Auditory & Visual Stimulation
(AVS)
Audio/Visual Stimulation and Brain Growth
By Thomas H. Budzynski, Ph.D.
This article first appeared in the Voyager XL User Guide 1993 Theta Technologies
The Aging Brain
As the brain ages, it may lose some of its neural circuitry. Specifically, we experience a shrinkage and reduction in the number of dendrites, the filament-like extensions of the axons or main nerve fibers. In normal circumstances, the dendrites of a given axon connect with the dendrites of many other axons, thus fostering full communication of information. As these connections shrivel with age, the communicating ability decreases. We find ourselves forgetting names of people, and then names of things and facts. Short-term memory begins to fail, e.g., going into the next room to get something and then forgetting what you are there for. We find it more difficult to follow instructions or to memorize material. These symptoms can start in our 40s. That's discouraging news; the good news, however, is that the more we can stimulate our brains, the more we can slow down this process and even reverse it.
Dr. Diamond's Amazing Old Rats
At UCLA, Dr. Marion Diamond examined the maze-learning ability of aged rats and found the usual deficits in keeping with their advanced age. However, when she took half the rats and increased the stimulation in their environment, their learning ability and other aspects of their functioning improved significantly. When the brains of both groups were later examined, Dr. Diamond was amazed to find that the brains of the stimulated group actually weighed more and had more dendrites than the control group which received no more than the usual stimulation. Dr. Diamond concluded that the unusual stimulation promoted the dendritic growth that contributed to the extra density and weight of these brains.
Does this Happen in Humans?
Large-scale studies have not yet been done in this area of interest; however, Dr. Harold Russell, a Texas researcher and clinician, has completed a number of individual case studies on brain-injured and aged individuals. Dr. Russell and his colleagues, Drs. Carter and Ochs, are exploring the use of audio/visual stimulation with such clients. Although their results are anecdotal (not part of a controlled study), preliminary indications are still impressive: in almost all of the case studies of stroke or other brain-damaged victims, whose conditions had "plateaued" a number of years earlier, significant progress was made after using the stimulation daily over a period of months. Again, this research is still preliminary and firm conclusions cannot be rendered at this time. In other words, there is no research with humans yet available that conclusively proves (or disproves) that audio/visual stimulation is useful for damaged or aging brains.
It is noteworthy that Diamond and her former graduate student Allison McKenzie, Ph.D., found that brain-damaged rats (stimulated strokes) recovered more quickly and more fully if stimulated regularly than the control group which received no special stimulation. Finally, Dr. Diamond also discovered that the stimulated rats developed a stronger immune response than those not stimulated.
Brain Stimulation Utilizing Light and Sound Technology
By Ruth Olmstead, Ph.D.
Mae Lynn Spahr received her training from Dr. Olmstead
Dr. Ruth Olmstead
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The rate of the flickering light causes the brain waves to "entrain" or match any set fequency to a more appropriate rate, such as beta, alpha, or theta, depending on the desired results. At certain frequencies, this flickering can cause a major reduction of anxiety and induce deep mental and physical relaxation. This stimulation also increases the release of certain known neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and endorphin. Endorphin, which is an amino acid secreted in the brain, has a pain-relieving effect like that of morphine and lowers pain intensity. Reseach suggests this endorphin release reduces depression and aids emotional stability, giving one a calmer, more restful approach to life.
Clinical studies show Light and Sound Stimulation promote significant reduction in stress and excessive tension while increasing personal realization and cognitive awareness, resulting in improved academic performance. Preliminary studies with children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) found significant increases in memory, comprehension, and concentration skills with overall improved academic performance when undergoing Light and Sound Stimulation.
Research evaluating the effects produced by Light and Sound Stimulation have indicated:
- Increased deep mental and physical relaxation that lowers tension and reduces the effect of pain
- Improved long- and short-term memory
- Increased IQ scores
- Increased ability to focus and concentrate
- Decreased fatigue
- Improved academic performance
- Improved self-confidence
- Increased right/left visual/spacial integration
- Greatly increased creativity and ideas with attendant application
- Improved decision making and holistic problem solving
Light and Sound Stimulation and Brainwave Entrainment also aids in reducing the frequency of headache and Migraine Cephalgia, insomnia, and occurrences of anxiety and depression.
