Binaural Beats dangerous?

[ssandra]

Hi,

If you listen to binaraul beats from a source that you are unfamiliar with can it harm you? Or is the worst that can happen that simply nothing happens?

Follow up questions: anybody know any good sources for free binaural beats, preferably with some other music mixed with it?

[MidasGirl]

I don't know if they can harm or not. But I do know I'd probably only buy from a reputable source, and the only ones I ever bought were recommended by others online or by an author I already knew.

The one I swear by and I've had for a few years now is Sound Body Sound Mind by Andrew Weil. Check out the reviews on amazon. I like it cuz it also comes with an audio explaining all about binaural beat and its effects etc. But it also works just really well for me.

[Angela]

I don't think they can harm you at all, ssandra. The worst that can happen is the beats will be off for you and you won't go into alpha. Or you might find them irritating, in which case it wouldn't benefit you. It does take a little adjustment sometimes to get the right pair of tones for an individual -- it's not one size fits all.

Send me a pm if you'd like me to make you a custom one. We can add some voice-over or graphic suggestions if you like, if you keep them few and simple.


ps.. I'd be careful about going into trance with a stranger's hypnotic audio or video on the Internet without listening to it in Beta first, because there are a few people out there who find it amusing to slip in unseemly suggestions or startle stimuli. Bastards.

[Mato Kinze]

With all due respect to Angela - whom I really like (I've had Dreams you know...) - physiologically, there is no evidence that binaural beats or tones are responsible for inducing any specific brain activity or state. Alpha waves are simply the state that the mind goes into while awake and relaxed with eyes closed so simply listening to relaxing enjoyable music with your eyes closed will do exactly the same thing as any prerecorded binaural beat or tones. Claims of aural induction of Theta waves have never been causely substantiated and only indicate that you're getting sleepy. It happens to me every time I listen to monotonous tones, binaural or not.

That being the case - as I understand it - the risk of causing any harm to yourself by listening to binaural beats or tones is precisely nil.

Seriously Angela... I DO respect you, just disagree.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Mato Kinze

Alpha waves are simply the state that the mind goes into while awake and relaxed with eyes closed so simply listening to relaxing enjoyable music with your eyes closed will do exactly the same thing as any prerecorded binaural beat or tones. ...It happens to me every time I listen to monotonous tones, binaural or not.

It sounds like you're agreeing with me at the same time you disagree. Binaural beats don't have any mystical, magical power to transport you to an alpha state -- it's the same power that you have by sitting down and daydreaming, or doing self-hypnosis, or listening to relaxing music. It's simply a tool that works really well in deliberately getting yourself to a natural, normal state that you go into and out of in the regular course of your day without thinking about it.

I like binaural beats and other audio tools because they feel really good, really quickly. That's all the evidence I require.

[Mato Kinze]

Originally Posted by Angela

I like binaural beats and other audio tools because they feel really good, really quickly. That's all the evidence I require.

Cool.

[Brutha]

I don't think they can harm you at all, ssandra. The worst that can happen is the beats will be off for you and you won't go into alpha.

If someone is depressive (and therefore has to little beta activity and to much alpha activity), to much brainwave entertainement that pushes that person into Alpha could worsen the depression.

With all due respect to Angela - whom I really like (I've had Dreams you know...) - physiologically, there is no evidence that binaural beats or tones are responsible for inducing any specific brain activity or state.

Papers such as this show that brainwave entertainement has effects.

Transparent Corp probably wouldn't get away with selling EEGs and software is supposed to change brainwave when that software wouldn't succeed at that purpose.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Brutha

If someone is depressive (and therefore has to little beta activity and to much alpha activity), to much brainwave entertainement that pushes that person into Alpha could worsen the depression.

Now that you mention it, too much alpha for anyone could make someone depressed; eventually you'd get depressed because your stuff would all get repossessed and you'd get kicked out of your house for not making the payments.

Alpha's not the best state for taking dynamic action.

I think, though, a depressed person could withstand quite a bit of alpha state, as long as there was movement towards action in beta, too, you're right. The nice thing about alpha state is that it's just about impossible to have a negative emotion there; it's a nice relief from persistent negative thought patterns. Sometimes a break is all a depressed person needs to get herself back into an upward spiral of thought.

[Mato Kinze]

Originally Posted by Brutha

If someone is depressive (and therefore has to little beta activity and to much alpha activity), to much brainwave entertainement that pushes that person into Alpha could worsen the depression.
Papers such as this show that brainwave entertainement has effects.

Transparent Corp probably wouldn't get away with selling EEGs and software is supposed to change brainwave when that software wouldn't succeed at that purpose.

Ah. That would be the paper written by an employee of a "Brain Entrainment" company?

K. I'll stay skeptical. Thanks though.

[Brutha]

Ah. That would be the paper written by an employee of a "Brain Entrainment" company?

It's a peer reviewed journal and it references the studies that it cites.

[Mato Kinze]

Originally Posted by Brutha

It's a peer reviewed journal and it references the studies that it cites.

Ok.

[Inspirations]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Hi,

If you listen to binaraul beats from a source that you are unfamiliar with can it harm you? Or is the worst that can happen that simply nothing happens?

Follow up questions: anybody know any good sources for free binaural beats, preferably with some other music mixed with it?

Hi ssandra,

People with certain disabilities (especially Aspergers, and even LD) are more sensitive to both the sound and visuals that often accompany them. Also, people who do not know they have a disability, can be effected. Like undiagnosed ceasures.

People should just be very careful, of the medical aspects, and because subliminal messages can be and do anything.

I personally became quite ill after listening to see what they were.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Angela

Send me a pm if you'd like me to make you a custom one. We can add some voice-over or graphic suggestions if you like, if you keep them few and simple.


ps.. I'd be careful about going into trance with a stranger's hypnotic audio or video on the Internet without listening to it in Beta first, because there are a few people out there who find it amusing to slip in unseemly suggestions or startle stimuli. Bastards.

Tnx for the warning. You have a pm.

Just a question (might be interesting for other people as well) how do you create your own binaural beats? I have seen some programs, but also to put "music" on it. Is it easy? How much would it cost? And if you put a voice under it (over it)? How does that work..?

[Brutha]

I have seen some programs, but also to put "music" on it. Is it easy? How much would it cost? And if you put a voice under it (over it)? How does that work..?

If I remember right Angela uses the transparentcorp software.
That software is very feature rich. You can give it a mp3 and tell it to add brainwave entertrainment. It doesn't only add binaural beats but also a few similar things that make the process work without headphones.

It's a while till I read through brainwave entertrainment and I don't know whether there are now other comparable programs.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Brutha

If I remember right Angela uses the transparentcorp software.
That software is very feature rich. You can give it a mp3 and tell it to add brainwave entertrainment. It doesn't only add binaural beats but also a few similar things that make the process work without headphones.

That's right. It makes it easy for me to add my voice speaking hypnotic language as a layer right into the recording. Actually, I can do several layers of my voice, with dual induction (one voice pattern in the left ear, and an entirely different message in the right, at the same time) and also 3D sound -- the sound "moves" all around you, behind you, etc. It's nice.

[Betrade]

I downloaded some free binaural beats from a website I found about a year ago. I can't remember the site, but if I find it; I'll post it. I also don't know much about them. I just stumbled across the freebies online and gave them a try.

They definitely work for me; as far as relaxation is concerned, but I don't know what type of brain waves they're generating specifically. I don't use them very often but when I do, they definitely induce a very relaxed state of mind for me.

I don't know that I would spend money on them personally; especially when I got some for free. OTOH, maybe the ones you buy work better. I just don't know.

I seriously doubt that they can cause any harm though; unless some evil person injected some type of subliminal evil messages into them.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Betrade

They definitely work for me; as far as relaxation is concerned, but I don't know what type of brain waves they're generating specifically. I don't use them very often but when I do, they definitely induce a very relaxed state of mind for me..

They work for me as well... I really like them! One of the reasons that I asked is that some make my brain feel weird... good weird, but weird.. those are the ones that have no music under/over them.

I just like to make informed decisions for stuff that messes with my brain

[Strem2]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Hi,

If you listen to binaraul beats from a source that you are unfamiliar with can it harm you? Or is the worst that can happen that simply nothing happens?

Follow up questions: anybody know any good sources for free binaural beats, preferably with some other music mixed with it?

Bill Harris of Centerpointe Research explains that if they are too strong or you listen too many hours, you can develop painful symptoms. They offer clear directions and a graduated program.

[Anagogy]

I listened to some binaural beats the other night, and I had some interesting lucid dreams. Gonna have to try that again soon.

[lmrpm]

I made a binaural video with successful business subliminal suggestions and posted it on utube YouTube - BINAURAL BEATS VIDEO WITH SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS SUBLIMINAL AFFIRMATIONS EMBEDDED.. I find it very motivating and stimulating to watch and listen to so I am sharing it with the world. If you like have a look and listen