The Principle: Brainwave Entrainment
Brainwave entrainment describes the brain’s ability to synchronize with external rhythmic stimuli. When a recurring stimulus — a tone, a light flash — is presented at a specific frequency, brainwaves synchronize to that frequency.
Various methods use this principle: binaural beats, isochronic tones, light pulses. But what happens when you combine sound and light?
Why Dual Stimulation Works Better
Research consistently shows: Audiovisual stimulation (AVS) — the combination of sound and light — produces stronger entrainment effects than single modalities.
The reason is neurological:
- Two sensory channels: The brain processes auditory and visual stimuli through different pathways. When both carry the same frequency, the entrainment signal is amplified.
- Cross-modal reinforcement: Simultaneous stimuli from different sensory channels reinforce each other — a phenomenon known as multisensory integration.
- Faster onset: Studies show that synchronization occurs faster with AVS than with purely auditory stimulation.
What the Research Says
The study by Huang & Charyton (2008) analyzed the effects of various brainwave entrainment methods and found that audiovisual stimulation delivers the most consistent results.
Frederick et al. (2012) demonstrated that audiovisual stimulation produces EEG-measurable changes — brainwaves demonstrably followed the external stimulus.
BE LIGHT: Sound + Display Light
BE LIGHT applies this principle as an app: sound frequencies through headphones and light pulses through the smartphone display. This makes audiovisual stimulation mobile and accessible for the first time — without expensive hardware, without special glasses.
The frequencies of sound and light are precisely synchronized. The display changes in rhythmic patterns tuned to the target frequency — gentle enough for everyday use, strong enough for measurable effect.
Practical Tip
For the strongest effect: Put on headphones and position the display visibly (with closed eyes, the light is perceptible through the eyelids). The combination of both channels creates the strongest entrainment.
Conclusion
Sound alone works. Light alone works. But the combination works better — that’s not a claim, it’s measurable neurology. BE LIGHT makes audiovisual stimulation as simple as listening to music.