What is a mind-machine
Actually, the term mind-machine misses the point is valid only in the broadest sense. A better term would be ``A light-sound biofeedback device.'' A bit long, though, so most people have chosen the shorter term.
In the 1940's a British physician and engineer named W. Gray Walter discovered that by flashing light at various frequencies at people, their brain-waves tended to follow along, to synchronize with the flashing lights.
(This finding was not altogether unexpected since for millennia people moods have been synchronizing with the beats of drums or the slap of waves or the hypnotic flicker of firelight--all indications of the brain's natural tendency to follow along, to synchronize, to harmonize with external stimuli.)
Even since Dr. Walter's early light-brain research, other research has been conducted on the subject and many devices have been developed to train brain waves.
Most of these devices include LED's mounted in a pair of eye glasses. These tiny lights flash at given frequencies and are controlled by a small computer in the base unit.
These devices usually include sound; some models exclude the flashing light-emitting diodes and provide sound-only. If the device has both sound and light, the sound usually pulses at a frequency that matches the flashing lights. The synchronous stimulation of light and sound within the brain can have profound effects.
Often the sound pulses are termed binaural Binaural sound occurs when two distinct sine waves are played in either ear. For example, a person might hear a sine wave tone of 256 Hz in one ear and a 268 Hz tone in the other ear; the ears will recognize both tones but the brain will discern the difference between the tones, 12 Hz.
This 12 Hz frequency is within the alpha range for brain waves and is associated with relaxed states and effortless alertness. Imagery and creativity is also associated with the alpha-wave state. These light-sound devices are also used to train beta, theta and even delta wave states.
Psychologists and others practitioners are using these light-sound devices for the general public to help teach relaxation, stress management, insomnia, mind expansion, accelerated learning and retention, breaking limiting beliefs, phobias, anxiety, sports training, promoting physical wellness, and most of all for fun. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!
If, following this mini-introduction, you think you are ready to play around with Muuz , read on!
Credit and thanks duly noted for Andrew Clayton's inspiration for this introduction. I am entirely responsible for any damage to Mr Clayton's original writeup!