Brain Studies

Hemi-Sync In Yer Ear

hemi-sync-head

This past weekend I was re-introduced to another type of listening. In Yer Ear has always been about the tunes, poets, producers and artists that make up the music industry. Over the years we have come to realize that it’s not a simple deal, that to make audible entertainment is a layering process that involves dozens – perhaps millions of creators. Millions, because the industry depends on the audiences’ feedback.

We first have to understand that we don’t listen with just our ears. Even kicked back in the cushy seat of a Hamilton limo bus with our headset feeding us whatever audio we desire, is often taken for granted. Most everyday consumers aren’t dissecting and analyzing – we think we are just listening. We leave the details up to the professionals who put it all together for our pleasure. We know what we like and at the tap of an icon we get it.

Physically even the bones in our bodies pick up sound and deliver it on some basic level to our senses. What is the track all about? I need to hear that lyric again and again – it really speaks to me. What is the artists wanting to convey? Why are the mixes set up to accentuate one sound over another? We might not always realize it, but we do listen with more than our minds.

We also listen with our hearts. What moves us beyond the music? What takes a hold of our souls and soothes it, or kicks it into the stratosphere? It’s the whole package. Not just pieces, parts, but the head, the heart and the soul.

Brainwave Synchronization
How does our brain physically deal with the input? Hemi-sync sound (Hemispheric Synchronization) has taken us to new levels. When HS is used, it will induce different brain function. Scientist long ago realized that the two sides of the physical brain serve different functions. Each working to balance the other and interacting seamlessly in the healthy individual. So what if these two could swap places, or integrate creating a brainwave synchronization? Brain function would flow back and forth complimenting each other in ways that enhance and enliven the other?

That’s the question that Robert Monroe asked when he created audio that produced binaural beats. The founder of Hemi-Sync Technology, Monroe’s aim was to synchronize the two hemispheres of the brain which then could produce certain effects. When listening to hemi-sync music or sounds a frequency is produced that entrains one side of the brain to the other and the brain itself produces a third frequency known as binaural beats which encourage certain brain responses.

Hemispheric Synchronization is used to induce states of relaxation, meditation, sleep induction, as an aid in reaching altered states of consciousness as well as helping those with physical and mental challenges.
What specifically caught my attention was the use of this technique with meditation. A meditator for nearly 20 years, I still haven’t felt a consistency of results. No doubt I have achieved a level that keeps me from being the same person I would be without it, but when I heard about a program that could assist in the process I was completely intrigued.

Using sound waves, heard through headphones, I sat for a mere 12 minutes listening to a level 1 Zen12 audio meditation. Within a minute or so I found myself in a deep state of meditation that allowed me to effortlessly stay in that place without a struggle. I used Zen12 because of a friend’s recommendation, but feel comfortable passing the recommendation along.

With less time and deeper results Zen12 can be used several times a day. What would take years to accomplish through a regular meditation practice can be achieved in days or weeks. Better sleep, calmer in the face of stress, clearer focus and simply a happier disposition are some of the numerous benefits shown in scientific studies of meditation.

So I’ve been using Zen12 in my ear for just a few short days. You, too can put it in yer ear and find out for yourself if it resonates with you. Let me know if you try it. Leave a comment below.