ACCESSING BRAIN STATES WITH LIGHT & SOUND INSTRUMENTS
Benefiting From Light & Sound Technology. Continued…
Jerry Cunningham, Ph.D., is a psychologist who utilizes neurofeedback. Dr. Cunningham has combined light and sound with neurofeedback to help entrain brain waves toward the goals being used in the neurofeedback procedures. He has found this combination to have a synergistic effect, assisting the patient in reaching the neurofeedback training goals. And as an adjunctive element to the main treatment goals, the patient has been able to take a light and sound instrument home. For example, patients who have a sleep dysfunction as part of their symptom pattern can listen to a delta session at bedtime to help them go to sleep and remain asleep. Dr. Cunningham has created a very effective method of combining light and sound with neurofeedback training, maximizing client response both during training sessions and at home.
In the field of education, light and sound instruments are used to create a positive learning atmosphere. The specific goals include: promoting the ability to learn through relaxation, enhancing motivation and visualization skills, and increasing the ability to maintain focus. Light and sound, whether for retaining new information or overcoming test anxiety, can be a beneficial educational tool. But it can do more. It can show you how to improve your focus just by experiencing a session on a routine basis (routine meaning using the unit two or three times per week minimum). Think of using light and sound on a routine basis as a form of brain exercise. You should become aware of increased mental clarity and efficiency with less mental fuzz. Outside distractions and brain chatter should decrease. And expect mental confusion to be replaced with a sense of having everything “mentally” organized.
The only problem that I have run into with light and sound and schools are the administrators. They are very hesitant to try new technologies, which for various reasons is certainly understandable. Teachers need new technology that is successful at increasing the academic performance of students. We have proven that light and sound can satisfy this need. But if the administrators say no, then both teachers and students suffer. Because of this problem, we began utilizing sound only frequency stimulation.
This is a safe, cost-effective way to achieve specific brain states. The approach we used for generating sound frequencies was the 515 (dual independent binaural beat) CD (now available in MP3 downloadable format). Teachers find that conducting their classroom activities while simultaneously playing the 515 at very low volume enables their students to be entrained in a more relaxed state of awareness. As various research studies have proven, students in a relaxed state are capable of assimilating and retaining more information than students who are in excited or anxious states.
There are two ways teachers and students use the 515. For personal use, where the listener will be stationary, headphones are the preferred choice. If the listener will be moving around or there are several individuals listening simultaneously, then stereo (or amplified or computer) speakers work best. Sessions two, three and four of the 515 were designed to enhance academic performance. And the audio frequencies generated need not be played loud to be effective. The volume of the 515 should be about the same as the “hum” of a fluorescent light.
Copyright: Michael J. Landgraf & Mindmachines.com, Granada Hills, CA. / November, 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be copied or duplicated without prior written approval by Michael Landgraf.
Published by Little Minnie’s Publishing House. ISBN 10: 0966259602. ISBN 13: 978-0966259605. All inquiries pertaining to this book should contact Michael@Mindmachines.com.