In an exclusive interview with WIRED magazine, David Byrne, the cerebral rock star most famous as the leader of the Talking Heads, a trend setting pop music band in the 70s and 80s known for its gray matter smarts, expresses his innate need for neuro-technology.

WIRED Magazine: If you had a black box, a piece of progress that could do anything at all, what would you want your black box to do?

David Byrne: Something that could clear your mind out instantly when you get kind of backed up or overwhelmed, kind of reset the counter to zero
again.

Well David, we hope you find the MIND MACHINE BUYER'S GUIDE helpful for your next "black box" purchase.


What are MIND MACHINES? (See the MIND MACHINE BUYER'S GUIDE for a more extensive discussion.)

Briefly, MIND MACHINES are small computers that produce light and sound pulsing stimuli. The computer chip within the MIND MACHINE regulates the frequency (i.e., speed) of the light and sound stimuli. This is important because of the well recognized phenomena called the Frequency Following Response also known as Brainwave Entrainment. Within several minutes, your brain waves will mirror the light and sound stimuli of your environment whatever the source. For example, what happens when you see the flashing red lights of the state trooper pulling you over for speeding; or an ambulance rushing by on its way to the hospital? Most of us become uptight as our brainwaves speed up and our muscles contract signaling the onset of the Fight or Flight Response. With mind machines its a similar principle...but with a slight difference! Depending on your goals, most
neuro-technology enthusiasts use mind machines to slow down their brainwaves, not speed them up. This brings about the Relaxation Response and the Hypnagogic State of Consciousness recognized by numerous outstanding individuals including Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Charles Dickens, Brahms, and Coleridge to name a few, as a SOURCE of CREATIVITY (Mavromatis,1987).

Donning the headphones and glasses of a mind machine, the light and sound stimuli pulse at a certain frequency, usually mid alpha. As the Frequency Following Response begins to occur, your brainwaves start to mirror the frequency of the stimuli. Usually this process takes at least 5 minutes and happens only with individuals who relax and allow the process to happen. For those who consciously fight the experience, the Frequency Following Response cannot take place.

Why would anyone want their brain waves to RESONATE to a certain frequency? ....you might ask. Well, just question the millions of alcoholics and drug addicts who use toxic chemicals everyday to slow down their brainwaves for stress reduction and muscular relaxation. The fact is, different states of consciousness correspond to different brainwave states which millions of Americans daily influence with caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and illicit drugs. Furthermore, media violence and fast music, especially heavy metal, speed up brainwaves dramatically influencing peoples emotions and behavior. You RESONATE to your environment. Simple as that!!!

For many Americans, a familiar example of influencing brainwave states is the relaxed alpha state induced by alcohol, illicit drugs, and cigarettes which so many people seek daily as a means of stress reduction and escape. These are expensive habits which cause significant health problems. It is estimated that Alcoholism alone costs our society well over 10 Billion dollars per year in health care costs. And what about smoking? How much do we as Americans pay in increased health insurance premiums to cover the numerous smoking related diseases that are now blossoming after years of cigarette abuse?

Needless to say, alcohol has been a part of human culture since history began and tobacco has been used by Western man for over several hundred years. Both are well accepted by society for helping man to cope with stress and his misfortunes. However, without giving addicts an effective and harmless substitute such as prayer, meditation, and/or mind machines, we Americans will continue to fuel increasing health insurance premiums as the years of lack of self-control and abuse blossom into a constant flood of chronic diseases (i.e., heart disease and cancer) typical of today's mainstream hospital patients. The big problem is that you, as an American, end up footing the bill.

Please contact our ntr@mindmachine.com with questions or comments.

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