Split field question

Hi Guys. I have a quick question about split fields on these glasses (procyon). I have read through many many threads here and general information on the topic and m a bit confused about two things.



I do understand that the procyon set does not offer split field function. I have been under the impression that this is a rather important function for synchronization of the two brain hemispheres (not 'unit specific', but in general). I am also under the impression that, as far as actual therapeutic concerns go, full RGB spectrums are more for a pleasant “experience” and not necessarily as critical for solid results as splitting fields. So why choose full color, over fields?



Im a bit confused as to why this feature is not on the procyon set. Is it merely a technical limitation due to the increase in light sources in the glasses, or is it in the unit itslef? And if so, is it possible to “convert down” the procyon to two, or even a single channel of light in order to split fields? (sort of lighten the load so you can split the fields)



I'm relatively new to all of this so perhaps im missing something, and most of the desired therapy can be found without split field options? Again, I was always under the impression splitting fields was one of the main reasons to use such a device, and the pulse modulations were secondary, and color was third.



Thanks for the help and I love the forum. Customer support and user base are extremely impressive! Cant wait to get my unit.

Hello and welcome!

Others may offer their opinions and advice regarding mono colour vs 2 colour vs RGB/Ganzfeld, etc. but from a purely technical standpoint, the Procyon can drive mono-colour Left/Right lightframes, which MindPlace also sells. The connections on the Procyon limit the outputs to 3 channels (R/G/B).

Hi andy, great to hear from you. Interesting. So the field option is built into the glasses themselves? or can you program the procyon to treat (temporarily of course) the RGB glasses as if they were mono? im just not clear if its hardware or a software issue. If the output on the procyon unit itself can drive split fields on mono frames, then can it not "fake it" for RGB?

thanks again..

I'm assuming when you say split fields you mean Left/Right?

If so, if you purchase any mono-colour frames from MindPlace, the red/green signals will drive the left/right LEDs in the Mono-Colour frames respectively.

The RGB frames that come with the Procyon are not wired with left and right separated. Only the 3 colours are separate signals on the RGB frames. e.g. When a RED signal is sent to the RGB frames, the Left and right red LED come on.

When a RED signal is sent to Mono-Colour frames, the Left LED comes on, when the GREEN signal is sent to the Mono-Colour frames, the Right LED comes on. (I might have it backwards, but RED/GREEN drive LEFT/RIGHT on the mono-colour frames).

Check out www.mindplace.com/ganzframes - the Sapphire, Ruby, White and Amber lightframes are all Mono-Colour and wired Left/Right.

wow, thanks again. yes, by split field i mean left right. And this perfectly answers my question about the technical aspects, and thats what i really wanted to know. I have a procyon on the way tomorrow! cant wait. (also bought a thoughtstream)

Thanks again for your help. Best wishes to all and have an amazing weekend!

Cool! I did not know that. So is it possible to create a asymmetrical audiostrobe session with Mind Workstation? Create one AS track to drive red, and another AS track to drive green?

:banana:Wow, I didn't know that either! I just tested it and it works... Works with separate stimulation for left and right with AudioStrobe. Both with NP3 and MWS.... All new possibilities.... love it!

This has my interest, but my problem is my Procyon uses the REV 2 frames, and my single color frames are the 3.5 mm plug. Is there a converter, or can I construct a square plug to 3.5 mm plug converter?

See the sticky at the top of this forum...
http://www.mindplacesupport.com/foru...frame-Adapters

Hi Flipnap,

You may like to take a look at this article by Robert Austin about Tom Budzynski. Budzynski found that whilst you could entrain the hemispheres separately, it was a very short-lived state:

"...at that time Tom was conducting some EEG research with ‘Hemifield’ stimulation – that is, using a single light in the far left and far right visual fields, active while the user was looking straight ahead. With this arrangement, it’s possible for the left light to stimulate only the right visual cortex and vice versa, with the goal of preferentially altering one hemisphere’s activity. He found that this could only work for a few seconds before the two hemispheres ‘snapped back’ into a common rhythm, however."

So even though independent left-right stimulation is a feature of some glasses/machines (and some manufacturers even offer unique hardware configurations that target the left-right visual fields instead of just the individual eyes) that doesn't mean such machines can actually achieve independent hemispheric entrainment in any meaningful way.

If Budzynski's research is correct, then independent hemispheric AVS may be a blind alley. That's not to say that independent hemisphere AVS sessions don't have any therapeutic value at all - just that their overall effect may be much the same (or perhaps less effective) than directing a single frequency at both eyes.

As a quick example, directing alpha frequencies into the left visual field, and beta into the right visual field (a typical "antidepressant" protocol for calming the right hemisphere and stimulating the left) may actually be less effective than a session that provides a range of high alpha and mid beta frequencies directed at both eyes.

As ever, it'd be nice if we had more research to compare and contrast all these different approaches to AVS, but I personally prefer (and think the existing research supports) single frequency entrainment rather than trying to simultaneously target different hemispheres.

Just something to bear in mind - and I think you'll find the Procyon a fantastic little machine :icon_wink:

All the best,

Joseph

I agree with Joseph essentially and had said as much to OP in a PM.

I would not recommend basing one's purchase of a machine on whether it can do a split field or not. There are so many years ahead for the new user in exploring the states generated by coordinated stimulation protocols. Having said that though, it is nice that the Procyon will do this with monocolor glasses, especially for users of advanced software where they can precisely control the stimulation and get feedback and calibration. Maybe this will encourage future research. I look at it as just another way that the Procyon will grow with you and not lock you into only a few approaches.

I also found this information very helpful as reports from users like TomC indicate that the AudioStrobe sessions I have created are very different with monocolor glasses. This goes a long way to explain why. I do think I will create some sessions with differing (but related) frequencies to both eyes and study the effects.

Scott

I just did some tests and all 3 of the MindPlace machines do this... Procyon, Proteus and Sirius. That is, it is possible to provide different stimulation to either eye using the left or right channels of AudioStrobe. So if someone was wanting to explore this and already had a Rev3 Procyon or Proteus but not monocolor glasses, then it would financially make the most sense to buy a Sirius as it comes with 2 pairs of monocolor Ganzframes (white and usually blue). The Ganzframes cost $50 a piece, so you would basically be getting the Sirius console for $29 as the current price is $129.

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Originally Posted by neuroasis

I agree with Joseph essentially and had said as much to OP in a PM.

I would not recommend basing one's purchase of a machine on whether it can do a split field or not. There are so many years ahead for the new user in exploring the states generated by coordinated stimulation protocols. Having said that though, it is nice that the Procyon will do this with monocolor glasses, especially for users of advanced software where they can precisely control the stimulation and get feedback and calibration. Maybe this will encourage future research. I look at it as just another way that the Procyon will grow with you and not lock you into only a few approaches.

I also found this information very helpful as reports from users like TomC indicate that the AudioStrobe sessions I have created are very different with monocolor glasses. This goes a long way to explain why. I do think I will create some sessions with differing (but related) frequencies to both eyes and study the effects.

Scott

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Yes, such as the disassociation technique of separating the channels by a fraction of a HZ during the first part of the session. You should be able to produce some interesting brain harmonics which may be helpful for hemispheric synchronization.

I also found that either the Procyon software editor or the Proteus editor can create these 'split field' sessions as well as the sessions that are already on the machines (albeit haphazardly) with the monocolor Ganzframes. White and amber frames are really nice this way. The random sessions on the Procyon really mix up the stimulation for break states...