WTF: Binaural Brainwaves Bring About Altered States
I was reading this USA Today article on Digital Drugs, or the idea that binaural audio files (called doses)can bring about altered states caused by alcohol, E or other substances, only without the actual use of the substance.
I had a recollection of a classic 90’s-era raver documentary called Better Living Through Circuitry, in which one artist, BT, described how he hooked his brain up to a monitoring system when listening to his tracks, to see which ones brought about certain brainwave states. The state he was looking for was called ‘entrainment‘, when the brain tunes in to a frequency.
Most of it is white noise. I’m listening to the YouTube version for Marijuana right now, and it strangely reminds me of my computer fan. Sorta makes a person wonder whether things like computer fans, fluorescent lights and monitors give off frequencies that affect your brain.
Does it work? Well, judging from the testimonials in the comments section at iDoser’s MySpace page, the kids really seem to enjoy it. However, comments posted on this thread describe negative experiences with the product. Further reviews at downloadsquad.com describe people’s experiences.
I liked this one, from Mind Petals
“does anyone else think its a placebo effect? like, you think about it and believe in it so much that it just happens?”
Is it junk science masquerading as the placebo effect, or do these digital drugs actually mess kids up? Many of the videos on YouTube showing kids listening to it seem to be very badly acted. Who knows?
Related:
http://www.getimusic.com/imusic/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_machine
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