Isochronic tones are pulsating, monotonic tones. We can use them in addition to monaural or binaural beats to affect our brainwaves. They are often used for brain seduction to bring the brainwave patterns into a desired state.
Brain science seems to have entered a renaissance in recent years. At a rapid pace, scientists seem to understand better what goes on in our brains and how they work.
The most recent insights in brain research point to a beautiful result: we now know that the brain is very receptive to, among other things, visual and auditory stimuli, with which we can influence our brainwave patterns. We can successfully treat ailments such as insomnia, migraine, AD(H)D, and pain issues.
The brain is no longer a mysterious organ. Science shows that when we stimulate the brain with light, sound, and frequencies, this heals the entire system.
What are isochronic tones?
Isochronic tones are pulsating, and monotonous tones you list to through headphones. They are often used for brain seduction to change brain wave patterns. These tones are defined as a single tone that turns on and off in rapid successions, like pulses. Imagine putting on headphones and listening to regular single-tone beats, just like in Morse code: –o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o. This is known as isochronic.
While it may sound monotonous, listening to these simple sounds can reduce your stress, boost your immune system, and help you reach a meditative state. Isochronic tones are part of a compelling trio, including binaural and mono beats.
Sound therapy
Sound therapy has come a long way, having its origins in the 1970s, in the middle of the hippie era. Nowadays, sound therapy is successfully used in offices, universities, and for specific treatment programs of, for example, children with learning difficulties.
Not only can sound therapy provides an effective treatment to relieve pain and depression, but it can also promote physical and mental stamina.
Light therapy
Sound therapy is often used in combination with light therapy. This kind of light therapy has nothing to do with artificial daylight lamps from Philips. This light therapy flashes at a particular frequency to influence the brainwaves.
A combination of sound and light therapy – also called audiovisual entrainment – is all about frequencies. Both signals have an enormous influence on our brainwaves, which unconsciously follow these frequencies, a phenomenon called brain seduction.
Back to isochronic tones. They sound straightforward, but simplicity is deceiving. They have a profound effect on our brains. Although scientific research into the effect is still in its infancy, many believe that this form of sound therapy can reduce and even cure a long list of physical complaints.
So we have to wait for science, which in this case is chasing the facts. This is usually when a simple and inexpensive way is found in the treatment of medical complaints, while the pharmaceutical industry prefers to sell expensive medicines.
Why do you use isochronic tones?
We can use isochronic tones in many different ways for multiple purposes. When I first discovered this new kind of therapy around 2006, isochronic tones were most commonly used for meditation and relaxation. Although this is still the main application, they are now more widely used. For example, they are now used to aid in study, mainly to improve meditation and relaxation – Our busy and demanding society often makes it difficult for us to relax. A deep meditative state can then be even more difficult to achieve, especially if you are new to meditation. Using low alpha and theta frequencies will help your brain reach this relaxing state, even if you are inexperienced.
Concentration and Memory – When it’s time for study or work, our brains don’t always want to cooperate. If you feel tired, unmotivated, and distracted, isochronic tones in the beta spectrum can trigger your brain to mental acuity. Research has also shown that alpha wave stimulation can help improve memory.
Improve sleep and for power naps – When you are having trouble sleeping, your brain is very likely to produce too much beta activity. We can use isochronic tones to reduce beta activity and emphasize the low delta frequency to help you sleep deeper.
Energy and Motivation – Just as we can use the tones for relaxation, we can also use them to uplift. By stimulating the higher beta and gamma brain waves, we can boost energy and alertness. This makes it a great alternative to caffeine and unhealthy energy drinks.
What are binaural beats?
Binaural beats are a form of audio therapy in which the listener listens dichotically (a unique frequency in each ear). Each frequency is less than 1500 Hz, and the difference between the frequencies is less than 40 Hz. The tones inherent in binaural beats can vary. Our brains tend to follow the difference in frequency.
Isochronic tones vs. binaural beats
Isochronic tones are a form of binaural beats. While binaural beats contain various tones, isochronic tones are specifically a single, repeating tone constructed and emitted in the form of pulses.
Do isochronic tones work? What does science say?
According to several scientific studies, isochronic tones and binaural beats relieve pain and reduce stress. Since these modalities are useful for people with sleep problems, these techniques are also widely used in relaxation therapy.
Are they safe?
Not many studies have been done on the safety of isochronic tones. However, there are a few things to keep in mind before using them:
Keep the volume low to medium. With isochronic tones, louder is not better. Sounds of more than 70 decibels for extended periods can cause hearing damage. For example, a normal conversation is about 60 decibels.
Be careful if you have epilepsy. Some people are sensitive and can have counterproductive reactions, which can lead to seizures.
Do not operate machines, drive vehicles, or engage in activities that require attention and concentration.
How do isochronic beats work, and how do they affect the brain?
Isochronic tones respond to brain wave activity and influence it to the desired state. Since our brains tend to follow the stimulus’s frequency, the tones play at a certain frequency.
The clear and repeating tones evoke a response in the brain. This is an electrical potential that the nervous system registers after the presentation of a stimulus. We can see these electrical potentials and record these with electroencephalography (EEG).
The brainwave process depends on the natural phenomena of synchronization. Examples where there is synchronization are:
Tuning Fork – When you hit one tuning fork and place another next to it, the second tuning fork will automatically start vibrating at the same frequency.
Pendulum Clocks and Metronomes – If you place a number of pendulum clocks or metronomes close together and have them all swing at different times, they will all be moving at the same time within minutes.
Menstrual cycles – Women who live together in the same house synchronize their menstrual cycles.
Fireflies – Fireflies eventually blink simultaneously as the night progresses.
Brainwave Activity – The electrical pulses’ frequency in the brain can be stimulated and affected by repetitive flashing lights or sound rhythms. The brain waves synchronize with the frequency of the flashing light and the sound rhythms.
Frequency Following Response
The term brain temptation frequency is also referred to as the Frequency Following Response (FFR). When an isochronic beat is playing, the brainwaves are carried along, and they synchronize with the same frequency. Then the frequency is changed – step by step or not – to the desired frequency. The brain will adjust itself (step by step) to the frequency again and again until the brain waves take on the desired frequency.
This way, we can easily reduce the brainwaves from beta to delta, or sleep mode.
