Light & Sound Technology
Rhythmic light/Sound Stimulation has a powerful effect
on mood and emotions, and can be used for many purposes.
Our customers use it to reduce stress, energize their
mind, enhance creativity, promote deep sleep and assist
in achieving calm and meditative states.
Welcome to the PHOTOSONIX Light and Sound Relaxation
Information page. If you are like most that have just
discovered or experienced light and sound, you probably
have many questions.
Here you will find our answers to FAQ's about light
and sound relaxation systems, also known as AVS (Audio
Visual Stimulation) systems and Mind Machines. If you
have a question not answered here, please do not hesitate
to e-mail us, we'll be happy to answer. When you are
not familiar with what some of the light and sound relaxation
terms are, see the Glossary.
FAQ's about Light/Sound and/or AVS (Audio Visual Stimulation)
FAQ's about us
The Big FAQ
What are Mind Machines?
An AVS (Audio Visual Stimulation) system, Light and
Sound Relaxation system or a "Mind Machine"
is a microprocessor controlled device designed to create
relaxation or other mood changing effects through the
use of sound and light stimulation. The user selects
a session, puts on headphones and stimulation glasses,
and sits back and enjoys the experience, which can be
for relaxation, stimulation, meditation or just plain
fun depending on the session.
What are the features of a typical
system?
A system consists of a light/sound synthesizer, stereo
head phones, and stimulation glasses with pulsating
lights. Built-in light/sound sessions direct the stimulation
synthesis, creating a carefully composed sequence of
rhythmic light and sound patterns. The tone, frequency,
pitch and other parameters of the light and sound stimulation
vary the effect, just as different styles of music do.
Many PHOTOSONIX products have computer interface capabilities
that allow additional sessions to be downloaded, for
continual growth and variety. PHOTOSONIX products are
easy to use, even the most complex has the "turn
it on, select a session, press PLAY" interface.
Why do they work?
Perhaps better questions are: "Why do we enjoy
music... why is a flickering flame hypnotic?" Light/Sound
systems are the technological synthesis of centuries
of exploration and a few years of neurological experiments.
See "History". Light/Sound systems blank out
the complex visual and auditory stimulation the mind
is constantly receiving and replace it with very simple,
rhythmic stimulation. The basic rhythms of the mental
processes change in response. This is a safe and effective
way to get your head in a different place. Meditators
spend years learning how to gain voluntary control over
these same rhythms. Think of it as the mental equivalent
of stretching the muscles. The changed mental rhythms
are temporary, when the session is over you will quickly
get back into the mental state for everyday living (don't
go out and drive a car immediately), but spending the
time in the changed state can create a different outlook
on the day, and the effects are cumulative as your learn
what it feels like and can return more easily.
What are Light/Sound Sessions?
A modern light/sound synthesizer is a microprocessor
controlled device designed to create stimulation with
several controlled parameters: (frequency, volume, intensity,
tone, pitch, phase, duty cycle) and various other features.
A typical machine will have a number of built-in sessions
that provide sequences of changing stimulation, designed
by the session composer using the basic repertoire of
machine features. Some machines are programmable, meaning
the user can create his or her own sessions, and some
can download sessions from a personal computer.
The quality of the built-in sessions is very important
unless you plan to compose everything yourself. Creating
sessions for a light/sound synthesizer is still an art
form -- there is no known "best protocol"
for a relaxation session (or any other kind of session),
and session designers will argue hotly over the best
approaches. Different people have different reactions
to sessions, so using one of these machines is a bit
of an exploratory journey. Research with light/sound
systems and EEG measurements is progressing and the
next few years will see exciting advances in our understanding.
See the session lists for the Pro Systems and Muse#
for an indication of the kinds of sessions that are
available. The reason so many sessions are available
is the same reason a jukebox has so many songs -- it's
not that anyone needs all those sessions, but hopefully
something is there for everyone.
How do I use a light and sound system?
To use a light/sound system, close your eyes, put
the headphones and glasses on, listen to the pulsating
sound, and watch the flickering lights through your
eyelids. The sound pulsates either because it is turned
on and off (like striking a note on the piano repeatedly)
or because of beats or binaural beats. The flickering
lights, seen through closed eyelids, create moving,
colored, dynamic patterns (visuals) that will amaze
you the first time you experience them. You can move
your eyes and change the effect, you can concentrate
on the patterns and change what they seem to be doing.
Some people report seeing visions in the patterns as
the imagination is inspired to work. The stimulation
takes over your two main sensory inputs, and not surprisingly
has an effect on your mental state. Music has been doing
this for centuries, without the assist from coordinated
flickering lights.
A beginning user should experience a session regularly
(every day or close to that) for the first few weeks.
Don't overdo it -- an hour a day is a lot. Intermittent
use is not effective until you have learned how to respond
to the stimulation. Light and sound systems are safe
for most people, but can cause problems for a small
fraction of the population -- see Cautions.
Light/sound systems are used as tools by many professional
therapists. They can be used safely by untrained persons
for relaxation, learning enhancement, meditation tools,
and many other purposes, but not for relief from any
medical condition. If you are seeking help for a medical
condition, please see a trained professional. You may
want to look for a therapist who uses light sound in
his/her practice, but "don't try it yourself --
those people are professionals".
What are the medical uses of
a Light and Sound system?
PHOTOSONIX products are designed for a vocational
and recreational purposes. No medical claims are made
for PHOTOSONIX products, express or implied. They are
not medical devices and should not be used for the relief
of any medical condition. Please consult with your licensed
medical practitioner prior to use for any other purpose
as the machine is not intended as a replacement for
medical or psychological treatment. Our products are
not intended to affect the structure or any function
of the human body.
Why do sessions work differently for
different people?
Light and sound sessions do not mechanically grab your
brain and change it's rhythms. They are subtle suggestions
and different people will react in different ways. It
is similar to music, a variety of people can have dramatically
different reactions to the same piece of music. Manufacturers
of juke boxes put in a lot of music, hoping they end
up with something for everyone. For similar reasons,
we provide a lot of sessions -- no one person will like
or use them all, but we hope to have enough variety
that there is something for everyone.
Also, there is a bit of a trick to letting yourself
go. The effect is subtle -- if you are thinking "this
machine is not going to take over my brain," then
you will win (or lose, in the sense that you will not
get the effect). At the other extreme, the approach
of "I don't think I'm feeling anything, I've got
to find the effect -- got to, got to" works about
as well as lying in bed thinking intensely "important
meeting tomorrow, I've got to get to sleep." Some
people are good at letting go, for others it is more
difficult and takes practice. The trick in some sense
is relaxing and going with the flow, but no one can
tell you how to do it, and it doesn't help to try hard.
Our recommendation is to try different sessions. Don't
stick with one that doesn't seem to work -- once you
get convinced that it doesn't work, then it absolutely
can't work. Try some meditation sessions, not trying
to get to sleep, just going for the "letting go"
practice.
Why choose PHOTOSONIX?
PHOTOSONIX products are leaders in innovation, while
concentrating on the effective uses of light and sound.
We strive to make quality sound, with dual binaural
beats and ramping pitch, fun by itself so you don't
have to hook up a CD player to have an enjoyable session.
(Of course, you can if you want to).
We have one of the broadest product lines in the industry,
so you can find the system that is right for you. We
strive to maintain the outstanding quality of our products.
We design all of our products to be solid and highly
durable. All our systems come with excellent headphones
and bright, well constructed light frames and a 1 year
warranty.
The PHOTOSONIX products are designed, manufactured,
tested, packaged and shipped from our facility here
in California (we do more in house than anyone
else in the business).
Is Light and Sound Relaxation for
me?
If you are searching for relaxation, for the elusive
moments of calmness and clarity, for a quick break in
a hectic life, if you are interested in self improvement,
these tools are a fresh approach that is working for
a lot of people and most likely will work for you as
well. Your mind and your body work better when calm
and not stressed, and relaxation is good for you.
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