How to Boost Performance, Attention and Cognition with Audio - Visual Entrainment with Dave Siever

Today we're talking to Dave Siever, an expert on the topics of neuro feedback and biofeedback. Dave discusses the audio visual entrainment (AVE) device – called the DAVID -- offered through his company Mind Alive, and how it can be used to optimize the brain in many different ways. Audio-Visual Entrainment vs. Audio-Visual Stimulation Dave explains how audio-visual entrainment is different from the audio-visual stimulation you'd get from, for example, watching TV, which doesn't do much to benefit the brain. AVE, in contrast, provides a continuous stream of stimuli at a fairly steady frequency into the eyes and ears -- the device works simply by using headphones to pulse tones for auditory stimulation and glasses with lights that flash at different speeds for visual stimulation. And while people generally associate entrainment with brain wave driving, that is only a small portion of what it does. AVE also has dissociative benefits similar to meditation, increases endorphins, serotonin and blood flow to the brain, and has an autonomic calming effect. Flexibility Between Beta and Alpha Activity The beauty of the Mind Alive DAVID device is that it allows users to pick the frequency they want to entrain in the brain, practically making it a true panacea for an array of issues. Dave explains that beta activity in the brain is associated with actively doing something, whereas alpha frequency is associated with calm, meditative activities. He's seen that staying in the low beta region is beneficial for learning and activities -- this type of "relaxed tension" is a band that peak performers like athletes and academics do well in. Meanwhile, increasing alpha activity in the brain can be helpful for people who have trouble getting into meditative states, or falling asleep. Dave points out that alpha intrusion gets in the way of focus, whereas people who are hyper-focused don't have enough alpha activity and tend to be more rigid and don't sleep as well. People have a tendency to be one way or another, and entrainment helps them to flex between the two states as needed. And it can be done anytime from home for as little as 30 minutes with the DAVID device. Treating a Variety of Issues The flexibility of audio-visual entrainment allows it to treat a broad variety of issues, purposes and disorders. Dave and his team have done two dozen studies on the DAVID devices to show their effectiveness for academics, seniors, and those suffering from depression, PTSD, sleep disorders and more, proving it to be the only technology that is so multifaceted. It can even be used to help children with ADHD to fall asleep at night, or to take the edge off on a daily basis for those suffering from addiction or anxiety. And for entrepreneurs, AVE can boost performance, attention and cognition. Make sure to check out… MindAlive.com