IJHC (The International Journal of Healing and Caring)

The Monroe Hemi Synch music

The Monroe Institute produces a fascinating system for healing through frequencies that are generated in the listener’s brain. Pulses of different frequencies are played in each ear, and an interference pattern is set up in the brain that is said to be healing. Covering music is included in all the tapes, including a variety of compositions (some well known pieces that were not created for this purpose, and some specifically crafted to enhance the process).

The Monroe Institute website provides the following succinct summary:

Hemi-Sync® is an audio guidance technology that works quite simply by sending different sounds (tones) to each ear through stereo headphones. The two hemispheres of the brain then act in unison to "hear" a third signal - the difference between the two tones. This is not actual sound, but an electrical signal that can only be perceived within the brain by both brain hemispheres working together.

The Hemi-Sync® process has been refined with over 40 years of research and development. These efforts have resulted in the development of scores of individual products for specific applications such as focused attention, stress management, meditation, sleep enhancement, and pain management, to name a few.

Hemi-Sync® can help you experience enhanced mental, physical, and emotional states, by combining verbal guidance, music, pink sound and/or other audio effects with the binaural beats.

I had heard from numbers of people about this music and have been curious for a number of years to experience it but had had no opportunity to explore these, and was grateful when Brian Daily, MD kindly mediated the IJHC office receiving a set of review copies. I am an avid music listener, preferring classical music, having gone through phases of listening particularly to guitar, flute, and country or Irish fiddle pieces. I prefer to work most of the time with music in the background. I am, however, missing a link between my ears and my vocal chords. A person close to me once spent several hours during a long drive in attempts to get me to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ on key, and finally agreed with the opinion of my erstwhile childhood piano teacher that I am simply tone deaf.

I was therefore curious to explore how I would experience the ‘metamusic’ – starting with the CDs titled, Remembrance and Higher. I was disappointed to find that I felt no effects, either with earphones or without, but assumed this was due to my missing auditory link. I therefore forwarded several of the CDs to two other people whose sensitivity and judgment I value. The comments of one of these people follow. (The second person’s comments were similar, but for reasons beyond her control she was unable to type them out.)

Music and Meditation

As a long time meditator, it is nice to have meditation aids, especially while traveling. As a “music person” I find myself to be particularly responsive to audio tones. I, therefore, often use music recordings to aid my meditation. This is especially useful, when done with headphones, in noisy environments, such as hotel rooms.

The tones that seem to be most effective for me are those which are quiet, not distracting and soothing in nature. The more musical tonalities may make pleasant listening or even background music, but can be distracting.

As my favorite form of meditation is ‘heart based’ or in the realm of loving kindness, I am particularly attracted to tones that resonate in the 5th charka. Amongst these would be the sounds of brass bowls or Tibetan bells. I find their tones to be deeply resonant in the middle charkas and ‘drop’ me into a meditative state readily. Environmental sounds also work nicely to sooth the anxious meditator.

In addition, there have been multiple CDs produced which can be described as “designer” music. These recordings are produced to create a neuro-physiological state of relaxation. My first experience in this realm was with Doc Childre’s ‘Heart Zones’ and ‘Quite Joy.’ Doc is the founder of the Institute of HeartMath (Heartmath.org). The institute has been focused on studying the health and educational impact of emotional shifting and meditative techniques. In general, these techniques are based in appreciation, love and caring. These HeartMath CDs have been created to bring the listener into his/her heart area and are meant to be accompanied with a practice, such as the HeartMath ‘Lock-in’ techniques. This is an appreciation-based practice. In combination, the music and Lock-in practice have been demonstrated to improve autonomic nervous system tone very effectively in multiple research projects (see for instance "Quiet Joy" by Doc Childre, HeartMath.org).

Another ‘designer’ set of CDs are the recordings of the Monroe Institute. These recordings use ‘Hemi-sync’ technology to stimulate the brain into a greater sense of balance. The theory is that by playing alternating tones in each ear with similar, yet slightly different frequency the brain will find the middle tone between the two. In trying these Cds (Inner Journey, Hemi-Sync Meditation) I found an unusual occurrence. I did feel a sense of balance or evenness in my brain-body, however I also experienced a sense of agitation. I even experienced some twitching of my fingers in response to the music. This was a unique experience for me. I also noticed that I was less relaxed with using these CDs than with other forms of meditation music or tones. To be fair, however, the Monroe Institute suggests taking one of their courses and that the CDs are just one piece of their process.

The most important recommendation I have for you is that trial and error works. It is my belief that individuals respond differently to different sounds and music. I do believe that simple is better as musical complexity can be distracting for most people. Enjoy the adventure.

CD review by Lee Lipsenthal, MD, ABHM