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Theta Wave Theta Wave If You're Tired New technolo ogy has appeared which canbe used to generate many different state Pr mind. Bio-feedback is a term which is used to describe any method of self-training in which you consciously interact with a system in your body - heartbeat, blood pressure, nervous system, brain wave patterns, etc. These methods all require conscious attention to reap the benefits of more balanced breathing and/or thought patterns and are meditations in themselves. But the effects generated by bio-feedback are now repro- ducible without concentration. Balanced brain-wave patterns, for instance, can be recorded for later reproduction and a few devices are now available which re-transmit specific brain- wave frequencies electrically or by light and sound. Having had some experience with biofeedback and bio- feedback devices in the past, the idea of using a machine to achieve relaxation and altered states of consciousness was both unnerving (itseemed lazy, somehow) and intriguing. But trying out a few brainwave patterns gencrated by one of the new systems available locally, one can see how these devices are of valucin fields as diverseas hypnotherapy and massage. One unit, called Mind Star, consists of a cassette player which uses specially recorded (and virtually unpiratable) tapes which generate specific frequencies. These pass through asmall'black box'adaptorinto whicha small pair of electrodes is plugged. These are painlessly adhered behind your ears, and the rest can be clipped to your belt. The whole unit is powered by two AA batteries and when wornitcould easily be mistaken for a Walkperson. The tapes gencrate Alpha, Theta and Delta wave patterns plus a variety of specific frequencies which are designed to activate particular neurotransmitters in the brain - chemicals which help in relaxation and meditation; nicotein, alcohol, opium or marihuana withdrawal; sleep induction; mood ele- vation, stimulation and stress reduction, among others. The neurotransmitters affected using Mind Star includescrotonin, endorphins and noradrenaline and dopaminergic systems. Mind Star follows in the footsteps of pioneer Dr Meg Patterson, who used a similar device to help such luminaries as Pete Townsend of The Who to break heroin addiction. Fh