Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Nena on 26/04/2009 12:50:28
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“Feeling the effects of high-intensity/low-frequency sound can actually become an addiction, partially due to the release of endorphins in the body.”
What is the safest Infrasonic (bellow 20Hz) frequency range, and also what Intensity (dB) is needed to achieve the above mentioned effect (the realise of endorphins in the body)?
Are there any facts or evidence to support the above mentioned claim?
this is for my research paper, and I need a good source of information to do with infrasonic sound and the effect it can have on humans.
Any help will be appreciated.
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The facts and evidence to support this claim can be found by many sources in many areas, primarily in health, safety, and Military research fields. Due to this, it can be a bit of a wild goose chase trying to find specifically documented information online about specific inquiries or frequencies. I have been studying and documenting individual infrasound frequencies for over a decade now, so I would love to help. I hope to have a full index of all of my findings and their associations available online within the next 2 years or so. [;)] It has definitely been proven through scientific research that this claim is indeed true.
First, infrasound frequencies have been proven to exert physical influences upon the body, and also resonate the body ( which they already do naturally ). Under proper conditions and using the correct equipment and setup, ( full sound scale speakers, including infrasound ) in an enclosed, hall type setting or room, infrasound frequencies can be directed to affect humans physiologically, and will affect / direct brainwave activity and brainwave states, physical / bodily functions, and produce various physical and sensory response. One must have the correct infrasound speakers to play these sounds because typical speakers will not meet the correct frequency response and allow these frequencies to propagate. The pressure of the sound must be able to propagate and be absorbed by the audience, so be sure to check for a proper frequency response range on your speakers and that they are capable of playing sounds under 20 Hz. Another way to go about this is with the use of high quality stereo headphones, through "bi-aural" or "binaural" beats. This is where the listener recieves "rhythms / beats" by pulsing a specifically generated frequency into one channel ( ie: left headphone speaker ) and another into the other one ( right headphone speaker ). The difference between the two frequencies will be synchronized by the brain itself, in "stereo". For example, if you played 4.5 Hz into one ear, and 8.5 Hz into the other, the difference between the two that the brain would recieve is 4.0 Hz, thus triggering the "Theta" brainwave state, which is 4.0 - 7 / 8.0 Hz. Infrasound has indeed been proven to affect humans in various positive and negative ways by using both of these methods.
Secondly, I believe that the addiction to the effects produced by using infrasound for Endorphin release is much like any other addiction related to the release of Endorphins. The word Endorphin is actually short for "Endogenous Morphine", meaning "Morphine produced inside / within". One of the purposes of Endorphins is to make us feel good, and our bodies enjoy it. It is possible to develop a physical ( and possible additional psychological ) dependence to this, and that is why an addiction to it occurs. Most addictions are closely related to, if not caused by, an addiction to Endorphins. It becomes an addiction by forming a habit, and then a need or desire ( dependence ) to reach that effect habitually. Many people are addicted to pleasurable activities or substances that release Endorphins because of the good feelings they produce, such as in sexual or drug addictions for example, problem gambling, food, smoking, self inflicted pain, danger, or even excersize, in which Endorphins are released and produce a "Runner's high" that some may get addicted to. Those who enjoy this "rush" and choose to end up making it a habit will probably form an addiction and dependence. Our brain naturally releases Endorphins for us at appropriate times, and our natural supply of Endorphins are reserved for just such instances. When it is forced to produce and release Endorphins through routine / habitual activities or ingesting of substances, a tolerance is built and the need to increasingly repeat such activities is formed because the body needs or desires as much, if not more, to produce Endorphins for the same desired and pleasurable result. The brain and body then becomes used to however often it is being coerced into releasing Endorphins on a newly developed, more constant basis and will start to expect or demand it. Much like a reservoir, the brain regulates and rations Endorphin production and release on it's own, so when this supply / system is programmed by habit and / or dependence, the brain will adjust to the demands that the person is placing upon that supply, thus building up the tolerance as well as a new production routine for the brain, and our body's innate need to keep this "reserve" supply regular will then continue to demand the habits, behaviors, and activities that have ultimately formed this addiction and dependence. The result of feeling good from Endorphins by various means is certainly addictive and this has been proven in both human and animal subjects many times through observational studies.
As far as the safest infrasound range goes, there are many things that must be taken into consideration. First of all you must be primarily concerned with the exact frequencies that you are working with and not the range that they are in. A "safe" range will do nothing for a potentially dangerous frequency. An important safety measure to keep in mind involves directing brainwaves with infrasound. Attaining desired brainwave states and activity from exposure to infrasound takes a certain amount of exposure time. For example: If you desired an effect ( such as Endorphin release ) found in the Delta ( or any ) range, you may need to be exposed to that frequency from anywhere between a few minutes to over an hour in some cases to achieve the desired effect. The safest way to switch between brainwave states is gradually, just like your brain naturally does during sleep and upon awakening. If your current brainwave state is in the Beta range, the safest way to get to Delta would be to gradually introduce brainwave states in order, which is Delta ( 0.5 - 4.0 Hz, deep sleep state ), Theta ( 4.0 - 7 / 8.0 Hz ), Alpha ( 8.0 - 12 / 14.0 Hz ), and Beta ( 12 / 14.0 Hz - 30 / 40.0 Hz, awake, active state ). You would need to decrease from Beta, to Alpha, to Theta, and then to Delta, and vice versa in any direction. Depending on what you are doing and the current state of relaxation and brainwave activity, exposure times in these gradual shifts vary, but about 5 minutes in each range is generally safe. Although it is not terribly dangerous to jump from, say, Alpha to Delta, or Beta to Theta, etc, it certainly can be sudden, disruptive, and sometimes aggravating for the brain and may pose some risks. In general however, exposing the body to infrasound is not significantly dangerous and won't drastically harm you if done safely and correctly under the right conditions. Just know what you are doing concerning the specific frequencies at hand and use common sense. [:)]
Keep in mind that all of the ranges can produce both positive and negative effects, and in some cases, an individual frequency can as well. For example, utilizing frequencies within the Beta range can do many beneficial things, such as increase mental ability, health, well being, or other positive reactions, but can also cause stress, physical pain, or fatigue and other negative reactions. Comparing the positive to the negative, I would say Alpha is probably the "safest" because of the least number of negatives on average, and it should be noted that on average all of the infrasound ranges have more positive effects than negative ones. The focus on safety should not be concerned with the range, but rather the individual frequencies themselves as I mentioned before.
Since you are specifically interested in Endorphin release, 10.0 Hz would be perfect as the "safest" choice. It does indeed release Endorphins and it has been called the safest frequency for humans regarding infrasound. Other frequencies that directly stimulate Endorphin release within the infrasound range are as follows:
Anything between 0.5 - 1.5 Hz, 2.5 Hz, 5.0 Hz, 10.0 Hz ( of course [;D] ), and between 15.0 Hz - 24.0 Hz.
The intensity of these frequencies for Endorphin release in particular need not be exact from my experience or to the best of my knowledge, [???] so I'd say generally around 100 or 110 dB would work just fine. If headphones are being used, I would suggest that it's probably just a matter of personal comfort. One more thing I wanted to mention about safety, since this example can become an addiction, is that physical dependencies do come with consequences upon withdrawl or absence of a "fix". These vary from person to person, so keep that in mind.
If you have any more questions regarding infrasound and the effects it can have, feel free to post them. I hope this has helped you and I wish you all the best of luck with your research paper! [;D]
- Nikaena Vizukae Δ
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Are you two the same person?
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I have never been on this site until the other day, why would you think we are the same person? [???]
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I didn't read NZ's post as it was way to long. But, I think the booming low frequency noises have an effect on people.
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Nevermind, I didn't read the date of the first post, I thought you had both just came from nowhere and posted your first posts one after the other