Remembrance

Brain Mapping

This Hemi-Sync tape is an audio-guidance learning tool. Most HemiSync learning tools involve verbally guided relaxation procedures and the development of hypnagogic imagery, and are designed to be experienced within an environment of restricted stimulation.

This tape does not contain verbal guidance and uses only music and Hemi-Sync binaural-beating to encourage beneficial brainwave-arousal patterns and correspondent states of consciousness through neurological mechanisms. Right and left auditory input is combined in the brainstem's superior olivary nucleus and routed to the reticular formation that, in turn, uses neurotransmitters to initiate changes in neurological activity in the thalamus and cortex.

Remembrance has a complex blend of Hemi-Sync binauralbeat patterns in the frequency ranges usually associated with higher (beta) brainwave arousal. The binaural-beat carrier tones are frequency-matched to the changing musical keys and therefore difficult to perceive as separate from the music. The use of musical thirds and fifths as well as changes in key and segues in sound texture coupled with repetitious melodies make for easy listening. The music also contains numerous appoggiaturastantalizing delays in the resolution of melodic themes.

By promoting coherent brainwave patterns, Remembrance helps to sustain alertness and focused attention. It may be played as background music with speakers or on low volume with headphones, and listened to for as long as necessary to maintain an alert focus of attention.

Some play it all day at work or for extended periods in a classroom or other learning environment. It can boost energy when used as background music for physical exercise, elevate mood, and help inhibit pain.

Brainwaves can be measured with a computerized electroencephalograph and then displayed as a map of brainwave activity. Ranges of colors indicate minimum and maximum amplitude regions.

The following graph illustrates changes in the percentage of beta brainwaves for one person while listening to the beta Hemi-Sync patterns imbedded in the powerful Remembrance audio-guidance learning tool. Notice the increase in beta coherence depicted in the brainwave maps associated with each increase in beta.

Scientific studies provide statistical observations in supporting the concept that rhythmic sound patterns engender changes in cortical arousal. As the reticular is responsible for regulating cortical arousal (Swann et al. 1982; Empson 1986; Newman & Baars 1993; Newman 1997a,b; Petty 1998), it is assumed that the reticular formation serves as the mechanism of change in arousal levels engendered by externally initiated (e.g., music and binaural beats) coherent oscillations within the superior olivary nuclei and the cholinergic neurons within the nucleus reticularis.

Additionally, four decades of investigation have shown that exposure to such stimuli under appropriate circumstances can provide access to expanded states of consciousness (Atwater 1997). Several free-running electroencephalograph (EEG) studies (Atwater 2001, Foster 1990; Sadigh 1990; Hiew 1995, Brady 1997, among others) suggest that binaural beats induce alterations in cortical arousal states. These cited studies also document measurable changes in the extended reticular-thalamic activating system during exposure to binaural beats because the reticular formation is responsible for the regulation of cortical arousal. (See Swann et al. (1982), Empson (1986), Newman & Baars (1993), Newman (1997a,b), and Petty (1998).)

It would appear that the rhythmic frequencies of an auditory stimulus affect cholinergic neurons within the nucleus reticularis. Such intercourse modifies the membrane transport and production of acetylcholine and consequently results in changes in arousal states. These suppositions are compatible with current knowledge of the reticular formation and suggest a neural mechanism, an instrument for the regulation of cortical levels of arousal using Hemi-Sync audio stimuli.

Directly relating to the beta Hemi-Sync imbedded in Remembrance is a study (Lane et al, 1998) that compared the effects of binaural auditory beats in the EEG beta and EEG theta/delta frequency ranges on mood and on performance of a vigilance task to investigate their effects on subjective and objective measures of arousal. Participants (n = 29) performed a 30-min visual vigilance task on three different days while listening to pink noise containing simple tones or binaural beats either in the beta range (16 and 24 Hz) or the theta/delta range (1.5 and 4 Hz). Participants were kept blind to the presence of binaural beats to control expectation effects. Presentation of beta-frequency binaural beats yielded more correct target detections and fewer false alarms than presentation of theta/delta frequency binaural beats. In addition, the betafrequency beats were associated with less negative mood. Results suggest that the presentation of binaural auditory beats can affect psychomotor performance and mood. The study showed that binaural-beat technology has applications for the control of attention and arousal and the enhancement of human performance.

References

Atwater, F.H. (1997). Accessing anomalous states of consciousness. Journal of Scientific Exploration 11(3): 263-274.

Atwater, F.H. (2001). Binaural beats and the regulation of arousal levels. Proceedings of the TANS 11 `" Forum on New Arts and Science © 2001 by the International Association on New Science, 1612 Windsor Court, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Brady, D.B. (1997). Binaural-beat induced theta EEG activity and hypnotic susceptibility. Northern Arizona University. http://www.monroeinstitute.org/research/

Empson, J. (1986). Human Brainwaves: The Psychological Significance of the Electroencephalogram. The Macmillan Press Ltd..

Foster, D. S. (1990). EEG and subjective correlates of alpha frequency binaural beat stimulation combined with alpha biofeedback. Hemi-Sync Journal VIII(2): i-ii.

Hiew, C.C. (1995). Hemi-Sync into creativity. Hemi-Sync Journal XIII(1): iii-v. http://www.monroeinstitute.org/research

Lane, J.D., Kasian, S.J., Owens, J.E., & Marsh, G.R. (1998). Binaural auditory beats affect vigilance performance and mood. Physiology & Behavior 63(2): 249-252.

Marsh, J.T., Brown, W.S., & Smith, J.C. (1975). Far-field recorded frequency-following responses: Correlates of low pitch auditory perception in humans. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology 38: 113-119.

Newman, J. & Baars, B.J. (1993). A neural attentional model for access to consciousness: A Global Workspace perspective. In: Concepts in Neuroscience 4(2): 255-290.

Newman, J. (1997a). Putting the puzzle together Part 1: Toward a general theory of the neural correlates of consciousness. Journal of Consciousness Studies 4(1): 47-66.

Newman, J. (1997b). Putting the puzzle together Part Il: Toward a general theory of the neural correlates of consciousness. Journal of Consciousness Studies 4(2): 47-66.

Petty, P.G. (1998). Consciousness: A neurosurgical perspective. Journal of Consciousness Studies 5(1): 86-96.

Sadigh, M. (1990). Effects of Hemi-Sync on electrocortical activity. http://www.monroeinstitute.org/research/

Swann R., Bosanko S., Cohen R., Midgley R., & Seed K.M. (1982) The Brain - A User's Manual. G. P. Putnam's Sons: 92.

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