Mind machine

A mind machine (aka brain machine or light and sound machine) uses pulsing rhythmic sound, flashing light, or a combination of these. Mind machines can induce deep states of relaxation[1] or concentration.[2]

A light and sound machine with headphones and strobe light goggles

The process applied by some of these machines is said to induce brainwave synchronisation or entrainment.[3]

History

The influence of rhythmic sounds and drums to enter altered states of consciousness is used in different indigenous tribes (see Shamanic music), as well as optical stimulation produced by the flickering light of camp fires or pressing lightly on the eyeballs.[4] This "stroboscopic photo-stimulation produces 'photic driving', the alpha type of brain electrical activity associated with an altered state in which people are susceptible to suggestion". ([4] p. 12).

The first scientific observations were made by William Charles Wells in the 1790s who described different effects of binocular vision. His results were later transferred to be applied in binaural beats.[5] Visual experiments with flickering lights were conducted in the 1940s by William Grey Walter who used stroboscopic light flashes to measure their effects on brain activity, assessed with EEG. He reported effect not just on visual areas but on the whole cortex.[6]

The development of alpha EEG feedback (see neurofeedback) is an important starting point for biofeedback and its explicit use for entering altered states of consciousness.[7] Enterprises started to produce different types of mind machines and some scientists followed the line of research to explore if and how these devices elicit effects on brain processes.[8]

In the late 1980s and early 1990s Farley initiated an investigation concerning medical claims made by some manufacturers and sellers.[9] The FDA concluded that Light and Sound Machines were not medical devices and did not warrant regulation. Sellers and manufacturers were given guidelines for how they could advertise these devices, and were required to include a disclaimer and cautionary document with each machine. Nowadays, mind machines are rediscovered by some teenage cultures as so called “digital drugs”, a legal way to enter altered states of consciousness.[10]

Application

Mind machines include flashing light devices, which are similar to the Brion Gysin dreamachine in that both produce a flickering visual field. Unlike flashing light devices, the dreamachine can be used by several people at once, but has few, if any, technical features.

Technical setting
A Brion Gysin dreamachine

Mind machines typically consist of a control unit, a pair of headphones and/or strobe light goggles. The unit controls the sessions and drives the LEDs in the goggles. Professionally, they are usually referred to as Auditory Visual Stimulation Devices (AVS devices).[11] Also mind machines are offered that can connect to the Internet for updates download of new session material.

Regulation

Mind machine devices are legally available throughout the United States from many sources.[10]

With some exceptions,[12] these devices commonly do not have FDA approval for medical applications in the US. They have been found by a U.S. district court to be Class III medical devices, and consequentially require FDA pre-market approval for all medical uses. One company making medical claims for a possibly unsafe device has been shut down and seen their devices destroyed.[9]

See also

References
  1. McConnell, Patrick A; Froeliger, Brett; Garland, Eric L; Ives, Jeffrey C; Sforzo, Gary A (2014). "Auditory driving of the autonomic nervous system: Listening to theta-frequency binaural beats post-exercise increases parasympathetic activation and sympathetic withdrawal". Frontiers in Psychology. 5: 1248. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01248. PMC 4231835. PMID 25452734. binaural-beat associated HRV significantly predicted subsequent reported relaxation. Findings suggest that listening to binaural beats may exert an acute influence on both LF and HF components of HRV and may increase subjective feelings of relaxation.
  2. Colzato, Lorenza S; Barone, Hayley; Sellaro, Roberta; Hommel, Bernhard (2015). "More attentional focusing through binaural beats: evidence from the global-local task". Psychological Research. November 26 (1): 271–277. doi:10.1007/s00426-015-0727-0. PMC 5233742. PMID 26612201. While the size of the congruency effect (indicating the failure to suppress task-irrelevant information) was unaffected by the binaural beats, the global-precedence effect (reflecting attentional focusing) was considerably smaller after gamma-frequency binaural beats than after the control condition. Our findings suggest that high-frequency binaural beats bias the individual attentional processing style towards a reduced spotlight of attention.
  3. Wackermann, J.; Putz, P.; Allefeld, C. (2008). "Ganzfeld-induced hallucinatory experience, its phenomenology and cerebral electrophysiology" (PDF). Cortex. 44 (10): 1364–1378. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2007.05.003. PMID 18621366. S2CID 18683890.
  4. Thomason, Timothy (2010-01-01). "The Role of Altered States of Consciousness in Native American Healing". Journal of Rural Community Psychology. E13 (1).
  5. Wade, N. J. (2003). Destined for Distinguished Oblivion: The Scientific Vision of William Charles Wells (1757-1817). New York: Kluwer-Plenum.
  6. Walter, W. G (1963). The living brain. W. W. Norton & Company.
  7. Lynch, J.; Paskewitz, D.; Orne, M. (1974). "Some Factors in the Feedback Control of Human Alpha Rhythm". Psychosomatic Medicine. 36 (5): 399–410. doi:10.1097/00006842-197409000-00003. PMID 4415822. S2CID 30103590.
  8. Siever, D. (2007). Audio-Visual Entrainment: History, Physiology, and Clinical Studies. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  9. Farley Dixie (1994). "Unapproved 'Brain Wave' Devices Condemned after Seizure Reports". FDA Consumer. March. The devices were various models of a product called the InnerQuest Brain Wave Synchronizer – headgear (an audio cassette and eyeglasses) that emitted sounds and flashing lights. Sold without prescription and promoted to relieve conditions such as stress, ...
  10. Syngel, Ryan (November 3, 2014). "Report: Teens Using Digital Drugs to Get High". Wired. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  11. Olmstead, Ruth (2005-09-06). "Use of Auditory and Visual Stimulation to Improve Cognitive Abilities in Learning-Disabled Children". Journal of Neurotherapy. 9 (2): 49–61. doi:10.1300/J184v09n02_04. ISSN 1087-4208.
  12. "FDA allows marketing of first medical device to prevent migraine headaches". Food and Drug Administration. Archived from the original on 2014-03-14.
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