Light and Sound Machines

The brain contains some 100 billion neurons which operate by generating and passing electrical signals. The summation of all this electrical activity results in signals that can be detected and recorded outside the brain. The recording of the brains activity is called an electroencephalogram (EEG). The EEG pattern is popularly referred to as "brain waves." Brain waves appear as irregular, somewhat repetitive waveforms, with a dominant frequency measured in cycles per second or Hertz (Hz).

Different brain wave patterns have been recognized:

ALPHA WAVES 8-12 Hz
Relaxed wakefulness, stress relief

THETA WAVES 3-7 Hz
Reverie, imagery, meditation

DELTA WAVES 0.5-2 Hz
Deep sleep

It has been estimated that pulsating sound and light stimulation can produce a "frequency following" or "entrainment" effect in the brain. The term "entrainment" refers to the tendency of the brain waves to synchronize with the external stimulation. The discovery of light and sound entrainment, and the development of small inexpensive computers, has led to the development of devices called light and sound machines, which provide the rhythmic stimulation in the brain wave frequency range. The resulting entrainment of the electrical activity of the brain leads to different mental states.

The benefits attributed to these devices include:

Float Tanks | Light and Sound | Massage
Contact Information and Pricing | Journal Entries | Links

© 1999 SpaceTime Tanks