In short. Yes, article over. :) But why? And which sounds can help our creativity?
Have you ever been working on a problem and you just can't look at any more so you go make a cup of tea, go for a walk, sleep on it etc. And at some point later, the answer comes to us? Possibly while we're asleep or trying to get to sleep?
Our brains consist of neurons which at a cellular level have a membrane which provides a boundary from which sodium and magnesium pass through so they fire. But when we're working on something that really pushes us for an extended period, those amounts of sodium and potassium start to drop and the neurons don't fire as frequently. We experience a brain fog. Fortunately, our clever brains have a great little party trick; they put the hold music on and we start to daydream.
Daydreaming is what happens when we're in a Theta state (4-8Hz) and our brains are operating at a lower frequency to Alpha (feeling relaxed) and Beta (feeling active). We're not asleep; but we're not in a state where we're making any decisions, we don't really have to think about regulating our emotions and we're not actively consciously solving problems. We're just experiencing a moment. In this state, our pre-frontal cortex (at the front of our brains) is like the Headquarters from Inside Out. The little people in there can chill out cos nothing is happening that needs them to choose an emotion, action or outcome. They can just play back a memory or a dream.
It's in this state that our brain does something magical. It reclaims sodium and magnesium from elsewhere in our bodies and sends it back up to Headquarters. Our neurons now have the ingredients they need to begin functioning and begin to work on the problem we were stuck on previously. This is why ideas come to us when we're relaxed.
We know that certain sounds can put us in a theta state. We know that meditation too can also put us here as well.
Theta happens when we shift down from Beta, into Alpha and then into Theta. You can't turn it on like a light switch, especially not when you're new to it. It's like going to sleep. We don't try to go to sleep. We try to relax so that we can fall asleep. Unless we have a whole load of crap we haven't stopped for long enough during the day and then as we relax, all those problems get replayed at the end of the day.
Life is hard sometimes and these sorts of things; they are part of what makes us human and everyone suffers from them, no matter how much they seem relaxed from outside. The skill is practicing consistently so that we can find it easier to relax in order to make these connections fire in the day, rather than at night.
So which sounds can help us into a Theta state. There is a case for using binaural beats at 6Hz as these have been shown to induce a theta state in the brain. (I would recommend some good-quality headphones when listening to the track below).
Nature sounds can also induce a near-sleep like state.
Music can also help. I crafted a drum meditation that again is designed to hold your attention and relax you gently into a theta state:
Soundbaths too are also designed to take you to a near-sleep like state. You will occasionally nod off, but you'll also wake back up and then drop down again. Unless it's a really big venue with lots of people there, I will be able to tune into the sounds within the room and I can tell when a room is well rested and when they need to come back up again, so I'm continually trying to relax you and then hold your attention again so you stay in this theta state for as long as possible. Obviously, if someone is really exhausted; there's not a lot I can do, but for most folks, there will be a lot of general relaxation and occasionally some magic happens. Someone will get a bit of inspiration or image that sticks in their mind for some reason; but I try not to talk about too much because I don't want that to be the expectation. Everyone is unique and there are many factors outside of my control which can influence someone's experience. This is why I always say to concentrate on following the sound and letting whatever wants to happen, happen.
Some other articles for reference/ further reading:
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