Mirasol has always been an innovator in the treatment of eating disorders. We were the first residential treatment center to use neurofeedback, and we paved the way with EMDR, polarity and acupuncture that are now part of the standard menu of services offered by many small alternative treatment centers.
However, when the topic of audio-visual entrainment surfaced two years ago, all of us were more than a little skeptical. Using glasses with flashing lights to treat depression and anxiety? It was a stretch even for Mirasol!
Overcome by curiosity, EEG Director Bill Eck purchased an audio-visual entrainment (AVE) unit, and was startled by a sudden improvement in his sleep and overall mood. After additional training from the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, Bill began using audio-visual entrainment glasses in his practice.
An Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE) unit consists of a pair of goggles and a set of earphones that can be programmed to emit flashing white lights, coupled with intermittent pulsing tones that graduate in intensity. Similar to neurofeedback, AVE "trains" the brain to achieve specific, pre-determined brainwave patterns.
"The brain tends to match the frequency of whatever stimulus it receives," says Bill. "If it's exposed a light or a tone oscillating at a certain frequency, it will try to match it, and you can use that to push the brain in whatever direction it needs to go."
There are four types of brain waves:
Beta (+14Hz)- Beta is the alert, working, concentrating state where we spend most of our waking hours. time. In normal day-to-day awake state we operate at about 16-30 Hz frequency. Under stress, beta wave amplitude may increase, reducing concentration and diminishing performance.
Alpha (8 to 13.9Hz)- In Alpha state, the brain slows down, the cycles and become very relaxed, and the brain releases Endorphin (a natural pain control hormone) and Serotonin (a natural anti-depressant).
Theta (4 to 7.9Hz)- In Theta, the brain suppresses the production of Cortisol, which is an important factor for aging, and instead produces catecholamines, which are vital for learning and memory.
Delta (0.1 to 3.9Hz)- Delta is the dreamless sleep state. In deep Delta state, the brain produces Human Growth Hormone, which builds bone, muscle, tissue, hair, gives us energy and slows down the aging process.
We often say that there's no such thing as a client with JUST an an eating disorder. Nearly all of Mirasol's clients present with a host of issues that may include anorexia, bulimia and compulsive eating, but also attention deficit disorder, anxiety, depression, trauma and sleep disorders. Those who suffer from ADD and ADHD spend most of their waking hours in Alpha and Theta state. Nudging theirs brains into the Beta state improves their ability to concentrate and to organize their thoughts. On the other hand, the Alpha state is the object of meditation, releasing stress, promoting healing and providing a drug-free antidote to depression. Theta is for uncovering repressed memories and improving sleeping patterns, while a deep Delta state can flood the body with endorphins and provide relief from pain.
It turns out that audio-visual entrainment isn't so new after all. Its first known use goes all the way back to the turn of the 20th century, when Pierre Janet of the Salpêtrière Hospital in France discovered that his patients could decrease symptoms of depression, tension and hysteria by gazing at a flickering light created by a spinning wheel and kerosene lantern.
Visual entrainment has been widely used as an analgesic since the 1960s. In 1961, the Sadove Study found that VE could induce a trance-like state in patients undergoing gastro-intestinal surgery, and a 1966 study concluded that VE could be used to reduce the use of anesthesia during dental surgery.
More recently, AVE technology has been expanded to treat a variety of other psychological conditions, including autism, ADD, chronic pain, seasonal effective disorder, hypertension, anxiety, depression and fibromyalgia.
Mirasol is using — and offering for sale in our online store — an AVE unit manufactured by Mind Alive, Inc. The DAVID PAL36 is an over-the-counter unit that includes 30 programs that address everything from attention deficit to depression as well as sleep disorders, athletic performance, chronic fatigue, anxiety, fibromyalgia and mental flexibility.
"It's very easy to use," says Dr. Bill. "The results may not be as long-lasting as neurofeedback, but many of the same beneficial effects can be achieved with regular use at a fraction of the cost." Outpatient neurofeedback is typically offered at $150/hour or more compared to a home audio-visual entrainment unit at about $300.
For more information about audio-visual entrainment, visit the Mind Alive web site, or, check out the video below excerpted from Risk Takers, a Canadian television documentary series.
Below is a list of the DAVID PAL's pre-programmed protocols for a variety of brainwave stimulation sessions:
Beta - Let's Get Alert
Thank you, Mirasol, for saving my daughter's life.
My beloved daughter had been active in her eating disorder for over three years, in spite of two lengthy treatment episodes and years of outpatient treatment. We knew from past experience that just any treatment program would not work for our daughter.
