Have You Ever Heard of 3D Sound? 

Can you tell the difference between mono sound and stereo? If you were scanning through radio stations, would you be able to tell if you were listening to music in mono or stereo sound? More specific, and harder to identify, is the difference between high bitrate versus MP compressed files in the sound range reproduction of music. Can you consciously tell the difference in the auditory experience? Well, whether or not you are acutely aware of these differences, as some people are, your brain knows.

What is Binaural Recording?

Binaural recording is a method of recording sound that uses two microphones, arranged with the intent to create a 3D stereo sound sensation for the listener of actually being in the room with the performers or instruments. This effect is often created using a technique known as “dummy head recording“, wherein a mannequin head is outfitted with a microphone in each ear. Binaural recording is intended for replay using headphones. Therefore, it will not translate properly over stereo speakers.

This idea of a 3D or “internal” form of sound has also translated into the usefuladvancement of technology. For example, many things such as stethoscopes

creating “in-head” acoustics and IMAX movies being able to create a 3D acoustic experience. Therefore, binaural sound creates a more complete soundscape than it has been previously achieved in artificial conditions. The methodology, by nature, feeds directly into the brain via audio nerve stimulation.

“Do you know that our soul is composed of harmony?” – Leonardo da Vinci

 

Selecting the Right Frequencies

 According to Wikipedia’s definition, Isochronic tones are regular beats of a single tone that are used alongside monaural beats and binaural beats in the process called brainwave entrainment. At its simplest level, an isochronic tone is one that is being turned on and offrapidly. They create sharp, distinctive pulses of sound.

Primarily, these work on your auditory circuits. The soundwaves stimulating your auditory nervesfollow a complex path from stimulation to producing an effect. The effect is profound if you analyze all the processes and subsequent effects such sound has on the physical and neurobiological state of the brain.

Binaural Beats and Auditory Wave Stimulation

It works through stereo headphones by playing one frequency in your left ear, and a slightly modified frequency in your right ear. This causes your brain to naturally create a third frequency, which exists only in your mind. This third frequency is called a binaural beat and it stimulates the left and the right side of your brain to work together in synchronization in order to reconcile the different frequencies you hear through the headphones.

A binaural beat is an auditory illusion perceived when two different pure-tone sine waves, bothwith frequencies lower than 1500 Hz, with less than a 40 Hz difference between them, are presented to a listener binaurally (one through each ear).

Our Brains Naturally Tune to Rhythm

To sum it up, researchers wanted to assess whether the combination of repetitive drummingand shamanic instructions was specifically associated with these effects. They did so by comparing the effect of listening to either repetitive drumming or instrumental meditation music for 15 minutes on salivary cortisol concentration.

Combined with self-reported physiological and psychological states, the two groups of participants (39 in total) all experienced a significant decrease in the concentration of salivary cortisol. However, no differences were observed across conditions. Conversely, there were significant differences in reported emotional states.

In other words, subjective experiences were observed between the groups. Notably, participants exposed to repetitive drumming combined with shamanic instructions reported experiencing heaviness, decreased heart rate, and dreamlike experiences significantly more often than participants exposed to repetitive drumming combined with relaxation instructions.

Isochronic tones are generally sharp, repetitive beats of a single tone that is turned on and off rapidly recorded alongside monaural beats and binaural beats in brainwave entrainment.

A program consisting of a combination of isochronic, binaural and personalized frequencies can, therefore, achieve results that would take far longer to entrain through just one stimulus. The multiple channels stimulated in your brain when using these programs, especially if you doso consistently and repetitively, results in a process called entrainment. Entrainment is basically your brain responding to the mental muscles you have been exercising.