The name is new but the idea is ancient. Drums, gongs, trumpets, incense, geometric paintings, flickering flames, and echoing spaces have been used for this purpose for millennia.

About two thousand years ago, people noticed that a rapidly flashing light (like the sun seen through the spokes of a spinning wheel) could help put somebody in a meditative state. Around 1940, scientists figured out that this works because the watcher's brain waves become synchronized with the flashes. They also discovered that certain sounds have the same effect. This led to the development of SLEDs -- sound and light entrainment devices -- also known as mind machines or light and sound machines.

The most interesting biofeedback devices for meditators are EEG machines, the gadgets doctors use to graph the brain's electrical activity. Meditators can use these devices to control the frequency and synchronicity of their brainwaves. It appears that this may be a fast way to learn to enter meditative states including samadhi and satori.

Entrainment and biofeedback machines are probably the most popular neurotech devices, but there are other types as well.

This page contains links to more information on these subjects and addresses of equipment vendors.

How Will I Know If I'm Really Meditating?
By John S. Anderson
Neurofeedback helped the author learn to meditate, after years of effort with traditional techniques got him nowhere.

Mind Machine FAQ
By J. Brad Hicks
Answers to frequently asked questions about machines that help put you in meditative states.

Neuroscience
Reference page on the scientific study of the brain and nervous system. Overview, references, and links.

Software for Meditating
Short article about BrainGen, a frequency entrainment program from Noromaa Solutions.

Master Charles
Our main reference page on a Siddha yogi who combines traditional yoga techniques with entrainment technology.

FutureHealth Inc.
Enormous site devoted to neurofeedback and related topics. Offers numerous products for sale including instrumentation, systems, books, tapes, supplies, training, information, and consultation. Also includes hundreds of free abstracts from conferences run by FutureHealth, including Winter Brain and Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology, and over 1000 quotations on mind-body, health, and spirit.

Synetic Systems
Manufacturer of light and sound machines. This website has back issues of Megabrain Report and some excellent articles.

Photosonix
Manufacturer of light and sound machines. This website has a good list of links.

Cerebrex
Retailer of neurotech products including bioacoustic software, cranial electrostim, negative ion generators, foot shakers, and many others. Site includes good list of links.

Tools for Exploration
American retailer of equipment. Site includes articles and reviews.

LifeTools
British retailer of equipment that claims to be Europe's largest.

The Mind Machine Page
Articles and other information about entrainment technology.

Neuro-Technology Research
Website devoted to entrainment technology. Sells a book that evaluates machines currently on the market.

Noromaa Solutions
Publisher of an entrainment program that runs on PCs. You can download it and try it for free.

Synchronicity Foundation
Founded by Master Charles, a disciple of famous Siddha Yoga master Swami Muktananda, this American organization combines traditional shaktipat (activation of kundalini) with modern entrainment technology.

BrainMaster Home Page
The BrainMaster is a small, relatively inexpensive EEG machine for home biofeedback use that was designed through a public, collaborative process like the open software project that produced Linux. This page contains several interesting articles.

ElectricGuru
Software for neurofeedback.

Time Flashes
By Michael Hutchison
A history of light and sound technology by the author of Megabrain. On the website of Synetic Systems, a manufacturer of light and sound machines. For more about Michael Hutchison's book Megabrain, see here.

Megabrain Report
By Michael Hutchison
The leading newsletter in this field. The first eight issues are on the website of Synetic Systems, a manufacturer of light and sound machines. For more about Michael Hutchison's book Megabrain, see here.

Practical Issues Concerning EEG Biofeedback Devices, Protocols and Methods
By Thomas F. Collura, Ph.D. P.E.
Excellent summary article about using EEG machines to alter consciousness by Tom Collura, the designer of the BrainMaster EEG machine.

Subjective Feeling States and EEG Results
By Thomas F. Collura, Ph.D. P.E.
This graph shows how subjective states (grouchiness, dreaminess, etc.) correlate with dominant EEG frequencies.

Mind-L List
A popular mailing list where people discuss neurotechnology and related topics.

MEGABRAIN: New Tools and Techniques for Brain Growth and Mind Expansion By Michael Hutchison An overview of all available technologies by Michael Hutchison, a bestselling author in the field. He's the publisher of Megabrain Report, the leading newsletter on neurotech. Some back issues of Megabrain Report are on the web here. ORDER FROM AMAZON

ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS By Charles T. Tart This is the book that popularized the phrase "altered states of consciousness." This classic anthology of research papers, first published in 1969 and now in its third edition (1990), was instrumental in making the study of altered states like hypnosis, dreaming, meditation, and drug-induced states respectable. It brings together many ground-breaking papers on biofeedback and meditation, including articles about EEG analysis of experienced meditators while they are meditating. ORDER IT