WHEN/WHERE:
In shamanic traditions, drums were used in periodic rhythm to transport the shaman into other realms of reality. The vibrations from this constant rhythm affected the brain in a very specific manner, allowing the shaman to journey out of his or her body. In direct correlation, we see similar effects brought on by the constant and rhythmic drone of Tibetan Buddhist chants, which transport the monks and even other listeners into realms of blissful meditation. Gentle pulsating rhythms act in a similar fashion. If the frequencies are computer generated, they are precise, consistent and can be targeted to induce highly specific and desired brain states. Just as we can tune a radio to get a particular station, with this
technology we can tune our consciousness. Brain Wave Technology was originally discovered in the early 1970's by Gerald Oster, a biophysicist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. In his EEG research he discovered that when different vibrations, or sound frequencies are delivered to the brain separately through each ear, the two hemispheres of the brain function together to hear a phantom signal. For example, when a signal of 100 Hz enters one ear and 109 Hz enters the other ear simultaneously- the two hemispheres of the brain function together to hear 9 Hz - the exact mathematical difference between the two actual tones. Instead of hearing two different tones, you actually hear a rhythmic soothing pulsation beating at 9 cycles per second. It was then further discovered that binaural beat frequencies could drive or guide brain activity into a wide variety of specific brain states.
Research results show that parts of the brain, and eventually large areas of the brain begin to resonate sympathetically to this phantom beat, in what is known as the Frequency Following Response. In addition to driving brain activity into highly specific brain states, the rhythmic pulsations of binaural beats balance right and left sides of the brain producing a state called hemispheric synchronization.