BINAURAL BEATS & BRAINWAVES
FREQUENCY
Frequency is a measurement of repetitions of a cycle. It is visualised or expressed as a wave - an ecliptic - that travels from the centre up to its peak, back down past the centre to its trough and then back to its centre again. Think sine wave. This journey represents one cycle.
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter...and Spring
All things expressed materially vibrate.
They move. Anything that moves and vibrates creates a sound or frequency.
This frequency is measurable in hertz (Hz).
All waveforms move through rhythmic cycles of ascending and descending expression. The rate of this movement and its amplitude determine the frequency.
High frequencies move quickly meaning there is less time and space between each cycle.
Low frequencies move slowly, meaning there is more time and space between each cycle.
The lower the frequency, the more dense something may appear. The higher the frequency, the more light something may appear.
Higher frequency is associated with immaterial reality. Lower frequency is associated with material reality. These are symbolic representations of the frequency and not a representation of bad or good. They simply represent poles on axis of consciousness.
BRAINWAVES
Each of our atoms is in constant movement which creates a frequency. Although we can only audibly hear a tiny fraction of the frequency produced in the universe, we live in a harmonic masterpiece. Your body is a harmonic symphony of divinely designed nature.
Each organ within the body resonates at its own healthy frequency range. The human brain moves through bands or ranges of frequency depending on the state of conscious awareness the being is in. These brainwaves correlate with the awareness required for the experience we are in.
GAMMA (40 – 100 Hz)
These brainwaves are the fasting moving or highest frequency brainwaves. This is the brainwave frequency of heightened states of awareness, deep concentration or complex problem-solving.
BETA (12 – 40 Hz)
Still fairly fast-moving, this is where most humans spend most of their day. Beta brainwaves represent our active, engaged awareness. Your ego/individuated consciousness is highly active in this state.
ALPHA (8 – 12 Hz)
The frequency cycle starts to slow down and with in the thinking mind begins to take a back seat. This is a state of relaxed awareness. Think flowing thoughts in the shower or zoning out driving a car.
THETA (4 – 8 Hz)
The frequency cycle is slowing down even more and the individuated consciousness is barely present. This is a state of deeply relaxed awareness usually experienced in meditation, REM and lucid dreams.
DELTA (0 – 4 Hz)
These brainwaves are the slowest moving or lowest frequency brainwaves. This is a state of dreamless sleep - deeply unconscious and where our body performs deep healing.
BINAURAL BEATS
What are binaural beats and how do they work?
Binaural means relating to or involving both ears thus the name binaural beats. Music that requires both ears. Binaural beats are only effective when listening through headphones. This is because one frequency is played into the right ear while another frequency is played into the left ear. The ears send each of these frequencies to the brain where they are translated as the difference between these two frequencies. The brain then entrains (synchronises) itself with that frequency (the difference).
THE CONNECTION
We can utilise specific combinations of sound frequency produce specific brainwave frequencies. This means we can quite literally hack our own brains to synchronise with a particular state of desired consciousness.
The first step is identifying your current brainwave frequency and its corresponding state of consciousness.
It is helpful to develop an ability to recognise your state of awareness without the use of external tools (although if you are just starting out and require tools these are available - for example: wearable EEG device). To develop your ability to identify your state of consciousness without a medium, you will need to focus your awareness in a state of witness and detach from your current lived experience. This takes practice and refinement. Take time to pause, witness the stories you might be telling, the pace of your heart and the rhythm of your breath. These are all helpful indicators of your state of consciousness.
Once you have identified your current brainwave frequency you will need to choose a desired state of consciousness to entrain with.
Perhaps in the previous stage you recognised you are in a state of conscious activation when you are trying to meditate. You recognise this as excess Beta (which is also insufficient Alpha). If you wanted to become more alert, you would be working with a Gamma frequency. But given you are trying to relax into meditation, you might like to entrain to an Alpha brainwave to deepen your state of relaxation.
GAMMA
Frequency Range: 40 – 100 Hz
Excess Gamma
Anxiety, High Arousal, Stress
This might look like someone in a fight or flight response. Excess Gamma results in a brain that is highly aroused and ready to instantly respond to threat. Too much time in Gamma can have highly detrimental effects on the entire physiology of the body.
Insufficient Gamma
Inattentive, Low Motivation, Disrupted Neural Pathways
This might look like someone who has no capacity to register threat, let alone respond to it. When the brain spends insufficient time in Gamma states it is not resonating quickly enough to respond to stimulus.
Functions Improved by Balanced Gamma
Improved memory, enhanced learning, increased focus, improved mental clarity, increased concentration, improved cognitive function
Typical GAMMA Activities
High Levels of Awareness
Intense Focus
Meditation
Bliss State
Flow State
Fight or Flight Stress Response
GAMMA TIP
Working with Gamma frequency in your meditation can catapult you into deeply heightened states of awareness. As with Delta frequencies, these sit at one end of our brainwave spectrum and should be used with care and caution.
BETA
Frequency Range: 12 – 40 Hz
Excess Beta
Stress, Anxiety, Adrenaline, High Arousal, Inability to Relax
This might look like someone who is always switched on and doesn’t know how to not be in the constant state of “doing”. Often people who feel unsafe we remain in excess Beta so they are ready to quickly respond to a threat if they need to.
Insufficient Beta
Inattentive, Daydreaming, Low Motivation, Poor Cognition
This might look like someone who seems like they are off with the fairies and are slow to react to their environment. Insufficient Beta often correlates with lack of motivation to complete tasks.
Functions Improved by Beta
Conscious Focus, Attention, Memory, Problem Solving, Reaction Speed
Typical BETA Activities
Conscious Thinking
Logical Thinking
Working
Exercising
Cleaning/Cooking
Talking
BETA TIP
If you need to complete daily tasks or to focus at work, using a Beta binaural beat can help motivate a slower Alpha brainwave to kick into Beta.
ALPHA
Frequency Range: 8 – 12 Hz
Excess Alpha
Daydreaming, Inability to Focus, Too Relaxed, Lazy
This might look like someone who can become lazy and unfocused. Excessive Alpha waves mean the brain is struggling to find motivation to act and perform necessary tasks. It is half in the conscious realm while remaining half in the unconscious.
Insufficient Alpha
Anxiety, High Stress, Insomnia, Hyper-fixation
This might look like someone who can’t switch off. They are likely highly-geared toward future thinking and constantly moving onto the next thing. Insufficient Alpha reflects an inability to settle in the present moment.
Functions Improved by Balanced Alpha
Relaxation, Flow State, Fluidity of Creative Thought
Typical Alpha Activities
Relaxing
Reading a Book
Watching a Film
Showering
Using the Toilet
Driving
ALPHA TIP
Use Alpha binaural beats to access flow state whenever you like regardless of the activity. If you are creating art or looking for an abstract way to solve a problem, Alpha frequency can help you to bypass your cognitive awareness and enter the liminal realm of potentiality.
THETA
Frequency Range: 4 – 8 Hz
Excess Theta
Inattentive, Low Motivation, Hyperactivity, Impulsivity
This might look like someone who struggles to follow a rigid plan or schedule. Theta is the fluid flow state of creation. This expression is like a body of water that has no banks to contain it. Excess Theta lacks direction, discipline & limitation.
Insufficient Theta
Anxiety, Low Emotional Awareness, Stress
This might look like someone who feels no joy or purpose in their experience. This often presents as someone who is so busy they miss the magic in the moment. Insufficient Theta indicates insufficient time in the playful creative brainwave frequency.
Functions Improved by Balanced Theta
Creativity, Emotional Connection, Intuition, Relaxation, Problem Solving
Typical Theta Activities
Meditation
Intuitive Channeling & Psychic Work
Energy Healing
Deep Relaxation
Connection to Subconscious
Theta Tip
The use of Theta brainwaves will help you to deepen experiences of lucidity like meditation or dreaming. If you use Theta binaural beats you can drop into depths of this experience much quicker than without them. This can heighten your overall experience and allow you to explore new terrain.
DELTA
Frequency Range: 0 – 4 Hz
Excess Delta
Brain Injury, Learning Problems, Inability to Think
Excess Delta frequency is notable compared with other frequencies in that in directly relates to brain damage. The brain is not designed to spend significant time in this frequency.
Insufficient Delta
Inability to Heal & Regenerate the Body, Inability to Revitalize the Brain, Poor Sleep
This might look like someone with C-PTSD or insomnia. Our brain can only heal deeply unconscious trauma in the Delta brainwave state. A light sleeper or someone who sleeps in short increments will miss out on the benefits of Delta waves.
Functions Improved by Balanced Delta
Immune System, Natural Healing, Restorative Deep Sleep
Typical Delta Activities
Dreamless Sleep
Deep Healing
Tissue Regeneration & Cell Growth
Production of Melatonin and DHEA
Delta Tip
Delta frequencies are powerful tools for deep healing. In the Delta state the body begins regenerative processes particularly connected with hormonal production. Delta frequency can also be a powerful aid for deep healing of repressed emotional trauma. Due to its powerful impact, Delta frequency should be used cautiously with awareness.
ISOTROPIC TONES
You may find yourself in a situation where headphone use is impractical or inaccessible - like teaching a yoga class or giving a healing. Isotropic tones entrain the brain with a different method to binaural beats.
Rather than playing two different tones into each ear, isotropic tones play the same frequency in both ears. However, unlike the constant tone produced by binaural beats, isotropic tones pulse rhythmically like your heart.
Instead of utilising the differential in sensory processing to entrain the brain, isotropic tones work by stimulating specific areas of the brain, causing these areas to produce electrical impulses at the same frequency as the beat.
CONSIDERATIONS
Binaural Beats & Isotropic Tones are both powerful tools and incite very somatic responses. It is not uncommon to feel nauseous, dizzy or overwhelmed when working with certain beats, especially to begin with.
As a general rule, begin with Beta and Alpha beats for short periods. Work your way into Theta beats and increase duration as you feel comfortable to.
Delta & Gamma beats should be approached with intention and awareness. Falling asleep with Delta waves playing can cause harm to your brain. Excess use of Gamma frequency can cause nervous system overload. Set alarms or whatever precautions you need to in order to limit use of these tones until you have established your relationship with them.
Be aware of the sources you find your beats. There is an abundance of calming meditation music that claims to be binaural or isotropic and is not. There is less risk of harm here but you are also not gaining the purported benefits of the beats.