From the Research
The optimal sound frequency for producing the ganzfeld effect is typically white noise, as evidenced by a study published in 2019 1, which found that white noise, along with other forms of unstructured auditory noise, can effectively induce an altered state of consciousness. This is because white noise contains equal energy across all frequencies, making it an ideal choice for creating a uniform auditory field that lacks pattern and structure. To create an effective ganzfeld state, this noise should be played at a moderate volume (around 50-60 decibels) through headphones while experiencing uniform visual stimulation, such as wearing halved ping-pong balls over the eyes with diffuse red light. The purpose of the sound component is to provide consistent auditory input that, like the uniform visual field, lacks pattern and structure. This sensory uniformity across multiple senses helps induce the altered state of consciousness characteristic of the ganzfeld effect, where the brain, deprived of varying sensory information, begins to generate its own perceptual experiences, often manifesting as hallucinations or unusual sensory phenomena. Some key points to consider when inducing a ganzfeld state include:
- Using white noise or other forms of unstructured auditory noise
- Playing the noise at a moderate volume (around 50-60 decibels)
- Combining the auditory noise with uniform visual stimulation
- Creating a sensory uniformity across multiple senses to induce the altered state of consciousness. It's also worth noting that the ganzfeld effect can be influenced by individual differences, such as proneness to hallucinations, as found in a study published in 2009 2. However, the use of white noise as an optimal sound frequency for producing the ganzfeld effect is supported by the most recent and highest quality study available 1.