From: hzuker@sgihbtn.sierra.com (Hunter Zuker)
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
Subject: Re: Voyager(TM) light and sound device
Date: 10 Sep 92 20:18:10 GMT
Organization: Sierra Geophysics, Inc.

mcgrath@cs.uiuc.edu (Robert McGrath) writes:
> ryb@microsoft.com (Danger Mouse) writes:

>> Has someone else tried Voyager? Is there something to this idea of light and
>> sound devices? The literature mentions a researcher in the 1940's named Gray
>> Walter who discovered "photic driving" -- that brainwave activity tends to
>> fall into lockstep with flickering light, particularly in alpha and theta
>> range.

We purchased a voyager about two weeks ago.  We have found it to be 
beneficial.  My wife uses it at least twice a day.  She finds that it
helps her to relax and sleep.  She generally does not sleep well.  Since
using the voyager she has slept pretty well.  Once or twice she has gotten
up in the night, but she's used the voyager to help her get back to sleep.
Usually she can't get back to sleep once she's awake.

I've experimented a bit with it.  It's difficult for me to make any sweeping
statements about it.  I find there are a couple of programs which get
me feeling relaxed, similar to some medititative states I've achieved in the
past.  Some of the programs seem to be slightly jarring to me.  It's not
clear whether the sessions were jarring because of the program I selected
or because of the "state" I was in before I started the session.  This
will take some more experimentation.  (I tend to want to use the programs
I've had the most success with, though even they are not always successful
at significantly altering my state from tense to relaxed.)

I'm very interested in testing the program that can help with adjusting
to jet lag.  I haven't travelled since I got it, so it's to be seen.

The people who sell the voyager say that each individual's reactions may
vary to the different programs.  But they do describe the "average"
reaction to each program.

My wife, who is an artist, see's all sorts of images, patterns and colors
when she uses the Voyager.  Except once, I generally only see white 
flashing lights.  


> Is there "something" to this?  Yes, there is a phenomenon of "phototic driving"
> and related EEG "driving" by sound.  This driving is primarily useful for
> triggering epileptic seizures in a few susceptible people.  What else it does

They definitely state that epileptics should  not use this.

> Perhaps your wife should compare it to a blindfold and a walkman playing
> quiet music.  This might acheive just as much relaxation as the Voyager.
> I might also point out that a warm bath or a short nap tend to produce
> just as much measurable benefit than alpha-enhancing feedback systems, 
> which is another comparison to consider.

We've used many techniques, including most of the ones you mentioned.  I
would say that our current analysis of the Voyager indicates that it
fills a niche in our state management that none of the others provide
at this point in time.  Certainly we won't use it as our only state 
management tool.  But it certainly seems to help.

I'm interested in understanding more of the mechanics of the Voyager,
(psychological, physiological, etc.), but I'm not above using it if
it works, even if I don't completely understand it.  If I find there 
other ways to achieve the same goals, all the better.

Hunter