BRAINWAVE ENTRAINMENT APP

What is Brainwave Entrainment? Brainwave Entrainment refers to the brain's

electrical response to rhythmic sensory

stimulation, such as pulses of sound.

When the brain is given a stimulus, through the

ears, eyes or other senses, it emits an electrical

charge in response, called a Cortical Evoked

Response.

The basic premise of brain wave

entrainment is that you use certain

technologies (like isochronic tones

through earphones or speakers) to alter

your brain waves, for the primary

purpose of changing the way you feel.

Previous peer-reviewed research

concluded that brainwave entrainment is

an “effective therapeutic tool” for people

suffering from cognitive functioning

deficits, stress, pain, headaches &

migraines, PMS and other behavioural

problems (Huang, 2008).

There are many apps that utilise brainwave entrainment but most exclusively use the use of ‘binaural beats’

https://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/brain-wave-30-advanced-binaural/id307219387?mt=8

http://www.beatsbrainwaves.com/mobile-apps/

We propose the use of isochronic tones in our app.

Isochronic tones are different in that they

are simply single separate pulses of a

single tone, similar to a metronome or

drum beat. This creates a greater

contrast between sound and silence

which can have a greater effect on the

brain.

Self-quantifying measures for the user

can be found here:

http://www.quantified-mind.com/• Tests can be completed pre and post exposure

to isochronic beats

Field Research With Users We interviewed a number of students about their interest in

using our app Most of the students were not aware of the concept of

binaural beats and isochronic tones but found it intriguing Our target users are students so it will be easy to obtain a

large sample size We propose to hold focus groups, individual interviews, and

questionnaires ADD IN RESEARCH FINDINGS Our Self tracking method we hope to use will involve some

or all of the following:• Heart Rate Monitor

• Blood Pressure

• Regular attention and memory tests

• Mood Diary

PersonaThis is Rob. He is a 3rd year

Student at UCD studying Business.

He is preparing for his final year

Is stressed about the amount of

work that has to come. He gets

Anxious easily and he is looking

for a way to stay relaxed.

Background Research

Contact Experts Previous peer-reviewed research concluded that brainwave entrainment

is an “effective therapeutic tool” for people suffering from cognitive functioning deficits, stress, pain, headaches & migraines, PMS and other behavioural problems (Huang, 2008).

ADD ONE MORE REFERENCE There are many apps that utilise brainwave entrainment but most

exclusively use the use of ‘binaural beats’ https://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/brain-wave-30-advanced-

binaural/id307219387?mt=8 http://www.beatsbrainwaves.com/mobile-apps/ http://www.macworld.com/product/79992/brain-power-ambiscience-binaural-

isochron.html We looked at these apps which are similar to our idea but there is no aspect of self

quantification involved

Technical Feasibility The other apps that are similar demonstrate that our app is feasable. Also, our methods

of self quantification already exist so we would be using existing technology

Alternative Proposal Its self quantifying -

The user logs their cigarette intake for the day and it

outputs how much money they are spending on

cigarettes and the health implications to encourage

quitting.

It has a goal setting section as well so it slowly weans

you off cigarettes per day to help you quit by your goal

time.

We found it challenging to find a valid and consistent

self quantification measure

Solution Using a mood diary which is subjective for every

individual

Using either a heart rate monitor, blood pressure

measure, or attention and memory tests

Second Problem

The minimum amount of time spent

listening to the isochronic tones would be

time consuming over the course of the

day

Solution

Either to shorten the length of the tones

or to be aware of this fact and have these

times planned into your day

Reference List Huang, T. (2008). A comprehensive review

of the psychological effects of brainwave entrainment.

Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 14(5),