There are a number of different types of brainwave entrainment, including binaural beats, isochronic tones, monaural beats, and sound and light entrainment. Each method is designed to encourage the brain to move into a specific state.

What is Brainwave Entrainment?

Brainwave entrainment triggers the brain's ‘frequency following’ response. This means that it encourages the brainwaves to synchronize with the frequency of the beat/tone. The brain follows along at the frequency it perceives from the sound source.

An example of the frequency following response is seen in epilepsy sufferers when a strobe light is flashed at the frequency that triggers a seizure. The brain is entrained to the flashing light and a seizure occurs.

Positively, though, brainwave entrainment can be used to encourage states of wellbeing and correct brainwave imbalances.

5 Main Types of Brainwave Entrainment

There are 5 main types of brainwave entrainment. These cover passive audio entrainment, combined light and sound, and active EEG entrainment.

Here's an explanation of each.

1. Binaural Beats

Binaural beats are the most popular form of BWE, and this technology is the primary method of choice for the majority of scientific research in this area.

Binaural beats entrain the brain to follow along at a specific frequency. This is actually a trick of sorts, which occurs because of the way we perceive sound.

When we hear a sound, we are able to locate where it is coming from by detecting the tone differences between each of our ears. Our brainwaves then begin to pulse – know as phase resonance – at the difference between the tones. Using this ‘phase difference’ we are able to detect the direction of the sound.

Binaural beats play a different tone to each ear at a specific frequency. When the brain receives the frequencies its brainwaves begin to resonate at the mathematical difference between the two tones.

For example: If 10 Hertz is sent to the left ear and 5 Hertz is sent to the right ear, the difference is 5 Hertz. The brain will then follow along at this frequency (frequency following response).

Because of the way binaural beats work – sending a different frequency to each ear – headphones are required for the process to be fully effective.

2. Monaural Beats

Monaural is derived from the word mono, meaning ‘single' or ‘one'. As such, monaural beats entrainment uses a single pulsing beat created by the convergence of two tones in one speaker (mono) (1).

Unlike binaural beats, the effect (the resulting frequency) is achieved outside of the brain and before it reaches the ear.

Monaural beats are considered as effective as binaural beats, but are generally less pleasant to listen to and more difficult to embed in a musical overlay without too much dissonance. For this reason that aren't as commonly used.

Monaural beats can be used without headphones.

3. Isochronic Tones

Isochronic tones are a single tone form of brainwave entrainment.

The effect is created outside the brain by rapidly turning the single tone on and off, resulting in a pulsating sound. The rate of the pulsing is measured in Hertz and is set at the desired frequency of entrainment.

While very effective in the higher frequency ranges of beta and gamma, many people find the sound of isochronic tones quite unpleasant to listen to.

What's the Difference Between Isochronic Tones & Binaural Beats & Which is Better?

4. Sound & Light Entrainment

Sound and light entrainment (audio-visual entrainment (AVE) is an alternative to the solely audio types discussed above.

This type of entrainment makes use of binaural, monaural or isochronic beats/tones and visual signals delivered via sound machines, photic entrainment, or mind machines.

Modern examples of sound and light entrainment devices are BrainTap and Limina.

Enthusiasts assert that the combination of sound and light can elicit a faster brain response than audio alone.

5. EEG Active Entrainment

‘EEG active' refers to real-time sound and/or light entrainment delivered by an EEG machine (electroencephalography). This means the entrainment responds to the brainwave activity occurring in your brain.

The EEG sensors monitor your brain activity and adjust the entrainment to suit your needs.

This type of entrainment is said to be useful for those who are deficient in a particular brainwave band (alpha, beta, gamma, etc). Generally speaking, a specialist at a clinic provides EEG active entrainment. The cost will be per session rather than per product.

Though similar, EEG active entrainment is not the same as neurofeedback. Neurofeedback doesn't entrain your brain but instead uses real-time displays of brain activity to teach you how to regulate your brain function.

Which Entrainment is Right for You?

The most commonly produced audios are made using binaural beats technology.

These audios are usually long-play, 30 minutes or more, and fairly inexpensive at an average of $8 per program.

For those on a budget this is a good entry point to benefit from brainwave entrainment; because you can build a collection as and when you have the money.

+ See options here.

There are programs (with multiple “levels”) available that cost upwards of $80, but actually this is unnecessary and more about marketing than anything else. You'll be fine selecting your own audios from a store and putting together a listening routine that suits your goals.

Isochronic tracks are available from some provider websites, but after a surge in popularity circa 2010 they have become more niche again and not so common.

Monaural beats aren't very common either, though they are often used instead of binaural beats for higher frequency ranges such as gamma 30 Hz + (where binaural beats aren't considered as effective). It may therefore be the case that at times you are listening to a monaural beat advertised instead of a binaural beat. It doesn't matter, though, as the effects are generally considered to be on a par.

With the expansion of the wearable tech market, a number of light and sound entrainment products have emerged. If you have the budget (upwards of $500) this is a really fun exploration of technology, with a broad range of benefits for wellbeing.

You can buy an EEG machine for home use but they are expensive. If you are diagnosed with a brainwave deficiency or excess then this treatment will be an option for you. Sessions with a private clinic are likely to cost upwards of $75.

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I realize this technology may be a little confusing for some, so if you do have a question please leave it in the comments section below and I'll try my best to answer it.

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