SYMPATHETIC RESONANCE

The sound therapy tools allow the area of imbalance to be brought back into resonance through a like vibration. The like vibration is the vibration which matches the original frequency or the frequency most natural to that area. In terms of the energy centres within the body, higher tones and frequencies are attributed to the higher energy centres such as the crown and third eye chakras. Specifically, the tone of A is attributed to the third eye. B to the crown chakra and deeper C tones to the lower root chakra. Working with Tibetan bowls for example, around and on the body involves encouraging sympathetic resonance within the energy centres using bowls with the associated tone to each of the areas, using the same octave throughout to facilitate balance and also creating balance and release using various harmonic or dissonant intervals. Tibetan bowls are a a versatile instrument and this is just one such method involving sympathetic resonance. 

FREQUENCY FOLLOWING RESPONSE

Frequency following response (FFR) is used in sound therapy to stimulate or encourage particular brain wave patterns that are known to lead to feelings of calm and wellbeing such as lower and slower rates of vibration found in alpha and theta states. Using a sound with a very low frequency such as that of 4 to 7 hertz may facilitate brainwave slowing to a frequency more closely matching the frequency of that sound. Frequency following response is similar to brainwave entrainment in that it encourages changes in brainwave pattern and frequency but relates more to beat pattern than to tone. If a brain is presented with repeated stimulus, it responds by synchronising electrical cycles to the same rhythm. Shamans have used this simple but effective principle for thousands of years to facilitate altered states and even trance like states in their ceremonies. Shamanic drum beats tend to be simple and slow at around 1 to 4 beats per second (theta inducing rates). Occasionally I utilize drumming in my sound sessions to encourage FFR to calmer states of being. 

BRAIN WAVE ENTRAINMENT 

"Sound therapy also works through entrainment, which is the law of physics. The definition of entrainment is the predisposition that two oscillating bodies will lock into phase so that they vibrate in harmony with one another. Entrainment therefore occurs when two or more rhythmical cycles come into synchronisation. This principle is universal and can be found on many levels for example in chemistry, neurology, biology, medicine and astronomy"

                                                                                   - Tony Nec Sound Healing Academy

As sounds that are below 20 hertz are inaudible to the human ear, two similar beats played into each ear can be used to decieve the brain into detecting a third beat of a hertz level that is usually inaudible by using two similar hertz frequencies. When two similar frequencies are played into each ear, it is the difference or differential between the two frequencies that is heard and it is this third beat that the brain begins to entrain with. This is known as a binaural beat. In the context of sound healing tuning forks are one such instrument that can be used to facilitate brainwave entrainment to lower frequencies such as alpha and theta in this way. Using two frequency sounds that are below 13 hertz in difference or even below 7 hertz as found in theta states for example can be used to facilitate entrainment to these states.

BALANCING LEFT/ RIGHT BRAIN HEMISPHERES

 Alpha brainwave state i.e. slower more relaxed frequency brainwave levels below 13 hertz, have been shown to be  where hemi synchronization becomes optimized particularly around the lower spectrum of alpha state of around 8 hertz. The left brain is linked to the masculine principle of reason and logic and the right brain to traditionally feminine principles of creativity, empathy and logic. As individuals we tend to operate in a way that is biased toward one of these two aspects whether or not we are male or female. Being able to access both and all aspects of our brains has been found to be most beneficial in accessing greater levels of creativity, learning, memory, greater insights, and facilitating transformation. Alpha brainwave state is sometimes referred to as the gateway state of consciousness. The most notable research into the benefits of hemi synchronization has been that carried out by the Monroe institute. The Monroe institute, a non profit making organization that has researched human consciousness in depth since the 1950s is widely responsible for bringing the technology and methods of facilitating hemi synchronization and the benefits thereof. Sound therapy aims to facilitate lower brain wave states in a number of ways using sound to trigger the relaxation response generally and incorporating specific sounds and frequencies to facilitate balance, healing, well-being and hemi-synchronization.

                                              TRIGGERING PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM RESPONSES

The part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes is known as the autonomic nervous system. There are 2 main branches: these are the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS). The main function of the SNS is to activate the  physiological changes that occur during the more well known fight-or -flight response. The PSNS, sometimes called the rest and digest system, conserves energy as it slows the heart rate, increases intestinal and gland activity and relaxes sphincter muscles in the gastrointestinal tract. In simple terms they could be described as the internal gas pedal of the sympathetic system and the brake pedal of the parasympathetic system.

Sometimes after shock or trauma the nervous system forgets to revert control back to the parasympathetic system, which in turn inhibits optimum organ function, and could lead to disease if prolonged. This state is called sympathetic dominance. Modern life challenges such as financial pressures, emotional upsets and health issues can stimulate autonomic sympathetic responses that were designed for short term protection and cause us to become sympathetic dominant.

Previously it was believed that the autonomic nervous system was beyond our conscious control...it was simply automatic but more recent research has shown that whilst the average person spends far too much time in SNS states, there are various methods including breathing execises that can be utilized to help increase and build parasympathetic tone or to hack the system and restore balance between SNS and PSN. The lower brain wave states that sound therapy has been shown to be effectively activate, promote changes within the autonomic nervous system and is a particularly effective method of increasing parasympathetic tone generally.