwave state of consciousness. The remedy for lessening the havoc that can be caused by too many theta brainwaves is to stimulate the brain with beta brainwaves. Beta brainwave entrainment will naturally lessen the overall amount of theta brainwaves and make you feel less impulsive, more in-control, and more conscious. You will also probably think more positively. Think of them as natural anti-depressants.
Increased logical thinking
If you currently struggle with illogical thinking or random thoughts that don’t make much sense, beta brainwaves may be in order. They are derived and primarily produced by the left-hemisphere of the brain. The left-hemisphere regulates logical thinking, whereas the right-hemisphere is associated with intuition, emotions, and less logical thoughts. Slower brainwaves are produced by the right-hemisphere. If you’d like to experience logical thinking or feel that you do not think in a logical enough thought-pattern, try some beta brainwave entrainment.
How am I stimulating the left-hemisphere only?
I can stimulate the left-hemisphere of my brain at an 18 Hz brainwave frequency by using an isochronic tone. I first create a customized 18 Hz brainwave entrainment session in my program Neuro-Programmer 2 Professional. Next, I usually upload the session to my iPod and play it with “earbud”-type headphones. Next, I remove the “left earbud” and keep the right earbud in my right ear. I then only hear the isochronic tone at 18 Hz through my right ear.
The right ear is associated with stimulating the left-hemisphere of the brain and vice-versa (left-hemisphere stimulation = increased right hemisphere activity). I typically have my eyes open throughout the entire 18 Hz beta brainwave session. Closing my eyes would likely reduce the effectiveness of this session due to the fact that closed-eyes are associated with producing slower alpha and theta rhythms. Slower rhythms would interfere (at least slightly) with the beta brainwave entrainment.
Why did I choose to entrain only the left-hemisphere of the brain?
I currently don’t want to have a synchronized brainwave state. I want to experiment and see how I feel with a very active left-hemisphere. I also think that synchronized brainwaves can lead to problems or even change the desired result. For example, in certain cases, when high-beta brainwaves become synchronized, they actually boost theta / alpha brainwaves later (after the entrainment process).
So the desired result of more beta actually brings forth a production of extra theta brainwaves. I don’t want to run the risk of something going wrong so I used some logic. Since beta-brainwaves are associated with the left-hemisphere and logical thinking it couldn’t hurt to only stimulate the left-hemisphere. Sure my left-hemisphere will become more active, more powerful, and the frequency of the brainwaves will gradually shift towards an 18 Hz pattern, but that doesn’t mean my right hemisphere will become underactive either; it will still be doing it’s job.
How has it been so far? What changes have I noticed?
So far, my experience with entraining 18 Hz in my left-hemisphere has been great. I started 3 days ago and entrain for around 25 minutes each ‘session.’ I have been noticing gradual changes in my state of consciousness (i.e. my desires, music taste (fast tempo vs. slow), desires, appealing activities, etc. I have definitely been noticing changes in my personality and I feel like brainwave entrainment gives me control to manipulate reality and experiment with different states of consciousness in order to “do whatever I desire” in my lifetime.
The changes that I’ve noticed thus far:
Increased focus level
I have already noticed that I am more focused in both conversation and while working than I was before starting the experiment. It hasn’t been a huge shift in concentration, because I could focus fine before. It’s just that my focus has increased since beginning the experiment. It makes perfect sense that it would too. Beta brainwaves are associated with some of the most focused states of consciousness.
Increased energy levels
I have noticed increased energy in the morning and throughout the mid-afternoon than previously. I feel like my brain is literally creating more energy for me to work with. I am not amped up like I drank a red-bull, but feel like I can stay awake easily throughout the entire day until I fall asleep at night.
Slight anxiety + nervous
Though I haven’t noticed a lot of anxiety, I have noticed some. Since I have dealt with it in the past, the anxiety is not crippling nor preventing me from doing any activity that I’d normally do. If I feel nervous, I understand that it’s from the 18 Hz frequency entrainment and actually feel great about it. I know that I am just experimenting with my brainwaves and learning what the various brainwave states feel like. I also understand that I can always fall back on a lower frequency and I’ll calm down quickly.
More overall thinking + more aware
I have also noticed that I am thinking more than before. I consciously notice myself thinking at a much faster rate than before. I also noticed that I am more aware of everything going on in my environment. Things that I may have previously never thought about I now think about. I know that beta brainwaves can cause an individual to think deeply about very little, which isn’t always good.
Related posts:
I thought that you may be interested in knowing that we have the patent on field stimulation. We have an eyeset made for this and a light and sound session that is beta/SMR, called the Brain Brightener – the exact thing you are trying to do. We also have a dual frequency session for treating depression and a study of 80 depressed seniors to prove its effectiveness.
You may want to make this known to your subscribers.
All the best,
dave siever
Mind Alive Inc.
Hello Dave – Very interesting that you guys have the patent. Thanks for sharing. I may need to do some more research on the Brain Brightener / or try it sometime before I make it known to my subscribers.
Best wishes :)
I love the way this technology is moving. The more people that discover it, use it, and experiment with it, the more the good news about it will spread. I’ve been using BWE for years and I’ve noticed some remarkable changes so I know that you’ll succeed with your experiment – all the best.
Hello Paul. It’s very exciting that this technology is helping so many individuals. Glad to hear that you’ve been noticing positive changes. Thank you for stopping by to share a comment.
I have researched the brain for 20 years and have never seen anything alluding to 18 Hz throwing sodium and potassium out of balance. Please provide the study reference for this. Also, 18 Hz does not improve long-term memory. 18 Hz is associated with improved attention, which will affect a person’t attention to detail and therefore memory. However, it’s well documented that long-term memory occurs from magnesium ions being “cocked” into memory sites (mostly in the temporal lobes) at 200 msec intervals, which is 5 Hz. The other thing about 18 Hz is that, while it is possible to increase 18 Hz with entrainment, the lesser-known effect of entrainment is that it produces an inhibition effect at the half-frequency of stimulation. So, if there is an inhibition at 9 Hz, then the overall relative amount of 18Hz is increased, even if the actual 18 Hz brain wave has not in itself increased.
Hey Dave, thanks for sharing your expertise. I wasn’t aware of the inhibition effect @ 1/2 the frequency of stimulation… I’d be interested in seeing some references (mostly because I’d like to learn more about it). Does that go for any frequency of entrainment? (i.e. 10 Hz cutting 5 Hz strength / 40 Hz cutting 20 Hz??) I may have read something about the inhibition effect and just forgot, too… Anyways, I completely understand what you mean when you say less 9 Hz alpha activity will correlate with a more powerful 18 Hz effect.
About the sodium/potassium out of balance reference… I found it at this website (http://web-us.com/binaural.htm) somewhere deep within, but as I went back to look, all I could find was info. about resetting the sodium/potassium levels, nothing about 18 Hz beta throwing the levels out of balance… So does it? I am no longer 100%. They must’ve either took it down or I’m not digging deep enough into the studies…
Best wishes,
Drew
if your playing 18hz are you in a sense also playing
9hz 4.5hz… 36hz 72hz 144hz… etc. ie octaves in music
and harmonics
i looking for the best way to incorporate this into music
with tempo and the notes and rhythm patterns chosen
to shift brainwave states
consciously
the “clashing” of “moods” shifting frequencies
maybe?
While 18 Hz is OK for seniors whose brainwaves have slowed some, the effect is better for non-seniors if slowly ramped from 19-21 Hz as we do in our DAVID Pal units. It also halps to put 10 Hz on the left side to calm the right frontal lobe (the fear side). Again, the 18 Hz stim isn’t producing its effect by increasing left brain beta. It’s having its effect primarily by inhibiting left brain alpha. The left dorso-lateral pre-frontal cortex is the “happy” region of the brain. The excess alpha in the left side means that the happy side is “snoozing.” When running a brain map, it’s important to note the asymmetry of alpha between the left and right sides. If there is less alpha activity on the right side, then the fear side is in control, leaving the person with anxiety, depression and insomnia (as serotonin will be suppressed). To see results of our Seniors’ depression study go to: http://www.mindalive.com/PDFarticles/htm and scroll down to the Seniors article.
@ Dave, What you said makes perfect sense to me. Thank-you for stopping by and sharing your knowledge and insight w/ the blog commenters!
Hi Drew,
Well it’s been some time now since you started the experiment. You should now have the benefit of hindsight.
Did you persist with the experiment? If so how long for?
Could you possible let us know what your verdict was on listening to it?
Any long term benefits?
Did you still feel the benefits you reported later on?
I’d love to hear an update a year and a half on.
Kind regards,
Paul
Sydney, Australia.
Hi Drew. I wrote to you a little while ago. Not sure if you got the email. I am successfully dealing with Schizo Affective Disorder which is a “nice” combo of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. The beauty of my situation is that it is pretty close to the worst case scenario as brains disorders go.
Yet I’m doing well!
I’ve got this crippling condition under control by being consistant with my medications (Zoloft and Abilify) which helps tremendously but only takes you 70% of the way. In addition I also take many supplements and vitamins which I’ve researched and have found to each help in their own way.
But then a couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon Brainwave Entrainment… again. See, I had tried it years ago in a basic relaxation cd to slight success, but after coming acrossed your blog, decided to do some of my own experimentation (with the full knowledge that it was at my own risk.)
Well… there has been tremendous gains in my personal mental health that I’d love to talk to you about. Each day, I tweak and perfect my regimine and I keep getting better as a result. As of today, I am playing 18 hz (Beta) into my right ear, to stimulate Beta in my left hemisphere. This wakes me up as Drew had stated above. It helps me to think faster and clearer and clears out the “fog” in my head.
But that’s not all. At other times (and I base this all on how I’m feeling in the moment. After 10 years of dealing with this rollercoaster disorder, I’ve found I’ve become quite sharp at determining exactly what I feel and think in any given situation), I play 7 hz in my left ear. This clears up confusing “disorganized” thinking which is a product of the condition. (look to the bottom of this entry for my thinking as to why.)
Now for those of you who aren’t familiar with the condition, it seems to affect emotional ups and downs, like bipolar, and cognitive ups and downs such as my ability to think clearly and accurately in a situation – like Schizophrenia. Schizo Affective Disorder can also create delusions and halucinations, though I have to admit in my 10 years of dealing with it, I’ve never seen or heard a hallucination. This could be due to the powerful drug I’m on now called Abilify. I was on Zyprexa previously and it was also very helpful with the positive symptoms. (That term “positive” symptoms does not mean that they were beneficial – it’s what scientists call the addition of symptoms like hallucinations. The “negative” symptoms are those that take away abilities like socialization and communication.)
Well, I deal with every kind of negative emotion imaginable like depression, anxiety, mania, paranoia, etc… Even with my pill popping with medications and supplements, this disorder is powerful and still seeps through in ways. Well, let’s just say since I’ve started my own experiments with brainwave entrainment, those remaining states have almost completely resided or at least are continuing to dissipate. They’re disappearing and are getting under control.
The other day I forgot to take my pills until almost 4:00 PM (I’m very dilligent about taking them and usually take them in the morning almost first thing) but I was fine! Now medications have a relatively long half life and stay in the blood for a day or two, but even still, I usually feel a difference when I go that long. I was Brainwave Entraining for quite awhile that day, and I felt great. I took my pills because I realize it’s all a delicate balance and I don’t want to prematurely rock the boat, but I have read where people have cut back on their medication successfully when dealing with depression symptoms after entraining. This gives me hope that maybe this is more than just another emotional “tylenol” like my pills, but might actually be a successful therapy that might actually teach my brain to work correctly.
Now I’ve heard that Schizophrenics (I know, scary word) have too much activity going on in general in their right hemisphere. This might explain why I felt almost instantly better as soon as I played the 7 hz in my left ear. It seems like it will calm down my overly excited right brain so my left can function properly. Just an idea, but one that I continue to experiment with.
Okay… I’m done. But I’d love to talk with you or someone else who is experiencing a similar story. This really may be something big that bipasses the chemical approach of pills for some of the really serious mental disorders.
If you or someone else is interested in communicating with me about this, feel free to contact me at:
jasonator32@yahoo.com
I’d love to just talk about it with someone who is interested.
Thanks!
Hi Drew
Hi I have been reading your comments in this blog and I just was wondering if you could perhaps help me with this brainwave topic. I have been diagnosed with borderline perosnality disorder as well as having generalized anxiety disorder and i tend to ruminate on things and be very scared about being myself around people (basically I have a huge lack of confidence and self belief). i have been using different brainwave cds over the last 3-4 years but owing to lack of determination some bad experiences and plain fear i have mixed and matched the cds and currently I have been using isochronic tones which i don’t think go well with my medication (currently I take 40mg of buspirone each day as well as 20mg citalopram and 1200mcg of epilim for mood stabilization). I find it very hard to discipline my thinking as I am often worrying about whether i am centered or grounded in my physical body or what am I thinking or on guard for any depressive thoughts or anxious thoughts so that I stay in control, this unfortunately is often a huge effort to undertake and I find I don’t often have the willpower or inner strength to keep up with this mindfulness practice and so often the thoughts come back when I am very tired and scare me completely.
I was hoping if you or someone could please tell me how I can listen to isochronic tones in a safe way whilst still taking the medication that I am on.
P.s. This is because the isochronic tones I have found have generally caused me to have a ”frozen mind” so to speak which I think comes about from being a reflective type of state induced by listening to the isochronic tones.In this state I have foubnd it very hard to ”hear” or be aware of the content of my thoughts for some reason.
Once again any help will be appreciated and thank you very much for reading this.