Vibro Acoustics
Over 1/3 of our brain stem is devoted to vibro tactile stimulation, i.e. touch.
Our skin is the largest organ of our body.
Today there are many musical tables/mats/chairs that have speakers in them so you can ‘feel’ the music through our largest organ (skin) as your ears hear it. The beds/tables/chairs contain specialized speakers called transducers that allow the music/sound to vibrate. The results may include an increase in relaxation and (many times) a decrease in pain and anxiety.
Music felt through tables and chairs is ALSO perceived by your spinal cord and brain
Vibro-Tactile tables and chairs are being used in hospitals, universities, schools, mind/brain centers, and private and governmental facilities across the world. Clinical Research using vibro-tactile stimulation (VTS) has demonstrated:
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complete elimination of migraine headache
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complete elimination of sinus and tension headaches
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decrease in pain during invasive cancer procedures
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decrease in anxiety
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decrease in muscle tension and spasticity
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relaxing faster
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soothing personality disorders
Vibro Accoustic Therapy
Vibro Acoustic Therapy (VAT) takes VTS one step further. In this modality, the single frequencies that are played through the table/chair are formulated for specific purposes, i.e. decreasing symptoms of various diseases like arthritis or PTSD; or increasing oxygen, bone density, spinal energy. It is somewhat difficult to combine music with these frequencies that do not either cancel them out or compete. One way around this is to have a separate system coming through headphones which might also play a guided imagery exercise with music.
There are, however, a few composers who are addressing this and in the future you may expect to be able to hear your frequencies with music through the VA devices.
The possibilities with VAT are vast and are only now being explored.
Remember: everything is energy or vibration
Vibro Acoustic Research Bibliography
The Technology
At present, there are three general designs of vibroacoustic technology, each with unique capabilities and purposes.
The designs differ in the following ways:
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The type of vibration-generating systems used
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The frequencies selected for stimulus
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The extent to which sound vibrations are processed, measured and monitored
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The qualities and patterns of resonance in the vibrating surfaces
There are devices that have transducers mounted on hardwood undersides, transducers alone in padding of mats, and transducers in heavy foam. The transducers themselves have specific calibrations: some do only really low frequencies while others will handle a wider spectrum possibly including higher frequencies.
Having spent 40 years researching and using VAT, I have tried most of the VAT devices on the market. There was a period I
even had a craftsman making specified chairs for me.
At this time I recommend 3 companies who consistently produce high quality products:
Somatron.com
Vibroacoustics.org
VibraSound.com