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- Herausgeber: Bentham Science Publishers
- Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022
Transpersonal Psychology is the study of human nature and development that assumes that human beings possess potentials that exceed the limits of ego developed normally. The main goal of Transpersonal Psychology is to integrate the spiritual experience within a broader understanding of the human psyche and consciousness.
Transpersonal Psychology: Altered States of Consciousness, Biofeedback and Neurotechnology
introduces the use of biofeedback and neurotechnology for the transpersonal therapist to induce and measure altered states of consciousness to deal with persons having mental conditions. The therapist and the patient can benefit from self-exploration and self-realization of altered consciousness that could be responsible for the mental condition of the patient.
Chapters in the book start with an introduction to the theory of consciousness and Transpersonal Psychology followed by an explanation of the relationship of quantum physics to consciousness model. The book then progresses towards in depth topics such as biofeedback which covers the measurement parameters for understanding consciousness and computer-based technologies that help induce altered states of consciousness. Finally, the book concludes by linking all the concepts together to guide the transpersonal psychologist to measure and support transpersonal psychotherapy through a cybertherapy system.
Transpersonal Psychology: Altered States of Consciousness, Biofeedback and Neurotechnology is an ideal guide for the transpersonal psychologist and psychotherapist and the enthusiast who wants to understand the science behind altered states of consciousness from a theoretical and experimental framework.
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FOREWORD
Professor Idahosa CharlesThis book is a must-read for a transpersonal psychologist. Transpersonal psychology has proposed the use of altered states of consciousness as a tool to explore the inner self of the individual. There are many books that discuss several techniques to reach altered states and how to integrate them with transpersonal therapy. However, the main contribution of this book is the use of biofeedback and neurofeedback to measure these states and the use of neurotechnology with sound frequency to induce these states. The book integrates different tools that can work together to make transpersonal therapy a much better and richer experience. The use of sound frequencies to induce altered states has been used and researched by many authors, but this book introduces the most appropriate transpersonal therapy, in particular, for patients who are at a distant location and receiving therapy through an online medium. Reaching altered states requires practice, and the book integrates the use of biofeedback and neurofeedback to measure these states as part of the training to reach these states. The book is an eye-opener for transpersonal therapists interested in the use of technology to enhance the therapy experience. Professor Valverde has an incredible background that makes him ideal for the writing of this book; he is an electrical engineer with a transpersonal psychology background; this kind of educational background is unique and ideal for this type of book.
Distinguished University Professor Dr. I Charles Ph.D. LLD JD DPH JP FBQS FBU DICP is an international academic expert. He is the present academic chair of the Board of Quality Standards.
PREFACE
Raul ValverdeBiofeedback is the process by which a person learns to influence involuntary body processes to receive physiological data from an electronic device that continuously monitors certain physiological parameters. It is a way of measuring the response to the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual stresses of life. Bodies under high stress are more prone to physical discomfort and even illness. The biofeedback response occurs when the body receives new information about its status (i.e., get 'feedback') and makes healthy adjustments to reduce stress and tension. The result is a reduction of nervous activity and increased vitality. Users of the feedback report a greater sense of well-being and joy.
Biofeedback instruments measure muscle activity, skin temperature, electro-dermal activity (sweat gland activity), respiration, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, brain electrical activity and blood flow. There are many types of biofeedback, such as GSR, EEG, EMG, CT, MRI, etc. These technologies are able to capture analog electrical signals from the body and translate those signals into meaningful information through complex algorithmic software that a technician can then decipher. Research shows that biofeedback, alone and in combination with other therapies behavior is effective for treating a variety of medical and psychological disorders. Biofeedback is currently used by doctors, nurses, psychologists, counsellors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other professionals.
Biofeedback is based on electrical measurements taken from the front (frontal cortex). When this information is presented to the patient, he tries to consciously change his internal reactions to modify electrical results.
Monroe, who is considered the creator of neurotechnology, proposed the method HEMI-SYNC (Synchronization of the cerebral hemispheres by means of sounds) for psychotherapy. The principle of this method states that when a pure tone is emitted, the brain resonates when it receives certain frequencies of waves and is synchronized with them; this effect is known as FFR (Frequency Following Response).
Machines created based on FFR began to be popular in the 80s; the typical machine is based on the principle of Monroe using stereo headphones that are used separately to send sound signals to each ear, for example, 2 signals of 300 and 304 Hz; in one ear only 300 Hz signal will be heard and in the other, only 304 Hz, but since the sounds are combined in the brain, the third signal of 4 Hz will be heard, which is the difference between the two sound impulses. This third signal is not an audible sound but an electrical signal that can only be created by the cerebral hemispheres acting in unison and may go unnoticed; this is because the two hemispheres are focused simultaneously on the same state of consciousness, thus increasing the brain power and inducing it to a different state of consciousness.
The Monroe Institute was created based on the principles of Monroe. The neurotechnology of the Monroe Institute is a system that mixes sequences of sound patterns designed to evoke beneficial brainwave states for different human states of consciousness. Neurotechnology is typically used to tune brainwaves into any range brainwave. With these machines, you may experience theta, alpha, delta waves or combinations of ranges using layered frequencies that mix several ranges of brainwave in a synergistic brainwave pattern. Theta brainwaves have been associated with an altered state of consciousness by many research studies.
Transpersonal psychotherapy that is based on transpersonal psychology considers that the psyche is multidimensional and there are several “levels of consciousness,” and each has different characteristics and is governed by different laws. As contrary to psychoanalysis, transpersonal psychology does not deny other schools of thinking.
Transpersonal psychology is the study of human nature and development based on the assumption that human beings possess potentials that exceed the limits of ego developed normally. The main goal of transpersonal theory is to integrate the spiritual experience within a broader understanding of the human psyche and consciousness.
A human being experiences different altered states of consciousness. Thus, we find pathological states of consciousness, such as in the case of severe depression, especially in the case of psychosis; states of consciousness, such as deep hypnosis produced by hallucinogenic drugs like LSD, and even altered states of consciousness common due to the practice of yoga, such as is the case of mystical ecstasy. Stanley Krippner defines altered states of consciousness as mental states that can be subjectively recognized by an individual or by an objective observer as being different in mental functions, the normal state of the individual, the alertness and the wakefulness. In fact, twenty states have been provisionally identified, with considerable overlap, as worthy of further study.
Altered states of consciousness have been used as psychotherapy in transpersonal psychology. One of these techniques is known as holotropic breathwork that is achieved through hyperventilation, which involves the individual breathing deeply and rapidly for several minutes. Stanislov Grof, through this technique, causes a crisis that leads to an altered state of consciousness and allows the study of the consciousness of the individual through that new state. Stanislav Grof uses the experiential healing power of this new state of consciousness to cure his patients.
Neurotechnology offers an alternative way to induce an altered state of consciousness for transpersonal therapy that can be easily implemented with the use of computer technology. With the use of biofeedback, we can measure altered states of consciousness and help train individuals to achieve these states.
Altered states of consciousness cover transpersonal experiences that involve an expansion of consciousness beyond the limits of time and space. Altered states of consciousness allow us to answer the questions of who we really are and why we are here.
This book introduces the use of biofeedback and neurotechnology for the reader (transpersonal therapist) to induce and measure altered states of consciousness to deal with mental conditions that can benefit from self-exploration and self-realization of consciousness states that could be responsible for the mental condition of the patient.
CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION
Written informed consent was obtained from all the participants.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The author declares no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Declared none.
Brain Waves and Consciousness
Raul ValverdeAbstract
Our brain works primarily with bioelectrical energy, and it is demonstrated to be a machine of low frequencies. Our brain, in addition to processing information that is recieved by the senses, is capable of emitting extra-sensory information received via similar “electromagnetic waves.” It has been proven thanks to the EEG that the brain emits waves of varying intensity and frequency depending on the mental state of the person being observed. These mental states range from the state of stress with Gamma Wave frequencies to states of deep sleep with Delta frequencies. The chapter introduces the use of music, sound, hypnosis, and meditation to induce particular states of mind that can help people achieve desired personal goals, such as learning, creativity and relaxation as therapy anxiety and other mental illness.
INTRODUCTION
The chapter introduces the use of music, sound, hypnosis, and meditation to induce particular states of mind that can help people achieve desired personal goals, such as learning, creativity and relaxation as therapy anxiety and other mental illness. Our brain works primarily with bioelectrical energy, and it is demonstrated to be a machine of low frequencies. It has been proven thanks to the EEG that the brain emits waves of varying intensity and frequency depending on the mental state of the person being observed. These mental states range from the state of stress with Gamma Wave frequencies to states of deep sleep with Delta frequencies. The chapter introduces the use of music, sound, hypnosis and meditation to induce particular states of mind by controlling brainwaves that can help people achieve desired personal goals, such as learning, creativity, and relaxation as a therapy for anxiety and other mental illness.
BRAIN WAVES
Although the electrical power that controls our neurons is low (measured in millivolts), this power will only be required to process, manage, distribute, and use vast amounts of information and generate multiple answers (almost infinite in possibilities).
Using micro electricity, we can conclude that a brain is a low-frequency machine In addition to processing sensory information, our brain is capable of emitting extrasensory information received via similar “electromagnetic waves” but at a lower intensity, similar to the frequencies of a radio transmitter-receiver. Our brain can function as a radio station, similar to how many bird species are guided at the time of migration by a genuine receiver of terrestrial magnetism located in the pituitary gland. They know where they have to fly and in which direction through this receiver. It is like having a physical compass built into your brain. The mind could be defined as the brain's “sense” (like sight is the sense of the eye).
The activity of the cerebral cortex that the EEG picks up is made up of a series of isolated waves or in groups setting a rhythm, which differ from each other in terms of their frequency, amplitude, spatial distribution, shape, duration, and reactivity (Talamillo, 2011).
Frequency represents the number of times a wave appears within a rhythm and is expressed in cycles per second or Hertz (Hz). Amplitude is the distance from the wave's baseline to its peak and is measured in microvolts (µV), and it usually fluctuates between 20 and 40 µV. The distribution indicates the cortical topographic area in which electrical activity takes place. It also refers to the physiological location of the different frequencies as a function of the corresponding brain area. The shape or morphology is expressed in biphasic, triphasic, complex, acute, regular, and irregular waveforms.
Hans Berger (1843-1941), a German psychiatrist and professor at the University of Vienna, demonstrated that an electrical potential (voltage fluctuations) existed in the human brain using an “amplifier” device called an electroencephalograph. Richard Caton (1842-1926), an English physician, demonstrated similar potential in dogs. The first types of frequencies discovered were “alpha” and “theta.” Later, they are supplemented by electroencephalograph research completed in the registration range. Each type of wave produces a distinct neuropsychological state, that is, in each of these states or frequencies, our mind, body, and physical and physiological activity are completely different. The type of neuro-chemicals and hormone substances discharged into the blood flow varies depending on frequency and quantity, as well as the presence and quantity of such substances as the mood we have, which interact to produce a physiological-mental-physical-end involveing the mental state. Even when there appears to be no activity, a level of consciousness is conscious cognition that is continually thinking, and trivial ideas pass through consciousness all the time. The majority of thoughts are accompanied by behavioral reactions and small involuntary movements. When we are not actively thinking, we are most likely dreaming; according to Signer and Streiner (1966), a person has approximately 200 daydreams throughout the day. As a result, consciousness is the sum of all perceptions. The most prevalent states of consciousness are wakefulness and sleep; however, changes in expressing both cerebral and psycho states are distinguished according to each person's conscious or subconscious feelings. These changes are directly related to brain electrical activity. The number of oscillations per second (Hz) and different states of consciousness in the brain can be used to measure this activity; our brain only perceives a limited range of frequencies that are required to operate comfortably in this three-dimensional medium. Our ears can detect 20 to 20,000 vibrations per second, while our eyes perceive colors ranging from red to violet (though extending beyond, up and down), all possible smells and tastes (which are also vibrations), and the infinite textures that we can distinguish with our skin. However, the brain not only receives but also sends vibrations. The EEG has shown that the brain emits waves of varying intensity and frequency depending on the observer’s mental state. These waves are divided into the following categories (Table 1 and Fig. 1).
Electroencephalography is a simple technique based on the recording and evaluation of brain activity through electrodes placed on the surface of the skull. The electroencephalography technique is not invasive; it only requires the superficial placement on the scalp of small metal discs impregnated with a conductive paste.
The electroencephalogram (EEG) is the record (on paper or in digital format) that results from the measurement of the electrical potentials of the brain. The EEG shows the electrical fluctuation in the different locations of the cortex; however, it has the disadvantage of having an insufficient spatial resolution to record neuronal activity in deeper brain structures, such as the nucleus acumbens, related to the processing of emotions (Ferrer Coyo, 2009).
Due to the low electrical potential of the EEG, the signal can very easily be affected by other signals of non-cortical origin, such as blinking. Despite the fact that the equipment has hardware for noise filtering, it is important to know how to detect any signal that is not typical of the brain activity intended to be recorded in electroencephalography. External artifacts: they are produced by the use of the electroencephalography machine and instruments or have their origin in environmental factors.
The cause of the main external artifacts can be:
Inappropriate placement of electrodes and mounts.Altered calibration parameters.Inadequate operation of the electrodes due to sweat, deficit of conductive gel, rocking of the cables.Static electricity.Alternating current.Interference of electrical elements.Internal artifacts come from the research subject himself and the following are usually identified:
Breathing. It usually produces a record of oscillations in the baseline.Pulse. Produces a rhythmic sway at the baseline.Eye movements Repetitive blinking generates electrical activity in the anterior brain areas that can be mistaken for a theta, delta pattern.Craniofacial muscle contractions. Activity that can interfere with the registration of the frontotemporal or parietal electrodes and is characterized by a pattern of irregular amplitude and high frequency.Sweat and grease can cause the electrodes to swing and create some baseline instability. Dermal electrical reflection from stimulation or noise is a change in the electrical resistance of the skin that affects the baseline, producing a slow displacement of it. When the subject is nervous and restless, the baseline can also be affected. Other aspects that affect this baseline includetics, swallowing movements and tremors.
A pacemaker can produce an intermittent and synchronous signal on the EEG. In short, it is not only necessary to be skilled in the handling, placement and recording of the EEG, but a good training is required on the part of the technician to detect and distinguish artifacts between valid bioelectric signals.
INDUCTION TO STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
When we are in the alpha state, our brains work at a rate ranging from 7.5 to 14 cycles per second, as measured by an electroencephalogram. When we “operate” in this state, we are somewhere between the conscious and the unconscious. Is the “Alpha state” because it allows us, on the one hand, to still have conscious activity of our mind and body, that is, we realize what we think and what is happening around us, and on the other hand, because the “lift” of consciousness in the “lower floors” of the mind gives us access to information and our own subconscious states, we can use all of this. This is a “comfortable” state of inner peace and happiness within deep relaxation. This final state significantly boosts the power of suggestion and auto-suggestion. This means that anything we suggest alpha will be accepted with fewer “filters” by our conscious rationality.
Music is a very effective suggestion instrument, and it aids in the production of an alpha state, which is produced by many instruments that produce vibrations at that frequency. As a result, many people fall asleep at concerts or are “moved” to another dimension by the music. If we put them on an electroencephalograph, the majority of those in an auditorium would be on alpha. The contemplation of the sea, the rolling waves, and the sound they make is a good alpha inducer. Music, prayer, smells, certain types of images (especially of nature, certain types of painting, Tibetan mandalas symbols, or own) can be used to put ourselves in this special state of mind, which allows us to touch our innermost and reach the “spiritual zone” of human beings. As a result, as we can see, there are numerous factors that can cause this state.
An experiment was designed in 2006 with the hypothesis that alpha brain wave stimulation would alleviate pain in endoscopy patients. The study included forty consecutive patients (25 men and 15 women). In addition to the usual pre-medications, twenty patients received photic 9 Hz alpha stimulation for 25 minutes. The other twenty patients (the control group) received the same treatment as the first group but without photic stimulation. All of the patients used a five-point scale to rate their discomfort/pain during the endoscopy in comparison to what they had felt during their previous examination (Nomura et al. 2006).
In the alpha stimulation group, 18 out of 20 patients reported less discomfort/pain than they had previously experienced, compared to only 3/20 in the control group. The overall difference in pain scores between the two groups was statistically significant (Nomura et al. 2006).
During the test, the EEG activity of all participants was recorded, and the group that received stimulation had significantly higher levels of slow-wave alpha activity. The review of this EEG data revealed a clear correlation: more alpha brain wave activity equalled less pain (Nomura et al. 2006). In the year 2000, a study was conducted among employees at a Dutch addiction treatment center to investigate the possible effects of alpha brain wave stimulation on stress and anxiety (Ossebaard 2000). The subjects in the experiment were subjected to a single stimulation session that consisted of 5 minutes of 30 Hz stimulation followed by 35 minutes of 10 Hz stimulation. All of the subjects took Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) test before and after the session, which is a widely used evaluation tool for determining stress and anxiety levels. Those who received the stimulation experienced a significant, immediate decrease in state anxiety following the sessions, and this effect was consistent across four tests—the alpha stimulation resulted in lower stress levels every time.
A paper published in BMC Neuroscience in March 2006 (Williams et al. 2006) outlined the effects of alpha brain wave stimulation on a difficult memory task, with very promising results. According to the authors of this paper, their study was based on research correlating 10 Hz alpha wave rhythms with memory performance, as well as additional studies showing that alpha activity declines with memory ageing. During the test, the patients were shown three-letter words and were given brief bursts of alpha photic stimulation at various frequencies as the words were shown to them. Following that, the participants' recognition of the words was tested without any stimulation.
As a result, older participants who received photic stimulation at 10.2 Hz performed just as well on the test as much younger participants. Those who received the same stimulation frequencies improved their word recognition more than those who received other frequencies or the control, regardless of age. That work was actually a continuation of Dr. Williams' research (2001). Positive results were also found in an earlier study, which concluded that “10Hz flicker enhances memory in healthy people and may have therapeutic potential in memory disorders.” Many studies have observed and noted alpha brain wave activity as an observable indicator of the mental state that many meditation practices seek to achieve. According to a review paper published in 2006 (Cahn & Polich 2006), “Alpha power increases are observed when meditators are evaluated during meditating compared to control conditions.” The same review goes on to describe an additional ten studies in which it was demonstrated that the alpha band is stronger at rest in meditators than in non-meditators. Observations of EEG activity from practitioners of many different meditation traditions, including Transcendental Meditation, Zen, Yoga, Tibetan Buddhist practices, and Qigong, are included in the studies.
Magnus and Van der Holst (1987) discuss frequencies ranging from 3.5 to 7.5 cycles per second. They are associated with creative and decisive hallucination states. During the broadcast, the person can discover events that have been deeply hidden in the recesses of your subconscious, as well as conflicts and personality in particular. Is the wave of imagination and dynamic contact with other possible “psi dimensions” providing us with the opportunity to investigate our personality and go deep into our psychology? It has the potential to reveal the person's deepest secrets. This frequency is “issued” by Zen philosophy students, Buddhist monks, and Christian religious in their meditations, songs, and prayers. It is primarily produced unconsciously during the period preceding nocturnal sleep and just before and during certain hypnotic states.
Gamma brain waves have the highest frequency of any type of brain wave. Several studies have linked gamma to idea formation, linguistic processing, and various types of learning. Gamma waves have also been linked to the cognitive act of memory processing; the frequency of the waves appears to correlate with the speed with which a subject can recall memories; the faster the waves, the faster the recollection.
Gamma waves have been shown to disappear during anesthesia-induced deep sleep but to reappear during the transition back to a wakeful state. In a recent Scientific American article, gamma waves were discussed in conjunction with long-term Buddhist meditation practitioners. In this study, experienced meditators were found to have self-induced, high-amplitude gamma oscillations during meditation. Researchers also discovered that their gamma activity differed significantly from that of a control group, both during and before the meditation. Interestingly, gamma waves were found to be present in a similarly strong presence throughout the cortex in musicians listening to music when compared to a control group of non-musicians.
According to one current theory, gamma brain waves may play a role in the creation of conscious perception unity. This theory is still being researched, and it is difficult to provide a definitive answer at this time. Though more research is needed, the theory points to an intriguing possibility that gamma waves are involved in self-awareness (Huang & Charyton 2008).
Gamma waves have been used to improve cognitive function. In one study, 30 students ranging in age from 6 to 16 were subjected to 35 minutes of gamma wave stimulation twice a week for six weeks. Participants put on headsets and light goggles and sat in a comfortable chair to complete each session. Each participant was tested using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition before and after 6 weeks of treatment (WISC-III). An examination of the test scores obtained before and after the gamma sessions revealed that the 30 participants made significant progress in a variety of cognitive abilities tests.
On the Symbol Search subtest, researchers discovered a statistically significant improvement in participants' information processing speed and visual-motor coordination (pre-test mean: 6.9, post-test mean: 10.6). The Coding subtest also revealed a statistically significant improvement in the participant's visual short-term memory and sequencing ability (pre-test mean: 6.0, post-test mean: 8.2). The Arithmetic subtest also showed significant improvements (pre-test mean: 6.2, post-test mean: 8.3), indicating a significant improvement in the students' number ability and short-term memory. Freedom from Distractibility (pre-test mean: 13.2, post-test mean: 17.5) increased significantly, as did Processing Speed (pre-test mean: 13.2, post-test mean: 17.5). (pre-test mean: 12.9, post-test mean: 18.8). The authors noted that the relatively small number of AVS sessions required to improve cognitive abilities served as further evidence of its efficacy.
David Noton (2000) conducted a study with the goal of further validating the use of brain wave stimulation using light as an aid for migraine sufferers, and gamma waves were also used for the treatment of migraines. Dr. Noton stated in his study that the use of light-based stimulation to treat migraines began in the late 1980s with the work of Dr. Duncan Anderson, a neurologist at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School at Hammersmith Hospital in London. He discovered that when a patient was exposed to red light flickering at 30 cycles per second for 15 minutes, the patient experienced a significant reduction in the frequency of migraine attacks and, on rare occasions, nearly complete remission of their migraines. The same treatment, applied for up to 30 minutes after the onset of a headache, terminated the attack in some cases.
RESEARCH STUDIES FOR STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
As a result, subjects in Dr. Noton's study were asked to use photic gamma stimulation for at least 30 days, for 15 minutes per day. Following 30 days of daily use, all participants were given a survey. Out of a total of 55 regular migraine sufferers, 44 percent reported that the frequency of their migraine attacks was either 'Somewhat Less' or 'Much Less' after treatment (under a conservative interpretation of these categories). Within the group of 28 migraine sufferers who stated that their migraine attacks were usually preceded by warning signs, 53% said the frequency of their migraine attacks was 'Somewhat Less' or 'Much Less.'
According to the study, “in light of the limited efficacy and undesirable side effects of the available migraine preventive drugs, photic stimulation (flickering light therapy) must be considered as a possible migraine preventive treatment.”
Beta is the most common mental state most people experience during the day, and it is usually unremarkable. However, beta brain wave activity is important for proper mental functioning, and a lack of beta activity can result in mental or emotional disorders such as depression, ADD, and insomnia. Beta brain waves are associated with alertness, attentiveness, and concentration—intense focus and problem-solving are associated with the beta activity. Beta waves are also associated with intense, ecstatic emotions. Medications designed to increase concentration and alertness, such as Ritalin or Adderall, produce a beta brain wave state in the majority of subjects (Huang & Charyton 2008).
Joyce and Siever (2000) conducted one of many studies linking brain wave stimulation to improved cognitive abilities, focusing on reading and verbal skills in elementary school students in Minnesota. The students were tested on the STAR before and after the study (Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading). The experiment lasted seven weeks and included 31 sessions. The first eight sessions used 7-9 hz alpha brain wave stimulation. The remaining sessions consisted of isochronic tone stimulation, with one ear targeting high alpha ranges and the other targeting beta ranges. After 7 weeks of stimulation, the students' reading level improved by more than half a grade—a.6 GE improvement. In comparison, the control group only gained.2 GE. The grade equivalent (GE) score represents a student's actual grade reading level and ranges from 0 to 13. A student with a GE of 4.7, for example, is reading at the level of a typical fourth-grade student in the seventh month. The percentile rank (PR) is another measurement used in this test that ranges from 1 to 99 and indicates a student's reading/verbal ability in comparison to his/her peers nationally. In this measure, the control group's performance actually fell by 1.2 points. The experimental group, on the other hand, improved significantly, increasing their average PR by 7.2.
In addition to academic improvements, teachers and parents reported general social improvements, which the research team documented. One teacher stated, “Students' behavior began to change while participating in the AVE (audio-visual entrainment) program. Students' minds were engaged, and they were more alert. They also began actively participating in the class's teacher-student dialogue “. Budzynski et al. provide another significant milestone in the history of brainwave stimulation for cognitive enhancement (1999).
The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that extended beta brain wave stimulation would result in improved academic performance. This study's participants were university students who had signed up for academic counselling and were divided into two groups of eight. The experimental group received 30 sessions of beta stimulation at 14-22hz. The control group did not receive any training.
The training lasted six weeks and consisted of 15-minute sessions five days a week. Based on previous research that found significant individual differences in preference, subjects were allowed to adjust light intensity levels. To demonstrate that academic performance was improved, the group that received stimulation had to have a significantly higher increase in GPA than the control group. That is precisely what occurred: students who received beta stimulation increased their GPAs by a statistically significant amount in the semester following the training—by.62 points on average. In contrast, the average GPA of students in the control group fell by.22 points the following semester.
Another intriguing finding in this study was the discovery of direct links between EEG activity and student performance. Significant correlations were found, for example, between 12-15hz beta activity and performance on the Digit Span and Symbol tests, as well as between 12-15hz beta-band activity and arithmetic performance. Subjects who performed best on these tests had higher levels of beta activity.
Howard (1986) conducted a study to find ways to reduce exhaustion and stress in dental students. He stated that the negative impact of the heavy workload on these students had been well documented and was cause for concern. He conducted a study using photic and audio beta brain wave stimulation with the hope of reducing fatigue and stress.
The treatment group consisted of 12 dental students who completed a seven-week course of seven 30-minute sessions. The POMs (Profile of Mood States) test revealed that students who received beta wave stimulation had significantly lower levels of fatigue at the end of the seven-week study. Aside from that, students who received the stimulation experienced significant improvements in the quality of sleep they were able to achieve. The number of days when they had a sleep disturbance was reduced by more than half, from an average of 4.6 to 2.2. The number of disturbances on a given night, as well as the severity of the sleep interruptions, were significantly reduced.
Extensive research has linked theta brain waves (3-8hz) to a variety of brain phenomena. Memory, emotion, neural plasticity, sleep, meditation, and hypnosis have all been linked to theta activity in studies. A theta state is associated with stage 1 sleep, which is very light sleep that can be easily awoken.
The links between meditation and theta activity have been thoroughly researched and documented, particularly in the case of Zen and Transcendental Meditation. Theta states in meditation are frequently associated with vivid mental imagery, peace, and overall pleasant experiences. More recent research emphasises theta's intriguing role in memory function. According to one theory proposed by Lisman and Idiart, short-term memories are constantly refreshed in order to maintain their presence in the brain while being accessed. They propose that individual memories are refreshed at a gamma rate, while the refresh cycle as whole pulses at a theta rate. They believe that this is why most people can hold an average of 7 items in short term memory - per 6Hz theta cycle, the 40hz gamma can cycle an average of 7 times (Lisman & Idiart 1995).
“The links between theta frequency and memory, emotion, and neural plasticity on a localised level provide relevant clues to questions on why visualisations of meditators in theta are so vivid, why meditators have such good memories, and why hypnosis can create lasting changes in the brain,” writes Gabe Turow (2005).
A study was conducted in 2001 to see “whether mildly anxious people would report decreased anxiety after listening daily for one month to tapes embedded with tones that create binaural beats” (Le Scouranec and colleagues, 2001).
The experiment was carried out on a group of 15 mildly anxious patients who volunteered to participate. Participants were asked to listen to the tapes at least 5 times per week for 4 weeks and to keep a journal in which they recorded their tape usage, anxiety ratings, and other comments.
The most frequently mentioned topics in patient journals were improved relaxation and falling asleep. Many participants reported that as the study progressed, the relaxing effects of the simulation became more noticeable earlier in the session. They reported that being relaxed helped them fall asleep faster, sleep better, and wake up feeling more rested. Many comments indicated that participants struggled to stay awake while listening to the tapes and that they occasionally fell asleep while the tape was still playing.
