http://www.mindplacesupport.com/forum This is a discussion forum for MindPlace Sound and Light and BioFeedback Devices en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:29:20 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.mindplacesupport.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.mindplacesupport.com/forum http://www.mindplacesupport.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1189&goto=newpost Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:46:53 GMT Hi,

I started using AVS fifteen years ago with the trusty, if limited, Voyager Galaxy, and for the last seven years I've had the superb MP Proteus :).

In the past I tended to only use mind machines to get into a theta state for self-hypnotic work and meditation, but in the last couple of years - especially after reading more on neurofeedback - I've started to veer towards more alpha and beta oriented sessions.

In fact my two favourites at the moment from the built-in Proteus sessions are "#20 Concentration" and "#21 Creativity Enhancement" - both of which mix light-alpha and beta, and leave me feeling much sharper and clearer afterwards.

So with that as a brief introduction - my questions are:


1) What are the effects of frequency "spikes" in a session - when there are relatively rapid ramps from, say, 8hz to 28hz, and then immediately back down to 8hz again? These spikes occur in a large number of the Mindplace L&S sessions - particularly the ones designed by Dr. Gerhard Bittner.

I believe that the traditional idea in designing entrainment sessions was to remain at any particular frequency for a few minutes, and perhaps include gradual ramps to a slightly higher/lower frequency, to give the brain time to "lock on" and remain entrained at each step. But many of the Mindplace sessions suggest Dr. Bittner had is a different principle in mind. I gather these sessions were created after a three-year study at the university of Essen, in Germany, so there is obviously significant research to support their design.

I am also familiar with the concept of "Brain Brightening" - AVS sessions with many rapid frequency shifts as a "neural exercise" program, but I'm not clear what happens on an eeg during such rapid shifts, nor what their purpose is in the Proteus sessions.

Has anyone got any insights into this?


2) High beta, as in the 20hz-28hz range, seems to be often associated with anxiety, and I gather that in neurofeedback for people with ADHD, the 12hz-18hz range is encouraged, whilst theta and high beta is discouraged.

However, personally I've benefited from Proteus sessions which spend quite some time in high beta, including the two I mentioned above. So, does anyone know (or suspect!) why the sessions were designed to include high beta, and what its positive benefits may be?

Thanks,

Joseph ]]> General Forum Joseph Kao http://www.mindplacesupport.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1189 http://www.mindplacesupport.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1188&goto=newpost Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:14:58 GMT Hi there, just wondering: Is it okay if I switch off my mind machine (I got all 3 of the MP machines) directly while the session is still running... Hi there,

just wondering: Is it okay if I switch off my mind machine (I got all 3 of the MP machines) directly while the session is still running without first stopping?

(Please don't ask why I should stop in the middle of a session - thanks :D)


Thanks,
Thomas ]]> General Forum Thomas http://www.mindplacesupport.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1188