Free relaxations software for migraines
August 30th 2006 05:08
I'm the kind of person who like to try anything new, no matter how off the wall it might seem. So when I came across binaural beats as an aid to migraine pain, I had to try it.
According to wikipedia, binaural beats or binaural tones are auditory processing artifacts, that is apparent sounds, the perception of which arises in the brain independent of physical stimuli.
In nature, two sounds that are similar but slightly shifted in frequency will beat to produce two new frequencies which are the average and the difference of the original two sounds. For example, a 400 Hz tone and a 410 Hz tone will form a 405 Hz tone pulsating 5 times per second.
The brain produces a similar phenomenon internally, resulting in low-frequency pulsations in the loudness of a perceived sound when two tones at slightly different frequencies are presented separately, one to each of a subject's ears, using stereo headphones. A beating tone will be perceived, as if the two tones mixed naturally, out of the brain. The frequency of the tones must be below about 1,000 to 1,500 hertz. The difference between the two frequencies must be small (below about 30 Hz) for the effect to occur; otherwise the two tones will be distinguishable and no beat will be perceived. The effect was discovered in 1839 by Heinrich Wilhelm Dove.
Some investigators, as well as individual users, believe that binaural beats can influence functions of the brain besides those related to hearing. This phenomenon is called frequency following response. The concept is that if one receives a stimulus with a frequency in the range of brain waves, the predominant brain wave frequency is said to be likely to move towards the frequency of the stimulus (a process called entrainment).
According to this view, when the perceived beat frequency corresponds to the delta, theta, alpha or beta range of brainwave frequencies, the brainwaves entrain to or move towards the beat frequency. For example, if a 315 Hz sine wave is played into the right ear and a 325 Hz one into the left ear, the brain is supposed to be entrained towards the beat frequency (10 Hz, in the alpha range). Since alpha range is usually associated with relaxation, this is supposed to have a relaxing effect.
I had a low grade headache for a few days before I went on holiday. Nothing bad enough to take pain killers for, but tiring and annoying none the less. Ten days later I still had the headache, so I decided to give binaural beats a go.
I did a search and found some free software, installed it and listened to the stuff for aobut an hour. When I woke up the next day the headache had lifted. Eureka!!
Of course I'm only one person and this was only one headache, so it's hardly scientific, but if you'd like to give it a try, the software is available for free at www.neuromixer.com.
According to wikipedia, binaural beats or binaural tones are auditory processing artifacts, that is apparent sounds, the perception of which arises in the brain independent of physical stimuli.
In nature, two sounds that are similar but slightly shifted in frequency will beat to produce two new frequencies which are the average and the difference of the original two sounds. For example, a 400 Hz tone and a 410 Hz tone will form a 405 Hz tone pulsating 5 times per second.
The brain produces a similar phenomenon internally, resulting in low-frequency pulsations in the loudness of a perceived sound when two tones at slightly different frequencies are presented separately, one to each of a subject's ears, using stereo headphones. A beating tone will be perceived, as if the two tones mixed naturally, out of the brain. The frequency of the tones must be below about 1,000 to 1,500 hertz. The difference between the two frequencies must be small (below about 30 Hz) for the effect to occur; otherwise the two tones will be distinguishable and no beat will be perceived. The effect was discovered in 1839 by Heinrich Wilhelm Dove.
Some investigators, as well as individual users, believe that binaural beats can influence functions of the brain besides those related to hearing. This phenomenon is called frequency following response. The concept is that if one receives a stimulus with a frequency in the range of brain waves, the predominant brain wave frequency is said to be likely to move towards the frequency of the stimulus (a process called entrainment).
According to this view, when the perceived beat frequency corresponds to the delta, theta, alpha or beta range of brainwave frequencies, the brainwaves entrain to or move towards the beat frequency. For example, if a 315 Hz sine wave is played into the right ear and a 325 Hz one into the left ear, the brain is supposed to be entrained towards the beat frequency (10 Hz, in the alpha range). Since alpha range is usually associated with relaxation, this is supposed to have a relaxing effect.
I had a low grade headache for a few days before I went on holiday. Nothing bad enough to take pain killers for, but tiring and annoying none the less. Ten days later I still had the headache, so I decided to give binaural beats a go.
I did a search and found some free software, installed it and listened to the stuff for aobut an hour. When I woke up the next day the headache had lifted. Eureka!!
Of course I'm only one person and this was only one headache, so it's hardly scientific, but if you'd like to give it a try, the software is available for free at www.neuromixer.com.
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