-- by Dr. John Beaulieu

Brain wave studies using electroencephalography (EEG) technology have mapped different states of consciousness known as Delta, Theta, Alpha, and Beta. Delta is associated with deep sleep. Theta is associated with meditation and dream states. Alpha is associated with relaxed awareness, creativity, and heightened learning. Beta is associated with high alertness and focus.

When tuning forks such as the Brain Tuners are simultaneously sounded-one in the left ear and the other in the right ear-the two hemispheres of the brain function together to integrate the two sounds, creating a third, different tone called a binaural beat. When the Fundamental Brain Tuner tuning fork is sounded with a Delta, Theta, Alpha, or Beta tuning fork the difference between the two tuning forks creates a binaural beat which is heard as a pulsation. The binaural beat gently signals the brain to shift into a different state of consciousness.

When we go through a 24-hour cycle, we shift into different states of consciousness determined by our life requirements. One can visualize a car that shifts into different gears as necessary to meet the requirements of the road, i.e. a low gear for pick up and climbing hills, a medium gear for slow driving, and a high gear for highway cruising. In a similar way, living our life requires shifting into "different gears" for different situations.

The following table will help you understand what state of consciousness you're in as well as the state you would ideally like to shift into. The graphics show the EEG rhythms the brain produces in that particular state of consciousness.

State of Consciousness	EEG Rhythms	Description
Beta		Beta state is associated with peak concentration, heightened alertness, hand eye coordination and visual acuity. -Peak-concentration -Heightened alertness -Cognition -Visual acuity
Alpha		Alpha state is a place of deep relaxation, but not quite meditation. In Alpha, we begin to access the wealth of creativity that lies just below our conscious awareness-it is the gateway, the entry point that leads into deeper states of consciousness. -Relaxation -Quietly Alert -Introspective -Creativity -Visualization
Theta		Theta is known as the twilight state which we normally only experience fleetingly as we rise up out of the depths of delta upon waking, or drifting off to sleep. In Theta, we are in a waking dream, vivid imagery flashes before the mind's eye and we are receptive to information beyond our normal conscious awareness. Theta has also been identified as the gateway to learning an memory. -Waking-dream -Vivid imagery -Meditation -Memory -Intuition
Delta		Delta is associated with deep sleep and long trains of thoughts about nothingness or energy without form. During delta we plug into our source, the Universal Energy Field, and use the energy to revitalize our mind and body. -Detached Awareness -Healing -Deep Sleep

Any two tuning forks used together create a binaural beat. To work with binaural beats described in this article, take a look at the Brain Tuners or the Ohm Otto set.