ENKI Technology

What is Brainwave Entrainment?

Brain-wave Entrainment -
this refers to the brain's electrical response to rhythmic sensory stimulation, such as pulses of sound or light. When the brain is given a stimulus, through the ears & eyes, it emits an electrical charge in response, called a Cortical Evoked Response. When the brain is presented with a rhythmic stimulus, such as that from an electric fish, this rhythm is reproduced in the brain as electrical impulses.

If that rhythm becomes fast and consistent enough, it can start to resemble the natural internal rhythms of the brain. When this happens, the brain responds by synchronizing its own electric cycles to the same rhythm. This is commonly called the FFR (Frequency Following Response).

What is a mind machine?
In the 1940's a researcher by the name of Gray Walter discovered that when a person was subjected to a light flashing at a certain frequency, their brain wave activity would fall in sync with the flashing of the lights. Since then a small body of research has been conducted on the subject and many devices have been developed to entrain brain waves. Most of these devices include small lights mounted in a pair of eye glasses. These lights flash at given frequencies and are controlled by a small computer in the base unit. Today, most sound and light entrainment devices (SLEDs) also include a sound component. This sound pulses at a given frequency and is usually binaural. Binaural sound occurs when two distinct sine waves (pure tones) are played in each ear. For example, a person might hear a 440 hz tone in one ear and a 430 hz tone in the other ear; the ears will "hear" both tones but the brain (as shown by e.e.g.) will discern the difference between the tones, 10 hz (known as the binaural beat effect). Ten hertz happens to be the alpha frequency for brain waves and is associated with relaxed states (light meditation, etc.) and imagery. SLEDs have also been used to entrain beta, theta and even delta states as well. The combined effects of having both the photic and the auditory portions of the brain stimulated in synchrony can be profound. SLEDs are currently being used by professional psychologists in their practices and by the general public for relaxation, stress management, Insomnia, mind expansion, accelerated learning and retention, breaking limiting beliefs, phobias, anxiety, sports training, promoting physical wellness, and most of all for fun. The possibilities are great and technology has been shown effective. However, the only way to truly appreciate the light sound experience is to try a mind machine for yourself.

The Mind Machine Page
http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~andrewc/index.html