Lewis B. Hainsworth of
Western Australia seems to be the first researcher to recognise the
relationship of brain-wave frequencies to the naturally circulating
rhythmic signals, known as Schumann's resonances (SR), in the space
between the surface of the Earth and the ionosphere. Hainsworth imparted
this awareness to Dr Robert O. Becker, noted electromagnetics pollution
expert, and to Harvard neurologists as early as 1975.
In 1977, this phenomenon--the relationship between
brain-wave rhythms and the spectrum of the natural Earth ELF (extremely
low frequency) signals--became the basis for Itzhak Bentov's Stalking
the Wild Pendulum (Dutton, 1977). Later research confirmed a
relationship to human health and well-being and even to ESP or psi
phenomena.
Hainsworth sent up a clarion cry against hazardous
EM (electromagnetic) pollution, whose dangers pale in comparison to the
threat of technologies such as HAARP [High-frequency Active Auroral
Research Program], which sends violent pulsations into the Earth's
ionosphere, potentially disrupting the entire electromagnetic shield of
the planet and certainly affecting the whole biosphere and thus human
welfare in general.
Some research has suggested that the frequency of
the basic Schumann's resonance has recently been rising in value,
possibly threatening the whole biosphere, human welfare and our
evolutionary future. All biological processes are a function of
electromagnetic field interactions. EM fields are the connecting link
between the world of form and resonant patterns. They store gestalts or
patterns of information. The bridge connecting solar system resonances
and brain frequencies resides in our human DNA helix, which co-evolved
in the Earth's environment.
Electrical engineer Lewis B. Hainsworth, MA, was
among the first to suggest that human health is linked with geophysical
parameters by way of the naturally occurring Schumann's ELF. His
hypothesis identified naturally occurring features which determine the
frequency spectrum of human brain-wave rhythms: The frequencies of
naturally occurring electromagnetic signals, circulating in the
electrically resonant cavity bounded by the Earth and the ionosphere,
have governed or determined the 'evolution' or development of the
frequencies of operation of the principal human brain-wave signals. In
particular, the alpha rhythm is so placed that it can in no
circumstances suffer an extensive interference from naturally occurring
signals.
Hainsworth concluded that the frequencies of human
brain-waves evolved in response to these signals. If his hypothesis is
correct, conditions for evolutionary changes in human brain-wave
patterns have now been established. Furthermore, variations in these
patterns can produce mild to disastrous health and behavioural changes.
The nature of the applied stimulus makes it
difficult to identify the responses directly, as they are most likely to
occur in the form of stress-related conditions. They will therefore
show up as drastic increases in mental disturbance, antisocial
behaviour, psychosomatic conditions and neurological disturbances. Some
electrical field phenomena have already been linked with abnormal cell
growth and a decrease in immunocompetency.
All these factors could be expected to lead to the
appearance of "new" diseases, probably accompanied by a decline in
resistance to many minor infections, an increase in conditions related
to abnormal cell development, including cancer, birth defects and
infertility, and an increase in psychological disturbance problems,
e.g., drug addiction and suicide. These existing psychobiological
problems could be expected to increase in scale, but could be studied
for deviations from "normal" alpha cycles of 10.4 Hz, with detectable
changes in psychological characteristics and mental abilities.
Hainsworth therefore strongly urged that research
into widespread measurements of the natural SR signals' frequency
variations and field strengths be carried out and compared with
statistics for the incidence of heart attacks, suicide attempts, road
accidents, social violence, domestic accidents, crimes, etc. Studies are
often conducted in this inferential way (such as those by Krippner and
Persinger), searching correlations between the phenomena of Earth lights
and tectonic strain and reports of UFO sightings, abduction reports and
other anomalous psychophysical experiences for an electromagnetic
connection to temporal lobe seizures.
We strongly suggest that correlations of broad
changes in the modulations of SR be studied in relationship to microwave
radiation, ELF signals and HAARP for both immediate and long-term
consequences. We have discussed elsewhere the obvious ramifications of
such EM pollution and 10-50 Hz modulations on the human system (Miller
& Miller, "Synthetic Telepathy", 2001).
We have also discussed the benefits for human
well-being and relaxation from entraining with these natural rhythms
(The Diamond Body, 1981). When a person is deeply relaxed, slow rhythmic
sine-wave patterns can be detected in both the EEG and the heart/aorta
resonating oscillator in the 7-8 Hz range. Resonance occurs when the
natural vibration frequency of a body is greatly amplified by vibrations
at the same frequency from another body.
Oscillators alter the environment in a periodic
manner. Thus, standing waves in the body, whether during
meditation/relaxation or not, can be driven by a larger signal.
Progressively amplified wave-forms, created by resonance, result in
large oscillations entraining other circuits in the body tuned to those
frequencies. A hierarchy of frequencies thus couples our psychophysical
selves to the harmonic frequency of the electrical charge of the Earth,
which naturally pulses at the same frequencies. This is hardly a
coincidence, as we are adaptive products of our environment.
Our planet is surrounded by a layer of electrically
charged particles called the ionosphere. The lower layer of the
ionosphere is roughly 60-80 kilometres (40-50 miles) from the crust, and
this charged layer is known to reflect radio waves. Bombardment by
HAARP signals "pushes" out this boundary layer, thus altering the
natural, pulsating rhythm. Natural fluctuations in frequency occur
daily, by the lunar month, and in response to solar flares.
Since the ionosphere is a highly charged layer, it
forms a so-called capacitor with the Earth. This means that there is a
difference in electrical potential between the two, the Earth being
negatively charged and the ionosphere being positively charged. This
potential varies somewhat, but is around 200 volts per metre. This is a
fundamental type of electrical generator. The solar winds, interacting
with the upper atmosphere rotation, act as the collector and brushes of a
generator. The lower atmosphere can be seen as a storage battery for
this gradient potential.
This electromagnetic field
around the Earth can be viewed as a stiff jelly. When our bodies move
and vibrate, these movements are transmitted to the environment, and
vice versa. These fields not only impinge on our bodies, they also
affect the charges inside our bodies. When we are standing on the
ground, under normal conditions, we are grounded. Our body then acts as a
sink for the electrostatic field and actually distorts the force-lines
somewhat. The human body also has its own electrostatic field about
itself.
These field lines are the result of the various
biochemical reactions in the body. This resultant bio-field couples us
to the iso-electric field of the planet (Miller & Miller, 1981).
In 1957, German physicist Dr W. O. Schumann
calculated the Earth/ionosphere cavity resonance frequencies (which were
named after him). He fixed the most predominant standing wave at about
7.83 Hz.
A "tuned system" consists of at least two
oscillators of identical resonant frequencies. If one oscillator starts
emitting, the other will be activated by the signal very shortly, in the
process of resonance, entrainment or kindling (igniting the resonance
phenomenon among the neurons). It becomes obvious that in deep
meditation, when waves of alpha and theta rhythms cascade across the
entire brain, a resonance is possible between the human being and the
planet. Energy and information which are embedded in a field are
transferred. Perhaps the planet communicates with us in this primal
language of frequencies.
According to Hainsworth, the influence of naturally
occurring Schumann's resonance signals on brain-wave pattern evolution
is formally stated to show that low-power electrical fields could
produce evolutionary change. The electrical fields produced by modern
electro-technology are then possible sources of evolutionary change. The
characteristics of some forms which might result should be considered.
Some fields might inhibit survival of existing forms. Because of lack of
available data, precise measurements are lacking and must therefore be
quantitatively valueless. Technology not only will change, but is
changing, human evolution. Only extensive investigation of the naturally
occurring signals will give any lead in showing what results might
occur.
The possibility exists that human health is linked
with geophysical parameters by way of the naturally occurring Schumann's
resonances. A number of attempts have been made to discover the
correlation through geomagnetic and ionospheric storms. The correlation
comes through the biological fact that the human system is apparently
sensitive to such low-power ELF signals. We don't know what the range of
such a correlation might be.
The frequency values of the SR signals are
determined by the effective dimensions of the cavity between the Earth
and ionosphere. Thus, any events which change these dimensions will
change the resonant frequencies. As Hainsworth warned, "such events
could be ionospheric storms, and could even result from a man-made
ionospheric disturbance" (emphasis added).
Geomagnetic storms are the magnetic changes
produced by ionospheric storms, and are thus associated with conditions
capable of changing the SR signals. However, although such storms can
produce these changes, measurement of these parameters cannot give any
indication of whether the resonance signals have changed to a value
outside their normal range or not. Since the undisturbed state of the
ionosphere corresponds to the normal SR patterns, then ionospheric
disturbances are likely to produce abnormal patterns, but will not
necessarily do so in all cases. If biological response is linked to
Schumann's resonance signals, this will reduce any apparent link with
geomagnetic or ionospheric data.
Trying to determine the relationships between
geophysical and biological conditions can become extremely complex. The
frequencies of the SR signals change with ionospheric conditions. These
conditions change diurnally, seasonally and with variations in solar
activity, which, in turn, varies with the 11-year sunspot cycle and also
with the 27-29-day lunar cycle, mainly during sunspot minimum periods.
Lunar tidal changes in the height and thickness of the layers could also
sometimes affect the cavity dimensions and hence the Schumann's
frequencies. So can powerful ELF signals from HAARP.
It should be borne in mind that if some signal
conditions are harmful, then other conditions might be beneficial. This
means that if, for example, seasonal and tidal conditions have resulted
in the signals being in a biologically disturbing state, then the advent
of a solar flare could result in changes in the signals, bringing them
into a biologically beneficial state. The converse could also occur.
If we are sensitive to ELF signals, then when these
factors are considered we would expect to get confusion if we try to
link any effect with geophysical changes. For instance, there could be
incidences of classic states of "lunacy" in some years if damaging
signals coincided with full moons, then in other years the observations
and analyses would show that the effects were not lunar.
An analysis of the correlation between the
incidence of ionospheric disturbance and rate of admission to Heathcote
Hospital (Perth, Western Australia) for about a three-year total
indicated that when a disturbance occurred then the admission rate
changed. The probability of the association being random was of the
order of 2000:1 against. However, the fact that sometimes the rate went
up and sometimes down showed that ionospheric storms changed the rate of
incidence of mental disturbance in a way that is consistent with that
change being dependent on the actual causes being linked to variations
in the Schumann's resonance signals. At that point, Hainsworth decided
to concentrate on trying to get some observational work going on
measuring the SR signals.
Hainsworth's set-up used a 2,000-turn,
1-metre-square antenna, and another of 1/3-metre square, plus amplifiers
to handle signals from 0 to 30 Hz. His amplified Schumann's signals
were analysed in a laboratory. On one occasion the signal dropped to
zero amplitude when a solar flare occurred, and did not start recovering
for about an hour and a half afterwards. It was originally just under 7
Hz and came back at only just over 6 Hz. His next step would have been
to develop a wave analyser to try to pick out individual signals. But
the failing health of both himself and his wife prevented this.
The value of proceeding with his seminal work has
now increased many-fold due to the threat from the proposed US Missile
Defense Shield. This is the offspring of the United States' HAARP
program in Alaska, whose raison d'être, or mission statement, allegedly
dealing with national security, is vague if not purposefully misleading.
EM frequencies and human response
Hainsworth
posed a series of questions, all of which are answered with a
resounding "yes". This should lead us in the direction of extreme
caution towards introducing new EM or ELF sources and ionospheric
changes in our environment. He presented his data in two papers
(referenced at the end of this article and posted on the website
http://www.nwbotanicals.org). His questions are as follows:
1. Does the human biological system contain, use or generate any forms of electrical signal?
2. Does it respond to any of these signals?
3. Does it respond to audible signals at these frequencies?
4. Does it respond to optical signals at these frequencies?
5. Do human signals change with psychological or mental states, such as stress or problem solving?
6. Does the human system respond to any very, very low-power electromagnetic signals?
Brain waves have only been studied since about the
mid-1920s, and the signal form that is apparently most widely known and
identified is the alpha rhythm. The frequency of this signal varies from
individual to individual, but it lies between about 7-8 Hz and 12 Hz,
with an average value of 10.5 Hz. Theta and beta rhythm signals also
occur, and are identifiable by EEG below the 8 Hz and above the 12 Hz
frequencies. Since the discovery and measurement of these signals, a
great deal of effort has been devoted to trying to work out how they
originated in the first place and what determines their frequencies of
operation.
In the early to mid-1950s, Schumann (a geophysicist
almost certainly uninterested in neurology) suggested that
electromagnetic signals might circulate at extremely low frequencies in
the electrically resonant cavity between the Earth and the ionosphere.
He was right. The signals came to be called "Schumann's resonances". One
major component was originally predicated at a frequency of about 10
Hz. In 1959 it was measured to be slightly different. Meanwhile, the
military co-opted the discovery for using ELF signals for submarine
communications.
In fact, the first mode of these circulating
signals has an average value of 7.8 Hz, with a typical diurnal range of
from 7.2 to 8.8 Hz, and the second mode has an average value of 14.1 Hz
and a range of from 13.2 to 15.8 Hz. These match the brain-wave theta
rhythm and beta rhythm nicely. The blank range between the two modes is a
very reasonable match with the normal frequency range of the human
alpha rhythm, between 8 to 12 Hz or cycles.
Additionally, it was found that there is minimum
(zero) power circulating in the Earth/ionosphere cavity at 10.4
Hz--which is virtually an exact match for the average value of the alpha
rhythm. Hainsworth points out that the existence of these natural
signals and the close relationship of their frequencies of oscillation
were facts unknown to senior neurologists and mental health specialists
as late as 1975.
Hainsworth argued that up to the end of 1979, no
long-term systematic measurements of any great value were being made of
the Schumann's resonance signals. Measurements were being made only
intermittently for the purpose of obtaining research data for use by
post-graduate geophysicists in constructing esoteric mathematical models
of the ionosphere. It follows from this that, until long after the end
of 1979, no figures on these signals were available. Consequently, no
"expert" can produce numerical evidence to support an objection to
Hainsworth's original hypothesis, since the only numerical values
available are those favouring it.
However, Hainsworth left us with some open-ended questions:
7. Has any evidence ever been obtained to indicate
that the human system is totally unaffected by externally applied
electromagnetic fields?
8. Have any measurement programs ever been
attempted to show whether the human system is (a) totally unaffected,
(b) always affected, or (c) sometimes affected by naturally [or
artificially] occurring electromagnetic signals?
9. Has the existence
of such signals, having a close relationship with human biological
signal frequencies, been known for many years?
10. Have those relationships been studied with adequate protocols in any detail?
Schumann's resonances are actually observed, by
experiment, occurring at several harmonic frequencies between 6 and 50
cycles per second (one cycle equals one hertz). Specifically they are
found at 7.8, 14, 20, 26, 33, 39 and 45 Hz, with a daily variation of
around ±0.5 Hz.
Only as long as the properties of Earth's
electromagnetic cavity remain about the same do these frequencies remain
the same. Cycles may vary somewhat due to ionospheric response to solar
cycle activity and properties of the atmosphere and magnetosphere.
Projects, such as HAARP, which heat up or blast out the ionosphere pose a
potential threat of catastrophic proportions to this interactive
system.
Measuring brain waves by EEG
The resonant cavity formed between the ionosphere
and the Earth produces rhythmic waves capable of entraining and
phase-locking with brain waves.
Even at the turn of this millennium, Hainsworth
(now deceased) seems to have been unfamiliar with extensive work in
brain-wave research in neurology, hypnotherapy, biofeedback and neural
feedback. This research includes extensive experiments in
frequency-following response (FFR) and relating brain waves and
brain-wave deficiencies to psychobiological states.
The brain is a massive source of ELF signals that
get transmitted throughout the body through the nervous system, which is
sensitive to magnetic fields. Brain waves and natural biorhythms can be
entrained by strong external ELF signals, such as stationary waves at
Schumann's resonances. Entrainment, synchronisation and amplification
promote coherent large-scale activity rather than typical flurries of
transient brain waves. Thus, resonant standing waves emerge from the
brain, which under the right conditions facilitates internal and
external bio-information transfer via ELF electromagnetic waves. These
SR waves exhibit non-local character and nearly instant communication
capability.
The EEG (electroencephalograph) measures brain
waves of different frequencies within the brain. Rhythmicity in the EEG
is a key variable in the coordination of cortical activity. Electrodes
are placed on specific sites on the scalp to detect and record the
electrical impulses within the brain. Frequency is the number of times a
wave repeats itself within a second. It can be compared to the
frequencies on a radio. Amplitude represents the power of electrical
impulses generated by the brain. Volume or intensity of brain-wave
activity is measured in microvolts.
Raw EEG frequency bands include gamma (25-60 Hz);
beta (12-25 Hz); alpha (7-12 Hz); theta (4-7 Hz); and delta (less than 4
Hz). Their ranges overlap one another along the frequency spectrum by
0.5 Hz or more. These frequencies are linked to behaviours, subjective
feeling states, physiological correlates, etc. Clinical improvement with
EEG biofeedback is traceable to improved neuroregulation in basic
functions by appeal to their underlying rhythmic mechanisms.
Schumann's resonance forms a natural feedback loop
with the human mind/body. The human brain and body developed in the
biosphere, the EM environment conditioned by this cyclic pulse.
Conversely, this pulse acts as a "driver" of our brains and can also
potentially carry information. Functional processes may be altered and
new patterns of behaviour facilitated through the brain's web of
inhibitory and excitatory feedback networks. Functional processes may be
altered and new patterns of behaviour facilitated through the brain's
web of inhibitory and excitatory feedback networks.
The brain has its own set of vibrations it uses to
communicate with itself and the rest of the body. EEG equipment
distinguishes these waves by measuring the speed with which neurons fire
in cycles per second. At their boundaries these waves can overlap
somewhat, merging seamlessly into one another--so different researchers
may give slightly different readings for the range of cycles per second
(Hz). The rate of cycling determines the type of activity, kindling wave
after wave over the whole surface of the brain by igniting more
neurons. The frequency bands and wave characteristics are described as
follows:
• Gamma waves (25-60 Hz) appear to relate to
simultaneous processing of information from different brain areas, e.g.,
involving memory, learning abilities, integrated thoughts or
information-rich task processing. Gamma rhythms modulate perception and
consciousness, which disappear with anaesthesia. Synchronous activity at
about 40 Hz appears involved in binding sensory inputs into the single,
unitary objects we perceive.
• Beta waves (12-25 Hz) dominate our normal
waking state of consciousness when attention is directed towards
cognitive tasks and the outside world. Beta is a "fast" activity,
present when we are alert or even anxious, or when engaged in problem
solving, judgement, decision making, information processing, mental
activity and focus. Nobel Prize winner Sir Francis Crick and other
scientists believe the 40 Hz beta frequency may be key to the act of
cognition.
• Alpha waves (7-12 Hz) are present during
dreaming and light meditation when the eyes are closed. As more and more
neurons are recruited to this frequency, alpha waves cycle globally
across the whole cortex. This induces deep relaxation, but not quite
meditation. In alpha, we begin to access the wealth of creativity that
lies just below our conscious awareness. It is the gateway, the entry
point that leads into deeper states of consciousness. Alpha waves aid
overall mental coordination, calmness, alertness, inner awareness,
mind/body integration and learning.
Alpha is also the home of the
window frequency known as the SR, which propagates with little
attenuation around the planet. When we intentionally generate alpha
waves and go into resonance with that Earth frequency, we naturally feel
better, refreshed, in tune, in synch. It is, in fact, environmental
synchronisation.
• Theta waves (4-7 Hz) occur most often in sleep
but are also dominant in the deepest states of meditation (body
asleep/mind awake) and thought (gateway to learning, memory). In theta,
our senses are withdrawn from the external world and focused on the
mindscape--internally originating signals. Theta waves are associated
with mystery, an elusive and extraordinary realm we can explore. It is
that twilight state which we normally only experience fleetingly as we
rise from the depths of delta upon waking or drifting off to sleep. In
theta, we are in a waking dream; vivid imagery flashes before the mind's
eye and we are receptive to information beyond our normal conscious
awareness. Theta meditation increases creativity, enhances learning,
reduces stress and awakens intuition and other extrasensory perception
skills.
• Delta waves (0-4 Hz) are the slowest but
highest in amplitude. They are generated in deepest meditation and
dreamless sleep. Delta waves confer a suspension of external existence
and provide the most profound feelings of peace. In addition, certain
frequencies within the delta range trigger the release of a growth
hormone which is beneficial for healing and regeneration. This is why
sleep, deep restorative sleep, is so essential to the healing process.
Rhythm & Harmonic Resonance
There
is a harmonic relationship between the Earth and our mind/body. Earth's
low-frequency iso-electric field, the magnetic field of the Earth and
the electrostatic field which emerges from our body are closely
interwoven. Our internal rhythms interact with external rhythms,
affecting our balance, REM patterns, health, and mental focus. SR waves
probably help regulate our bodies' internal clocks, affecting
sleep/dream patterns, arousal patterns and hormonal secretion (such as
melatonin).
The rhythms and pulsations of the human brain
mirror those of the resonant properties of the terrestrial cavity, which
functions as a waveguide. This natural frequency pulsation is not a
fixed number, but an average of global readings, much like the EEG gives
an average of brain-wave readings. SR actually fluctuates, like brain
waves, due to geographical location, lightning, solar flares,
atmospheric ionisation and daily cycles.
The most important slow rhythm is the daily rhythm
sensed directly as the change in light. Rhythms connected with the daily
rhythm are called circadian (an example is pineal gland melatonin
secretion). Some experiments in the absence of natural light have shown
that the basic human "clock" is actually slightly longer than one day
(24 hours), and closer to one lunar day (24 hours 50 minutes).
On a slower scale, a strong influence on the Earth
is its geomagnetic field, which is influenced by the following periods:
the Moon's rotation (29.5 days); the Earth's rotation (365.25 days);
sunspot cycles (11 or 22 years); the nutation cycle (18.6 years); the
rotation of the planets (88 days to 247.7 years); and the galaxy's
rotation cycle (250 million years). Very important rhythms, like hormone
secretion and dominant nostril exchange, are in the order of 1-2 hours.
In the range of human EEG, we have the Sun's electromagnetic
oscillation of 10 Hz, while the Earth/ionosphere system is resonant at
frequencies in the theta, alpha, beta-1 (low or slow) and beta-2 (high
or fast) bands.
Different species often have internal generators of
environmental rhythms, which can be extremely precise, up to 10-4. The
frequency of these oscillators is then phase-locked-loop (PLL)
synchronised with the natural rhythms. Environmental synchronisation
sources are often called zeitgebers. The mechanism of optical
synchronisation can be shown. The presented rhythms should inspire a
better understanding of the interaction of internal and external rhythms
during specific states of consciousness.
The bioelectrical domain is geared to
thalamocortical generation of rhythmic activity. In neurofeedback, what
is being trained is the degree of rhythmicity of the thalamocortical
regulatory circuitry. Rhythmicity manages the entire range of activation
and arousal in the bio-electrical domain. One role advocated for
rhythmic activity is that of time binding: the need for harnessing brain
electrical activity, which is spatially distributed, while maintaining
it as a single entity.
Brain waves indicate the arousal dimension, and
arousal mediates a number of conditions. Changes in sympathetic and
parasympathetic arousal "tune" the nervous system. Underarousal leads
towards unipolar or reactive depression, attention deficit disorder,
chronic pain and insomnia. Overarousal is linked with anxiety disorders,
sleep onset problems, nightmares, hypervigilance, impulsive behaviour,
anger/aggression, agitated depression, chronic nerve pain and
spasticity. A combination of underarousal and overarousal causes anxiety
and depression as well as ADHD.
Instabilities in certain rhythms can be correlated
with tics, obsessive-compulsive disorder, aggressive behaviour, rage,
bruxism, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, migraines, narcolepsy,
epilepsy, sleep apnoea, vertigo, tinnitus, norexia/bulimia, suicidal
ideation and behaviour, PMS, multiple chemical sensitivities, diabetes,
hypoglycaemia and explosive behaviour.
The brain responds to inputs at a certain frequency
or frequencies. The computer can create wave-form patterns or certain
frequencies that compare with the mind's neural signals in terms of mind
patterns. If people can control their mind patterns, they can enter
different states of being (mental relaxation, study, etc.).
So what happens when the mind is entrained with a
sound or vibration that reflects the thought patterns? When the mind
responds to certain frequencies and behaves as a resonator, is there a
harmonic frequency that the mind vibrates to or can attune to? What does
the study of harmonic resonance, sound or vibration have to do with the
brain's frequency waves?
Sound waves are examples of periodicity, of rhythm.
Sound is measured in cycles per second (hertz or Hz). Each cycle of a
wave is, in reality, a single pulse of sound. The average range of
hearing for the human ear is somewhere between 16 Hz and 20,000 Hz. We
cannot hear extremely low frequencies, but we can perceive them as
rhythmic.
Entrainment is the process of synchronisation,
where vibrations of one object will cause the vibrations of another
object to oscillate at the same rate. External rhythms can have a direct
effect on the psychology and physiology of the listener. Slower tempos
from 48 to 70 BPMs have been proven to decrease heart and respiratory
rates, thereby altering the predominant brain-wave patterns.
Binaural beats are continuous tones of subtly
different frequencies, delivered to each ear independently in stereo via
headphones. If the left channel's pitch is 100 cycles per second and
the right channel's pitch is 108 cycles per second, the difference
between the two equals 8 cycles per second. When these sounds are
combined, they produce a pulsing tone that waxes and wanes in a "wah
wah" rhythm.
Binaural beats are not an external sound; rather,
they are subsonic frequencies heard within the brain itself. These
frequencies are created as both hemispheres work simultaneously to hear
sounds that are pitch-differed by key mathematical intervals (window
frequencies). The brain waves respond to these oscillating tones by
following them (entrainment), and both hemispheres begin to work
together. Communication between the two sides of the brain is associated
with flashes of creativity, insight and wisdom.
Alpha-wave biofeedback is considered a
consciousness self-regulation technique, while alpha-frequency binaural
beat stimulation (frequency-following response) is a passive management
technique where cortical potentials entrain to or resonate at the
frequency of an external stimulus. Through the self-regulation of
specific cortical rhythms, we begin to control those aspects of
consciousness associated with that rhythm. When the goal is alpha,
either in meditation or in biofeedback, it means entraining with the
primary SR.
Measuring changes in Schumann’s resonances
Earth's background base
frequency, or "heartbeat" (Schumann's resonances), fluctuates and may
be rising dramatically. Though it varies between geographical regions,
for decades the overall measurement was 7.8 cycles per second. This was
once thought to be a constant. Global military communications were
developed using this frequency. However, recent reports set the rate at
over 11 cycles and climbing. Science doesn't know why, what to make of
it or even if these reports are credible.
Gregg Braden claims to have found data collected by
Norwegian and Russian researchers, and says it's not been widely
reported in the USA. The authors have been unable to substantiate this.
Braden suggests the only reference to SR to be found in the Seattle
Library reference section is tied to the weather. Science acknowledges
SR as a sensitive indicator of temperature variations and worldwide
weather conditions. Braden believes the fluctuating SR may be a factor
in the severe weather conditions of recent years.
As previously stated, the Earth behaves like an
enormous electrical circuit. The atmosphere is actually a weak
conductor; and if there were no sources of charge, its existing
electrical charge would diffuse away in about 10 minutes. There is a
"cavity" defined by the surface of the Earth and the inner edge of the
ionosphere, whose height fluctuates somewhat. It's been calculated that
at any moment, the total charge residing in this cavity is 500,000
coulombs.
There is a vertical current flow between the ground
and the ionosphere of 1 - 3 x 10-12 amperes per square metre. The
resistance of the atmosphere is 200 ohms. The voltage potential is
200,000 volts. There are about 2,000 lightning storms at any given
moment worldwide. Each produces 0.5 to 1 ampere, and these collectively
account for the measured current flow in the Earth's "electromagnetic"
cavity.
Schumann's resonances are quasi standing-wave
electromagnetic waves that exist in this cavity. Like waves on a string,
they must be potentiated or "excited" in order to be observed. They are
not caused by internal terrestrial factors or Earth's crustal movements
or the core, which does produce magnetic fields. They seem to be
related to electrical activity in the atmosphere, particularly during
times of intense lightning activity. So long as the properties of
Earth's electromagnetic cavity remain about the same, these frequencies
remain the same. Presumably there is some change due to the solar
sunspot cycle, as the Earth's ionosphere changes in response to flares
and mass ejections during the 11-year cycle of solar activity.
High-energy charges coming off the Sun brush across the upper
atmosphere, ionising there.
Since the Earth's atmosphere carries a charge, a
current and a voltage, it is not surprising to find such electromagnetic
waves. The resonant properties of this terrestrial cavity were first
predicted by W. O. Schumann in 1952 and 1957, and first detected by
Schumann and Konig in 1954.
Much of the research in the last 20 years has been
conducted by the US Department of the Navy, which uses ELF signals for
communication with submarines. However, little attention is given by the
military and defence contractors to issues of psychobiological health
and well-being.
Between the nearly perfectly conducting terrestrial
surface and ionosphere, a resonating cavity is formed. Broadband
electromagnetic impulses, like those from lightning flashes, fill this
cavity and create globally the so-called Schumann's resonances at
frequencies in the range of 5-50 Hz (Schumann, 1952; Bliokh et al.,
1980; Sentman, 1987). The nominal average frequencies observed are 7.8,
14, 20, 26, 33, 39 and 45 Hz, with slight diurnal variation (Sentman and
Fraser, 1991).
Standard magnetometers are not able to measure
Schumann's resonances, and even the search coil (i.e., pulsation)
magnetometers, which most often sample at about 0.1 Hz, do not allow
such studies. Special equipment is thus needed (see, for example,
Sentman and Fraser, 1991).
Current findings suggest:
1. Schumann's resonances are actually observed by
experiment to emerge at several frequencies related to brain waves. They
range between 6 and 50 cycles per second, specifically 7.8 (alpha), 14
(low beta), 20 (mid beta), 26 (high beta), 33 (low gamma), 39 (gamma)
and 45 Hz (gamma), with daily variation of about ±0.5 Hz.
2. The
strongest of the seven resonances is 7.83 Hz, in the alpha brain-wave
range. If the rise in resonance continues, this primary resonance, the
Earth pulse, changes from sub-band low alpha (7-10 Hz) to sub-band high
alpha (10-12 Hz), perhaps influencing our ability to relax deeply,
balance and integrate our mind/body connection. It could influence REM
sleep and dreaming. If it continues to rise, it will breach the
threshold into "fast" beta activity. Low beta (12-15 Hz) is associated
with lack of focused attention, and can even indicate attention deficit
disorder.
3. The amplitude (i.e., intensity) of the Schumann's
resonances is not constant, and appears to be extremely dependent upon
tropical (and hence global) temperature. Indeed, preliminary results
seem to indicate that a mere one-degree increase in temperature
correlates with a doubling of the SR. This could not be more
significant, as it is unknown what psychobiological effect these
fluctuations could have on humans.
SR global temperature changes
One of the most crucial
questions in science today centres on whether or not the planetary
temperature is rising, falling or remaining unchanged. Recently global
warming has been acknowledged by most in the field, and human
interference (technology) is implicated.
On one hand, analyses of thermometer measurements
of near-surface global (land and sea) air temperatures suggest the
planet has been warming in recent decades. But satellite measurements of
the planet's lower atmospheric temperature show no warming from 1979 to
1998.
Temperature data from weather balloons launched
throughout the world reveal variations and trends in global temperatures
that correspond to those found in the satellite-based measurements.
Analysis of pressure thickness measurements from these same balloons
also shows no warming in recent decades. It's no wonder we have such an
ongoing "heated debate" about the recent temperature history of the
Earth! Yet most people recognise that their local weather is markedly
different than in past decades.
Scientists have suggested lately that another
method may exist to monitor planetary temperature accurately. The idea
is simple, though the underlying physics of the processes is complex.
The method is based on the well-known fact that thunderstorms and
lightning strikes in many parts of the world are directly related to
lower-atmospheric air temperatures. Higher temperatures produce more
lightning strikes, while lower temperatures tend to depress lightning
activity.
Lightning discharges occurring anywhere in the
world produce electromagnetic pulses that spread away from the source.
Much of the energy is quickly degraded, but some of the energy the
lightning produces falls in the extremely low frequency/long-wavelength
domain of the electromagnetic spectrum. At these long wavelengths, the
energy from a lightning strike is able to circumnavigate the Earth
without serious degradation. This low-frequency/long-wavelength energy
creates SR signals which can be detected throughout the world.
Understanding SR waves requires a basic
appreciation of the vertical structure of the atmosphere. In the upper
reaches of the ionosphere, incoming ultraviolet radiation and soft
X-rays affect atoms or bonded groups of atoms, causing gains or losses
of negatively charged electrons. This interaction creates an environment
of positively and negatively charged particles of the high atmosphere
that, among other interesting qualities, can readily conduct
electricity.
The bulk of our insulating atmosphere lies between
two conducting layers of the Earth's surface and the lower boundary of
the ionosphere. This spherically concentric cavity, the Earth/ionosphere
cavity, is bounded by those electrically conducting walls. Again,
lightning discharges within the cavity produce electromagnetic pulses
that spread away from the source in the extremely low frequency domain,
and the conductive walls of the cavity produce some interesting effects
for the low-frequency energy.
For example, energy with a frequency near 7.5 Hz
would have a wavelength of about 40,000 km (recall that wavelength =
speed of light / frequency). Because this wavelength equals the
circumference of the Earth, the energy is able to circumnavigate the
Earth/ionosphere cavity without serious degradation. The 100 or so
lightning bolts occurring each second in the 1,000 lightning storms
around the world contribute to the energy in the 7.5 Hz portion of the
spectrum, which can be measured anywhere on the planet. It is these
resonance properties of this global spherical capacitor or resonator)
that Schumann predicted over 40 years ago.
In an article published in Science, MIT scientist
Earle Williams (1992) constructed a powerful argument that links
Schumann's resonances to convection and ultimately to widespread
tropical and/or global temperature. Williams concluded that a 1°C
warming in the tropics should result in a fourfold increase in lightning
activity, and he presented empirical data from several locations to
support his conclusion. He noted that any measurable parameter
nonlinearly related to temperature could be extremely useful in
assessing the most subtle changes in global temperature. Others have
presented different sensitivities: Price (1993) concluded that a 1°C
warming would increase global lightning activity by 7%; Price and Rind
(1994) found a 5-6% increase per 1°C sensitivity; while Reeve and Toumi
(1998) found the sensitivity to be near 40% per 1°C. Regardless of the
exact sensitivity, all these scientists conclude that lightning
increases with even moderate amounts of warming worldwide. More
lightning would generate a stronger SR, which may be useful in
monitoring planetary temperatures.
The link between SR and the number of lightning
strikes is supported by a mean day/night temperature fluctuation
pattern. A diurnal pattern of worldwide lightning exists with three
maxima recorded regularly due to the large number of mid- to
late-afternoon thunderstorms in land areas of Africa, South America, and
Southeast Asia and Australia. (Storms are first generated in Asia;
later they form in Africa; and later each day they arise in South
America.)
Global warming has been linked to the suspected
rise in SR, and is a threat to its synchronisation with our brain waves.
Small changes in temperature pump up into large signals in extremely
low frequency (ELF) resonances. Long-term monitoring and study of global
climate changes via measurements of ELF electromagnetic waves needs to
be conducted more closely. Monitoring the intensity and frequencies of
the lightning-induced ELF SR could help monitor changes in the Earth's
climate over time.
One Israeli program proposed setting up two or
three widely separated ELF field sites. A suggested site for a permanent
SR monitoring station was in the Negev Desert in Israel. Members of
this proposal want to develop, test and install the appropriate software
for the automatic electromagnetic monitoring and preliminary processing
of the incoming data. They suggested that simultaneous measurements
could be made in Russia and Sweden to test the global nature of the ELF
signals measured in Israel. The continuous ELF data measured in Israel
could be compared with other ELF data sets from other locations around
the world, such as Hungary, USA or Japan. Furthermore, the relevant
global climate data sets - such as surface temperature, satellite
observations of the global distribution of deep convection, and global
atmospheric water vapour measurements - could be used for comparisons
with SR data to check the reliability of the "global thermometer"
hypothesis.
A systematic study of SR parameters during
high-energy particle precipitation events has shown that protons and
electrons with energies above 1 MeV ionise the upper boundary of the
Earth/ionosphere cavity. This leads to an increase in the resonance
frequency and a decrease in the damping of the first Schumann's
resonance, as derived from measurements at Arrival Heights, Antarctica.
The study used the nine strongest solar proton events of the past Solar
Cycle 22 and high-energy electrons emitted periodically from co-rotating
interaction regions in the solar wind during 1994-95. The variation of
the SR parameters is in qualitative agreement with current SR theories.
The study also showed that high-energy particle precipitation (solar
ejecta) is not the only relevant source affecting SR parameters. The
findings constitute a so far little-explored aspect of solar/terrestrial
interaction.
Facilitating our potential
In conclusion, we postulate that: (1) we are
complex electrodynamic, rather than merely chemical beings, sensitive to
natural and artificial EM fields; (2) SR frequencies coincide with
human brain waves, affecting subtle and gross brain-wave generation,
regulating homoeostasis, healing and psi; (3) there is strong
correlation between human behavioural disturbance and geomagnetic field
turbulence or isolation from SR frequencies.
As human beings we have extraordinary potentials we
have hardly begun to study, much less understand. Creative gifts,
intuitions and talents that are unpredictable or emergent may become
stabilised in generations to come. Hopefully, we can learn to understand
both our emergence from an essentially electromagnetic environment and
facilitate our potential for healing, growth and non-local
communication.
About the Authors:
Richard
Alan Miller started his professional career as a physicist, biophysicist
and instrumentation specialist. In late 1972 he began his foray into
paraphysics with experiments in Kirlian photography and developed a
field theory to explain the phenomenon. He is an expert in growing and
marketing botanicals, and set up his own company, Northwest Botanicals.
Iona
Miller is a multimedia artist, hypnotherapist, web author and
researcher who works through the Asklepia Foundation, Chaosophy Journal
and JNLRMI on the relationship between experiential journeys, physics,
healing, creativity, dreams, consciousness and chaos theory. She has
been collaborating with Richard Alan Miller since the mid-1970s;
although they divorced in 1994, they continue to work together on
leading-edge studies into consciousness, neurotheology, Qabalah, alchemy
and the nature of reality.
Notes and References:
Two background
papers by Hainsworth are appended to the article "On the Possible
Effects of Changes in Schumann's Resonances on Human Psychobiology" at
website
http://www.nwbotanicals.org.
Appendix 1: The Effect of Geophysical Phenomena on Human Health (first
published in Speculations in Science and Technology, vol. 6, no. 5,
December 1983); Appendix 2: Electrical Technology and Human Evolution
(Speculations in Science and Technology, vol. 11, no. 2, 1987)
