For most healthy adults, audio visual entrainment (AVE) is a procedure that has few risks and documented side effects. In more than fifty years of clinical use and research, the events that occur most often are mild and temporary. It is common for users to have a headache that does not last long, eyes that feel tired or a lack of energy after the initial sessions. By contrast serious risks exist only for a small number of people who have specific medical conditions. When a practitioner is responsible, they check for those conditions before they use the device - this text describes what the risks are, which people should not use AVE and what occurs during the process.
What “safety” means in the AVE literature
By using closed eyelids and headphones, AVE sends pulses of light and tones to the user. On the whole the light part of the technology is the cause of the safety concerns. In the 2008 review by Huang and Charyton and the 2025 review in Brain Sciences, researchers state that side effects are rare in healthy individuals and are almost always mild - but the level of risk is different for a few groups that have specific characteristics.
The hard contraindications
For the conditions, the rules are fixed - if a person has any of these, they must not start AVE until a doctor who studies the nervous system gives permission.
- Photosensitive epilepsy - about one person in every 4 000 has a brain that can have a seizure when it sees flickering light. As specified by the International League Against Epilepsy, light pulses are a known cause of seizures for those people. Since AVE uses the light patterns on purpose, this is the most important question to ask during a check.
- Recent seizure of any cause - if a person has had a seizure for any reason recently, they need medical permission. It is possible that their brain is more sensitive to light pulses than usual.
- Active visual disorders - if a person has a problem with the retina or the nerve in the eye, they must talk to an eye doctor first.
The soft contraindications
With those conditions, the risks are not absolute but a person should stop and talk to a doctor first.
- Pregnancy - because researchers have not studied AVE with pregnant people, most practitioners are cautious.
- Implanted electronic devices - for individuals with pacemakers or devices in the brain or ear, the sound is not likely to cause a problem - but it is necessary to check the rules from the company that made the device.
- Severe migraine with aura - because light can cause an aura to start, people with this history should use low light levels or avoid light pulses.
- Current psychotic episode or dissociative symptoms - when a person has a serious mental illness, changes in how they perceive things can be uncomfortable.
- Recent brain injury - until a doctor gives permission, a person should only do what their symptoms allow.
Common, transient side effects
In healthy users the side effects that happen most often during in-office sessions are short:
- A mild headache in the front of the head during the first few times.
- Eyes that feel tired or have tears.
- A feeling of being tired or “mental heaviness” for around an hour after.
- Seeing shapes or patterns during the session - in the literature, this is a normal result of light pulses and is not a bad event.
If a side effect does not stop or if a person feels dizzy or sick, they must stop and talk to a clinician.
How a responsible practice office screens you
To ensure safety at our practice office in Sofia, the first conversation covers multiple topics, which include a family history of epilepsy, any symptoms caused by light, current medicines and if a person is pregnant. We also ask about migraines, mental health and electronic devices in the body. During the session, the light and sound start at low levels. And the practitioner takes an EEG measurement before and after to see how the brain reacts.
How the 6th Mind app differs from in-office Roxiva sessions
In the context of home use, the screening requirements are the same as in clinical settings. By using the smartphone app, the user receives light from the camera flash instead of a medical goggle device. As the light intensity is lower than a Roxiva lamp, the user is able to stop the session at any time when they close the app. But the list of conditions that make the app unsafe is identical to the professional equipment. The 6th Mind app is for adults who do not have the health issues mentioned previously. If a person has a history of any type of seizure, they are required to obtain medical clearance before use. To ensure safety this rule is necessary even though the light intensity is lower.
When to talk to your doctor before starting
It is necessary to consult with a physician if you have a history of seizures or take medications that make seizures more likely. As an example certain drugs for depression, psychosis and focus can have this effect. And you should seek medical advice if you are pregnant, experience severe headaches with visual disturbances or are in treatment for a sudden psychiatric condition. For other people AVE is a non chemical method that is easy to use. It is a tool that works with but is not a replacement for, medical care for depression, anxiety or insomnia. In cases of burnout, the 6th Mind burnout protocol is one part of a larger plan for recovery. There is a benefit to using this protocol as a starting point when you also have professional support.
If you want to talk about if AVE is right for your situation, you can book a screening consultation at the office in Sofia.
Sources
- “A comprehensive review of the psychological effects of brainwave entrainment” - Huang T.L., Charyton C., Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine, 2008
- “Photosensitive epilepsy: clinical guidance” - International League Against Epilepsy
- “Audio-Visual Entrainment: A Comprehensive Review” - Brain Sciences, 2025
- “Audio visual entrainment safety - PubMed search” - PubMed / National Library of Medicine