An increased understanding of neurological systems as complex dissipative structures has led to significant technological developments in the past 20 years. The pioneering work of neuroscientists who studied the brain as a process as well as an organ, has born the fruit of modern neurotechnology. In recognizing the colossal importance of this work, the US Congress has declared the 1990's the "Decade of the Brain".
Developments in the field of neurological wellness promise such life enhancing and enabling rewards as intelligence capacity augmentation, accelerated learning, bio-physical healing, and addiction elimination. Virtually all mammalian biological mechanisms are affected by the brain. For these reasons, AquaThought is committed to the research and development of methodology and technology to improve neurological wellness.
Explore various existing neurotechnologies (i.e. Light & Sound, CES, Electromagnetism, Binaural Signal Stimulation, Neurophonic Stimulation, and Flotation) as they apply to neurological wellness.
Apply AquaThought Dolphin and Neurological Imaging research project precipitates to the development of new neurological wellness technologies.
Provide resultant information and technological resources to outside individuals and organizations for application, collaboration, and further research.
Many neurological stimulation systems have brainwave entrainment as their operational modality. These systems seek to modify the frequency of electrical activity being produced in the brain by generating neurological stimuli at a target frequency. Entrainment occurs when the brain begins to resonate at the stimulated target frequency. This neurological reaction to stimuli at frequencies which naturally occur within the brain is also known as frequency following response. A vast aggregation of neurological stimulation systems exists that may be classified as entrainment devices. They vary in the type of stimulation provided (i.e. light, sound, electromagnetism, direct electrical stimulation) and the methodology of generating and controlling the target frequencies.
Entrainment devices have become essential in the exploration of the causal relationship between brainwave frequencies (as emitted from various areas of the brain) and specific neurological functions. Research suggests that entrainment at specific frequencies provides access to specific mental states and facilitates hemispheric synchronization (brainwaves emitted from both the left and right hemispheres of the brain are in phase and of similar frequency). AquaThought is currently researching several specific entrainment technologies:
Light and Sound - Light and sound machines are the most readily available entrainment devices. They are sold both clinically and commercially for relaxation, creativity enhancement, learning enhancement, dependency elimination, and other therapeutic uses. As the name suggests, light and sound machines employ light and sound stimulation. The user is provided with goggles which emit light over the closed eyes and headphones which produce stereo sound. The light and sound is pulsed at the desired target frequency, facilitating entrainment.
AquaThought has found light and sound entrainment to be a powerful methodology of altering dominate brainwave frequency. Light and sound stimulation, when combined with other entrainment modalities, is a valuable resource for neurological wellness research.
Electrical and Electromagnetic - These modalities of neurological stimulation provide electrical current directly to the brain. Electrical stimulation is delivered through electrodes attached to various areas of the scalp. Electromagnetic stimulation creates currents inside the dura mater and deeper neurological structures through magnetic field induction. Both methods result in entrainment by electrical stimulation of neurological circuitry at a target frequency.
Electrical stimulation methods result in dramatic dominate brainwave frequency modification. AquaThought's current research involves various forms of electrical stimulation signals aimed at specific locations within brain. AquaThought's Montage Amplifier is a device which records brainwaves and employs them as the output stimulation in a magnetic induction helmet. Experiments using the Montage Amplifier have demonstrated its efficacy in direct neural coupling and neuronal driving. The scientific basis for the Montage Amplifier, and the largest body of data in which to integrate its experimental results, is in the pioneering work of Dr. Michael Persinger.
Mind Gear has addidtional information on how entrainment works as well as what entrainment feels like.
The sensory isolated flotation tank was developed by neurophysiologist and dolphin researcher Dr. John Lilly in 1954, for consciousness research. It consists of a light-and-sound proof chamber containing a solution of water and magnesium sulfate which is maintained at 93o F. The user is suspended in the skin temperature solution, eliminating the sensation of gravity and skin contact.
Extensive flotation research by cognitive psychologists, neuro-- endocrinologists, educators, psychiatrists, and physio-therapists has uncovered many neurological benefits. Studies have demonstrated that periodic flotation reduces heart rate, oxygen consumption, and the level of stress related biochemicals in the bloodstream, including cortisol, ACTH, lactate, and adrenaline. Flotation, also, significantly increases bloodstream levels of endorphins, the body's natural opiates. Many of the reported effects of flotation parallel the effects of dolphin-human interaction. AquaThought's flotation research is currently contrasting the electroencephalographic result of flotation with that of dolphin-human interaction.
The neurophone is a device which provides a direct linkage to the human nervous system through electromagnetic field transduction. Although the exact method of operation is a matter of some debate, an audio signal fed into the neurophone can be perceived by its user, without any apparent external audio signal being present. The device appears to couple directly to nerve pathways, modulating audio information directly into the brain. AquaThought's primary application for neurophonic technology is the accurate reproduction of the skin-to-water coupled energy transduction of dolphin echolocation energy. Because of the neurophone's ability to realistically reproduce the acoustical experience of human-dolphin contact, AquaThought has employed neurophone technology in its Cyberfin(tm) Immersive Dolphin Encounter Simulator (see Immersive Media chapter).
Through the integration and expansion of existing neurotechnologies, AquaThought has constructed an extensive arsenal research tools. Research methodologies have been kept intentionally flexible, allowing for synergistic combination with other AquaThought efforts. In the near future, AquaThought will be publishing the results of several neurological research and development projects. Also, AquaThought will utilize its Web based information repository as an information clearinghouse for neurotechnology.
Back to Neurological Imaging.
Forward to Immersive Media.
Up to Index.
Up to AquaThought Home Page.