What are Isochronic Tones?

Isochronic tones are a single tone that is manually spaced, turning on and off in an accurate pattern. It would be similar to turning a light switch off and on quickly. At one instant there is no sound and the next is full sound. Think of how a helicopter sounds, a quick beating sound.

The advantages of isochronic tones are that they can be used with regular speakers or earphones. These types of tones can be advantageous to individuals who have no hearing in one ear. They are more effective in entraining the brain than binaural beats because of the distinct on/off sound.

Isochronic tones can also be used to entrain different sides of the brain because they do not require both ears. Our right ear is primarily attached to our left brain and vice versa. With this concept in mind, we can easily target and entrain each hemisphere separately and at the same time.

Unfortunately, isochronic tones cannot be used to entrain the brain to the lower Delta frequencies, below 4Hz. Also, the sound must be turned loud enough so that the “beat” can be heard but not so loud as to cause a headache.