Playing With Your Mind by Patricia Chamberlin (Published in Unlimited Human magazine, March '93) "You sit down comfortably, don the electrical headgear, flip a switch, close your eyes and sink into a state of what seems like deep relaxation. A half hour later, as you turn off the machine, you feel extremely alert and lucid. Your brain is now functioning more effectively than it was before. Your memory, both your ability to memorize new information and to recall information you have already learned, has increased dramatically. Your ability to think creatively, to solve problems, has expanded. The speed with which your brain cells pass messages among themselves has increased. In fact, many of your brain cells have actually grown a microscopic examination would show that the brain cells have developed more dendrites, the branching filaments that carry messages from one cell to another, and more synapses, the junctures between the brain cells across which impulses are transmitted. You are more intelligent than you were a half hour before. Such devices now exist and are being used by increasing numbers of people." So begins Michael Hutchison's book Megabrain. Startling New Brain Research Scientists have learned more about the brain in the last decade than in all previous history, and the implications of the latest research are clear: the human brain is far more powerful, with the potential for immensely greater intelligence and change than was ever before imagined. Many scientists believe the brain that tiny 3 1/2 pounds of neural jelly composed of 100 billion or so neurons, each single neuron an information specialist of unimaginable efficiency, conceivably capable of carrying on several million conversations at the same time is our last frontier, the most mysterious and complex structure in the universe. Some of the recent discoveries have totally debunked long held scientific 'truths' such as the belief that the physical brain size is determined by heredity. It now is shown that 'external stimulation' and 'enriched environment' can cause an increase in brain size, including the size of neurons, and the number of certain brain cells. This also dismisses the myth that the brain cells we have developed by age two must last us our entire lives, and that with each alcoholic drink and advancing old age, we are slaying legions of brain cells that are unable to regenerate themselves. It is now known that there does not have to be an unavoidable loss of brain cells or effective brain functioning; for again, with the proper stimulation, quite the opposite is true. The most far reaching in its implications is this technology's debunking of the previously held scientific assumption that the brain's operations were much like the nervous system (beyond conscious control), and that every imaginable mental state was the result of a specific pattern of electrical and chemical activity. We now know that we can definitely 'learn' to produce the various brainwave states completely at will and change them. In effect, you can alter and control your own mind. The implications are almost beyond belief! You can trigger such specific brain states as happiness, problemsolving, sexual excitement, memory recall, heightened creativity, physical or emotional healing, athletic excellence, or whatever. You can also learn to produce certain brainwave states in order to alter such "involuntary" mechanisms as blood pressure, hormonal secretions, heart rate, immune system, etc. Owner's Manual for Your Mind How? One way is to learn to meditate like a Zen monk, but that may take twenty years. Another option, says one playful ad for a new generation of high-tech brainwave toys, will have you controlling your mind like a Zen monk in 20 minutes. These new brain machines 'entrain' your brainwave activity, to be precise, to follow the computer generated frequencies, and enable you to create desired brainwave states at will. Brainwaves are the electrical wave patterns generated in every person's brain. They vary according to a level of consciousness, and various mental activity, and are characterized by four distinct types of brainwaves: "Academic" Beta Brainwaves, "Creative" Alpha Brainwaves, "Hypnagogic" Theta Brainwaves, and "Deep Sleep" Delta Brainwaves. Each brainwave state can be altered and directed by external stimuli, including sound, light, electromagnetic fields and physical movements. New home minicomputer brainwave entraining machines, some Walkman size, with goggles and headphones can direct stimuli and reliably trigger the natural brainwave states that will enable you to achieve whatever is your desired outcome. You choose...best body? bridge game? bust size? Glowing reports that recently made the cover of Forbes FYI magazine called the experiences "Brain Cocktails," while other newspaper articles around the country have referred to them as "brain gain" "mind massage," or "a brain spa." Psychology Today magazine said, "...the evolution of human consciousness is in for quite a jolt, thanks to ...brain machine technology." Brain Toys and Hypnotherapy One of the most exciting applications of the light/sound (L/S) brain training device, says early biofeedback pioneer Dr. Thomas Budzynski, is that it is a perfect entry vehicle to inner space. While the lights and sounds gently guide your mind into certain specific states of consciousness, positive verbal self change information is ferried admirably past the critical defenses. It takes all the guesswork out of traditional hypnosis and selfhypnosis. In fact, clinical studies show a 300% to 400% increase in the effectiveness of any self improvement tape when used with this technology. All over the world, clinics, universities, therapists, sports trainers, and human potential devotees are coming out with some amazing studies and anecdotal evidence that these brainwave-guiding toys hold the promise of dramatically improving our life. It seems to show, at long last, that we may finally be discovering the "access commands" that will enable us to tap into the vast latent potential of body/mind "Mission Control." Adventures Into Excellence Executives and professionals noted in the Forbes article find that using these L/S (light/sound) brainwave devices is enormously helpful for reducing stress and health risks, and promoting clearer, more creative thinking. Pacific Gas and Electric in San Francisco makes L/S machines available to their employees during lunch breaks. Employees say they love it because it is so enjoyable and relaxing, and acts like a brain tune-up. Progressive schools are currently using L/S to accelerate learning. In one example of super-learning, students were able to learn thousands of words a day, versus the 80 to 100 words per day resulting from conventional learning approaches. California State University is also showing dramatic improvement in those with learning disabilities. Brain machine users are also turning in outstanding physical performances as well as mental ones: like the world class surfing of Brad Griach Lucavia and the Olympic bronze medal marathon winner from New Zealand, who both use the Mind Gear PR (Personal Relaxer) brainwave entrainment device in their training programs. Similar exciting body/mindtraining is occurring in Dr. Bill Harrison's work with racing car teams, and in Dr. Robert Grant's work with golf professionals. Personal excellence is also extending itself into the creative performing art of Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Burt Reynolds, Connie Selecca, and others, who now use home brain training computers. Quincy Jones likes them so much he gives Mind Gear minicomputers as gifts to everyone he knows. Mick Rock, rock musician photographer, calls the brain machine experience "a slice of euphoria," and uses one regularly to "pop out of stress and moods." Robert Anton Wilson, author of Quantum Psychology, a thoroughbred on the "think outside the dots" track, is convinced that we are holding the keys to evolution in altering our brainwaves and thereby our body/mind states. Speaking from personal experience with brain machines, he and other human potential authors, like Michael Hutchison, are drawing a clear map of our inner landscape, complete with brainwave milepost signs. Hutchison's upcoming sequel to Megabrain promises to be a lively tour guide. We can now pick our own brainwave mileposts for whatever inner destination we wish to experience simply by selecting the brainwave frequencies that the brain machine will generate. A few of the numerous possibilities are: 18 Hz to improve hyperactive behavior, 11 Hz to achieve "relaxed yet alert states," 10Hz for learning a foreign language fast, 10.5 Hz for specifically lowering blood pressure; 7.83 Hz (the earth resonance frequency) leaves you feeling revitalized like you've spent a day in the country; 3 to 6 Hz for eliciting unconscious childhood memories. 1.05 Hz for growth hormone production where intriguing reports of gray hair returning to its original color have been noted. Once we have selected which brainwaves we wish to visit, for whatever purpose, the corresponding dazzling lights entrance, and the bubble sounds enthrall, and the brain delightedly falls into step with the computergenerated frequencies. We are on our way to our destination. Microchip Meets Mind Power My own MindGear machine has taken me to many unimagined inner universes, and some utterly magical mind kingdoms. I have been astounded at my rapid healing after a recent car accident, using a program in low theta frequencies called "Meditation Medicine". I've been confounded at having 27 totally original thoughts pertaining to a creative project I've been working on, immediately following a twenty minute multilevel program called, amusingly enough, "Fire of the Mind." I've also been fascinated and awed, time after time, at the life changing inner space adventures of my clients: a Playboy bunny who increased her bust size two inches, an Olympic athlete who halved her lap time in her swimming cross training routine, a golf pro who now is a consistent top tournament winner, a foreign woman who passed a vitally important exam in English (a language she hardly knew), and a top producing stockbroker who busted his cocaine and valium addition. And there seem to be no shortage of small miracles: like the musician who recalled where he lost his favorite guitar, or the mother who found new patience with her preschoolers, or the student who confidently remembered every line of her Christmas play. As an ancient Chinese blessing says, "May we live in interesting times." We have never lived in a more interesting time. We are living in an age where the apparent limits of the human brain, in reality, are only the limits of uses to which we apply it - and the limits of what we believe possible. ©Patricia Chamberlin Understanding Brainwaves Brainwaves are the electrical wave patterns generated in every person's brain. They vary according to level of consciousness (hence subconscious, unconscious, etc.) and are characterized by four distinct types of brainwaves, all with distinctly different ways of perceiving, processing, learning, and knowing information. All of these brainwaves are produced at all times but a predominance of a certain desired brainwave state can be treated at will and allow a person to potentialize human excellence like a Zen master. BETA BRAINWAVES (13 to 40 Hz [hertz or cycles per second]) a high frequency pattern, conducive to stimulating energy and action; most of our current institutionalized education is beta geared, characterized by logical, analytical, intellectual thinking, verbal communication, etc. ALPHA BRAINWAVES (8 to 12 Hz) slower brainwaves that are conducive to creative problem solving, accelerated learning, mood elevation, stress reduction, etc., characterized by intuitive insights, creative "juice", inspiration, motivation, daydreams etc. Relaxed, yet alert. THETA BRAINWAVES (4 to 7 Hz) near sleep brainwaves that are conducive to profound inner peace, "mystical truths", transforming unconsciously held limiting beliefs, physical and emotional healing, purpose of life exploration, a "live in quality" ... characterized by a "kind of knowing that feels like" inner wisdom, faith, meditation, some psychic abilities, and retrieving unconscious material. DELTA BRAINWAVES (.5 to 4 Hz) slowest of all, conducive to miracle type healing, divine knowledge, inner being and personal growth, rebirth, trauma recovery, "one with the universe experiences (samadhi), near death experience, characterized by "unknowing" merely a blissful "being" state such as deep sleep or coma. To learn more about how and where to buy a Brainwave Machine for use alone, or with any of your self-help tapes, please visit: www.mindpower-self-hypnosis.com/Mind-Training.htm or contact Patricia with your questions: patricia@mindpower-self-hypnosis.com