An Exercise For Observing and Reducing Visual Hemispheric Dominance

Repeated use of binaural beat audio technology effects  hemispheric dominance. Binaural beat technology increases activity across the corpus callosum in other words interhemispheric transfer of information between the left and right brain. This leads to a relative shift in hemispheric dominance (from left-brain dominance to whole-brain dominance) and  hemispheric synchronization, harmony and unity in the brain. This exercise and test  can help to reduce brain dominance and helps to induce an interesting meditative state of mind.

The hemispheres are connected by the corpus callosum.  It serves as a conduit or a bridge between both sides.  This bridge can literally be exercised and strengthened until it is physically larger and more capable of transmitting information, thoughts and feedback between the hemispheres and a more integrated system creates better performance.  The famous clairvoyant healer Edgar Cayce and Albert Einstein  were  found to have an unusually large corpus callosum.

Background

The two halves of our brains cooperate by agreeing that one of them will be in charge. On many jobs they take turns being the boss, handing the responsibility back and forth between themselves every few seconds, minutes, or hours. This is called hemispheric dominance.

You can easily observe this by noticing which nostril is open. Most of the time, one nostril breathes freely while the other is partly constricted inside. They typically alternate every ninety minutes or so as the brain hemispheres switch dominance for this function. If you pay careful attention to this process, you may discover that your state of mind and mood vary according to which side is breathing more freely. Yogis have developed exercises to keep the left nostril open because the mind usually seems more sattvic -- more calm and insightful -- when the left nostril's hemisphere (the right one) is calling the shots.

Yogis have also developed techniques for keeping both nostrils open simultaneously because they believe this helps channel energy into the the central channel of the nervous system, the sushumna, from the lateral channels that run on the left and right sides of it. Physiologically, this probably means the hemispheres are sharing responsibility equally instead of taking turns being the boss. In other words, these techniques probably reduce hemispheric dominance with regard to the nasal passages.

Vision is another area where hemispheric dominance occurs. The following exercise allows you to observe this process and control it.

As you look at this illustration, cross your eyes so you see a third circle between the blue and red one. When you get your eyes focused right, the middle circle will seem to have a cross on it.

The farther back you sit, the less eyestrain you'll feel. Sitting anywhere from 1 -3 ft. back works well.

Watch the cross on the third circle. Every few seconds, it will change from a horizontal line to a vertical line and back. This is because the hemispheres of your brain are alternating in dominance for this activity. When the right hemisphere is dominant you see the blue circle and vertical line on top; when the left hemisphere is dominant, the red circle and horizontal line are on top.

Now you're ready for the actual yoga. Look at the illustration again, but this time, try to make the cross on the middle circle steady. You want a pure cross, not a horizontal or vertical line. Practice every day until you can do it for 45 minutes straight. I think you'll find the resulting state of mind quite interesting.

Experiment II

Now try the exercise while listening to binaural beat audio, first wait for 5 - 10 minutes to allow for brain wave synchronization, the results are amazing. The Lucid Dreamer works very well for this exercise click here if you would like to get it.

Eliminating Eyestrain

Some people are bothered by eyestrain when they do this exercise, even if they sit far back from the screen. Here's an alternate method that completely eliminates strain.

Look at a distant object through two toilet paper tubes (as if they are binoculars) while holding a finger over the far end of each tube so your fingers make a cross in your field of vision.