How to use
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Once you turn the machine on, it enters
readymode, where you can use the knob to select the session you want to run. The eye-LEDs indicate which session is about to be select by blinking "dots" (.) and "dashes" (-):-
.Good morning (15m) -
..Good night (15m) -
...Visualization (20m) -
-"Creamy" Meditation (35m) -
--"Chunky" Meditation (19m) -
[rapid blink]Brightness adjustment
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Push the button to start running the session (eye LEDs would blink and earphones would beep).
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Whenever you want to stop, just push the button to return to
readymode. -
Once the session ends (after 15-35m, depending on session), the machine would enter
sleepmode (eye LEDs are off, saves battery, but it still wastes some power), and pressing the button would return it toreadymode.
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The first four sessions are based on Mindplace Proteus sessions (data courtesy of the mindplace forum).
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The descriptions for each were copy/pasted from the original document, but the session charts were reconstructed from the actual data in the code.
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The 5th session is Altman's original code (the one I forked this from).
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The 6th "session" is a utility to adjust LED brightness.
This is a slightly more stimulating version of session 03. It will help clear your mind of all thoughts for a few minutes and increase your mental clarity. You can choose to use fast-paced music instead of the internal sounds.
Use these sessions to fall asleep. They do not “rise” at the end to wake you up so use them when you want to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Use this when you feel tired and want a session that moves through a series of frequencies for stimulation and visualization. If you are a visual person, you will see all kinds of kaleidoscopic imagery.
This session is long enough to allow you to reach a state of very deep relaxation and focused concentration. Some people feel this session seems much shorter then 35 minutes. A session like this has to be used on a regular basis over a period of several weeks to help you learn to properly let go and allow yourself to become deeply relaxed. This is also a good session to use with relaxation or self-help tapes.
This session is called "creamy" because [like all Proteus sessions] there are smooth transitions between frequencies (as opposed to the "chunky" alternative — see below).
based on Altman's original code (the one I forked this from).
Unlike the Proteus sessions, where there are smooth transitions between frequencies (aka the "creamy" method), Altman's code entrains the brain with a series of frequency hops (aka the "chunky" method). Although the code and data representation are completely different, it was important to keep this program as an option not only because it's a different kind of experience, but also because there may be merit to this method, as was explained to me here:
There exists a variety of approaches to audio visual stimulation; hopping back and forth between frequencies has been thought to improve EEG flexibility; the ADHD studies Dr. Russell etc. ran in the 90s used prototypes we built that included an EEG lead, measured the EEG in the range 13-22 Hz, and every 30 seconds would alternate stimulation at either 1 hz above or 1 hz below the "dominant" FFT bin (analyzed in 1 Hz bands). In effect, the light frequency moved around a lot, and the test kids had a verbal IQ increase on average of 10 points by the 40th session.
In this mode, the eye-LEDs are constantly on, and you can use the knob to set the brightness. Note that once you click the button and go back to session selection, the selected session (indicated by the eye-LEDs blinking dot or dash patterns) will be arbitrary (depending on the knob's position).