Part Four: The Application of Audio-Visual Entrainment for the Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder
By Dave Siever, President of Mind Alive, Inc.
(Reprinted by permission for the AVS Journal)
Conclusion
White light AVE at 20 Hz produced significant results. Although sub-delta frequencies are non-effective at generating entrainment, sub-delta frequencies can affect both dissociative mind states and cerebral blood flow (Fox & Raichle, 1985). In addition, the “placebo effect” could also explain the sub-delta significance. The “placebo effect” has been shown to reduce anxiety, increase endorphin production, conditioning, and expectancy (Godfroid, 1998). Being that inadequate light elicits depression in SAD sufferers, the “placebo effect” via photic stimulation is possible.
The AVE Group’s depression decreased while the Control Group’s depression increased. Sensitivity to anxiety decreased in both male and female AVE groups. Although the female control participants had decreased sensitivity to anxiety, the female AVE population showed significance between the 1 Hz and 20 Hz stimulation.
Most control group participants claimed that they gained weight whereas an additional benefit of AVE is weight loss. One participant claimed that, “after using the 20 Hz session for 2 weeks, the taste of sweets in my mouth was repulsive.” Follow-up reports indicate participants’ SAD symptoms returned within an average of 2 weeks after discontinuing use of the DAVID AVE device.
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Copyright: David Siever, Mind Alive, Inc. for the AVS Journal. All rights reserved.