Now This Is Different

[Lynn Olson]

The brain makes its own soundtrack - in fact, each one of us has our own. Who knew?

From the article:

ScienceDaily (Apr. 28, 2009) — Every brain has a soundtrack. Its tempo and tone will vary, depending on mood, frame of mind, and other features of the brain itself. When that soundtrack is recorded and played back -- to an emergency responder, or a firefighter -- it may sharpen their reflexes during a crisis, and calm their nerves afterward.

Over the past decade, the influence of music on cognitive development, learning, and emotional well-being has emerged as a hot field of scientific study. To explore music's potential relevance to emergency response, the Dept of Homeland Security's Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) has begun a study into a form of neurotraining called "Brain Music" that uses music created in advance from listeners' own brain waves to help them deal with common ailments like insomnia, fatigue, and headaches stemming from stressful environments. The concept of Brain Music is to use the frequency, amplitude, and duration of musical sounds to move the brain from an anxious state to a more relaxed state.

"Strain comes with an emergency response job, so we are interested in finding ways to help these workers remain at the top of their game when working and get quality rest when they go off a shift," said S&T Program Manager Robert Burns. "Our goal is to find new ways to help first responders perform at the highest level possible, without increasing tasks, training, or stress levels."

If the brain "composes" the music, the first job of scientists is to take down the notes, and that is exactly what Human Bionics LLC of Purcellville, VA does. Each recording is converted into two unique musical compositions designed to trigger the body's natural responses, for example, by improving productivity while at work, or helping adjust to constantly changing work hours.

The compositions are clinically shown to promote one of two mental states in each individual: relaxation – for reduced stress and improved sleep; and alertness – for improved concentration and decision-making. Each 2-6 minute track is a composition performed on a single instrument, usually a piano. The relaxation track may sound like a "melodic, subdued Chopin sonata," while the alertness track may have "more of a Mozart sound," says Burns. (It seems there's a classical genius—or maybe two genii—in all of us.)

Here's what it sounds like.

Yes, the link goes to the Department of Homeland Security. Our tax dollars at play - or is it playing music with brainwaves?

[tinitus]

Well, thats one way fore a scientist to get payed, or get attention

But sure, when I enjoy music most, its like every tune is passing through all parts of my body, but when Im stressed or sick in any way it simply doesnt happen, and music only sound flat and boring

[PeteMcK]

fascinating; - but can we DIY our own soundtracks? there must be some way to do this... electrodes > computer recording?

[BHTX]

How can i get rid of this horrible damn tinnitus that's been torturing me since I was a kid?

I really wish someone would figure it out.

[Fast1one]

Originally posted by BHTX
How can i get rid of this horrible damn tinnitus that's been torturing me since I was a kid?

I really wish someone would figure it out.

I have the same thing since I was a child. I have grown to live with it though. Sometimes it seems like its getting worse. Other times I can barely hear it at all

[tinitus]

Originally posted by BHTX
How can i get rid of this horrible damn tinnitus that's been torturing me since I was a kid?

I really wish someone would figure it out.

Well, I know how awfull it can be

The other day I had a few hours where my moderate tinnitus got worse
I found that the noise from freezer and refrigiator just sounded like a ringing in my head
I knew it was noise from the cooling system, but it was just like it was just noise inside my head

I realised that it was in some way problem with locating the actual noise

If you have had the problem since chilhood I wonder whether it could be related to a stress related low hearing tresshold
Not sure I have placed the right words
But I have heard of people working with such children
The cure was strangely enough listening to rather loud music, under control
I know tinnitus is different, and loud is not good, but I still wonder if it could be related

One important thing I have experienced is that listening to good music helps a lot
But its exstremely important that the sound is perfectly smooth, which isnt easy to achieve
But I have found that any kind of problems with amps and speakers instantly triggers my tinnitus
So, a very good reason to "invest" in nice sound

But a warning would be to stay away from too many experiments with speakers that doesnt work properly

Fullrange drivers with tubeamps might be ok, but might not be smooth enough, could work but not so easily as it seems
But maybe Pass FirstWatt amps driving a Manger
Or maybe Magnepans

Smooth natural sound is exstremely important
Artefacts and noise are killers


Just my "expert" 2cent

[BHTX]

Originally posted by Fast1one
I have the same thing since I was a child. I have grown to live with it though. Sometimes it seems like its getting worse. Other times I can barely hear it at all

Mine is always unbearable. It used to be just like yours though when I was younger. At some point during the last several years though, it just got progressively worse. A lot of people can pinpoint the exact date and time, but I can't. Anyway, I don't know how much longer I can take it. I'm only 25. If this is what I have to deal with for the rest of my life, I'm not so sure I want it.

EDIT: Sorry, wasn't planning on taking the thread OT.

[PeteMcK]

Only slightly OT, they’re both ‘tunes’ in the brain, just different causes. I suppose everyone must have a background level of both tinnitus & ‘Brain Music’, it probably just varies from individual to individual… Perhaps an ‘antitune’ could be made to mask tinnitus?
From http://tinnituscause.com/ : “Damaged hair cells will move randomly and … the cells send random electrical impulses to the brain which it interprets as noise, which then causes tinnitus.”
(Mine doesn’t sound random though, rather high pitched, and although it’s there most of the time I only notice it when things are quiet. I put it down to excessive Rock in my mis-spent youth)

Ingestion of C2H5OH will probably disrupt the electrical impulses, but isn’t a long term solution, particularly if you have to drive…

[Moondog55]

My tinnitus has been with me from early childhood, but listening to loud music and increasing old age have made it worse when it's bad, sometimes tho it goes away, sometimes it is all I can hear unless the other noise is LOUD.

So many of us hear seem to suffer from this malady, I wonder why????

In regard to the first post I know my brain keeps changing rhytm, I'll never make a bass player or drummer, I play what I hear inside my head, really weird


Regards
Ted

[skorpion]

In fact there is a Swedish music teacher who claims curing or at least mitigate tinnitus by listening to classical music through headphones. Mozart is frequently used. His experiments has been given some publicity in newspapers and radio.

/Erling