An
algorithm can turn brain waves patterns into musical scores.
Dr. Galina Mindlin of the Brain Music Therapy Center explains
how this can heal
Researchers
can turn a person’s brain waves into music notes
using a computerized mathematical formula. Some experts
say that those notes can heal. When you play the “relaxing”
file on your brain music CD, your brain tells your body
to relax. When you listen to your “activating”
or “energy” file, the theory is that you’ll
feel more alert. Called brain music therapy, this treatment
has been used by thousands of patients worldwide to treat
anxiety,
insomnia, even depression.
Dr. Galina Mindlin, a neuro-psychiatrist with Brain Music
Therapy Center in New York City brought this treatment
to the U.S. from Moscow. Dr. Mindlin was interviewed on
“Today,” about this treatment. “Today”
on MSNBC.com asked Dr. Mindlin to give us more details
on how this therapy works and to tell us if Madonna’s
brain waves would sound like a Tibetan monk’s. Here's
our interview:
MSNBC.com:
How do you turn brain waves into music?
Dr.
Galina Mindlin: Brain waves are translated into
music digitally with a special algorithm. It took many
years and the effort of a multidisciplinary team of clinicians,
researchers, mathematicians and musicians led by Dr. Iakov
Levine to develop this algorithm. Once the brain waves
are converted into musical sounds, they are placed on
a CD with a relaxing file and activating file and instructions
on how to use them.
MSNBC.com: What does it sound like?
Dr. Galina Mindlin: It sounds like classical
piano music.
MSNBC.com: Do our brain waves sound different?
Would a Tibetan monk’s and Madonna’s brain
waves sound similar?
Dr. Galina Mindlin:
Yes, they would sound different. The Tibetan
monk and Madonna’s brain waves would not sound the
same. An individual’s brain wave pattern is unique.
The musical sounds, which are converted from brain wave
patterns, are highly individualized as well. In double-blinded
studies there were two groups. One group listened to their
own brain music therapy CD, while the second group listened
to a brain music therapy CD of another person. The important
fact is that the results showed that individuals in the
group listening to their own CDs significantly exceeded
the effectiveness of those who listened to other CDs.
MSNBC.com: How was it discovered that brain wave
music can relax patients?
Dr. Galina
Mindlin: Brain music therapy is a form of neurofeedback,
which is based on a variable ratio of fast and slow rhythms.
The predominance of individual’s slow rhythms corresponds
to the relaxing, soothing mindset. Just as our brain is
capable of recognizing a familiar sound, like your own
voice, it is capable of recognizing a deeply imbedded
sound of its own brain waves.
MSNBC.com:
Since brain wave music sounds like classical piano music,
could conventional music have the same results?
Dr. Galina Mindlin: Brain music therapy
demonstrated a high effectiveness rate: 82 to 85 percent
in double-blind studies as well as in clinical practice.
It is known that music has had a therapeutic effect since
ancient times. And it certainly can influence people’s
moods. However, brain music therapy is specific to the
individual, compared to any type of conventional music.
Some patients were able to decrease or stop their medications
under a doctor’s supervision after consistently
using brain music therapy.
Again, the brain music therapy effect is based on highly
personalized musical frequencies. Another important fact
is that a high majority of the patients (we have seen
more then 600 patients for the past year and a half) admitted
that the therapy is much more potent then just conventional
music. We did not see people who were able to reduce or
stop medications after listening to conventional music.
MSNBC.com: Who would benefit from
brain music therapy?
Dr. Galina Mindlin: Brain music therapy helps
people suffering from insomnia, anxiety, and mood disorders,
and stress related conditions. It alleviates migraine
and tension headaches, as well as drug withdrawal symptoms.
Brain music therapy increases attention span, concentration
and improves productivity in people with attention deficit
disorder. It also helps people fight their social and
performance anxieties.
Brain music therapy could be an invaluable tool for pilots
who suffer from pilot fatigue syndrome; military personnel
who have to function at the optimum level in highly contrived
situations, and others who have to overcome the disruption
of their sleep-awake cycle. This group includes truck
drivers, shift workers, travelers suffering from jet lag,
and casino and club workers. It also increases peak performance
in athletes and workers trying to get through stressful
days.
MSNBC.com: Can brain music
therapy be used to create other reactions? Increased creativity?
More energy?
Dr. Galina Mindlin:
Our brain emits both fast and slow waves. By arranging
predominantly fast waves we are able to create an activating
file as well. It increases attention span, boosts a person’s
energy, and improves productivity. We have musicians and
artists who specifically reported increased creativity.
MSNBC.com: How long do the results
last?
Dr. Galina Mindlin: The
majority of people report a sustained effect of brain
music therapy. Since brain wave patterns change, we recommend
coming for a second recording in two to three months.
The second recording based on our colleagues’ reports
around the world lasts approximately two to three years
or more.
MSNBC.com: Are there
any famous people who have used it?
Dr.
Galina Mindlin: Due to confidentiality agreements,
I am not in a position to discuss this. We are in discussions
with various sports teams, and athletes as brain music
therapy has been found to increase an athlete’s
ability to achieve peak performance.
MSNBC.com: Do you use brain music therapy?
Dr. Galina Mindlin: Yes, I do. I find my relaxing file
very helpful after a busy, overwhelming day, when it is
hard to fall asleep right away. The relaxing file simply
helps me to shut down my mind and fall asleep. If I need
extra energy during a long day I listen to my activating
file, which stops me from reaching for another cup of
coffee. Instead of a “coffee break,” I have
a “brain music therapy break!”
MSNBC.com: Do you think that brain music therapy
will eventually replace medications for many patients?
Dr. Galina Mindlin: This is already
happening. My patients as well as those of my colleagues
around the country have patients who have been able to
reduce the dosage of medication they are taking or completely
stop using medication altogether. Brain music therapy
can be used by itself or complimentary to medications
or any other treatment modalities the patient is on.
MSNBC.com: What do you say to skeptics?
Dr. Galina Mindlin: I suggest that they try it
for themselves. There are no side effects, nor is it addictive.
MORE
INFORMATION
If you’d like more information
on brain music therapy and centers where it is available,
check out www.brainmusictreatment.com.
Music without words means leaving behind the mind. And leaving behind the mind is meditation.
Meditation returns you to the source. And the source of all is sound. — Kabir
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Researchers
can turn a person’s brain waves into music notes
using a computerized mathematical formula. Some experts
say that those notes can heal. When you play the “relaxing”
file on your brain music CD, your brain tells your body
to relax. When you listen to your “activating”
or “energy” file, the theory is that you’ll
feel more alert. Called brain music therapy, this treatment
has been used by thousands of patients worldwide to treat
anxiety,