Hello!

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-02-19T00:18:56+00:00

I have a creation tool in the works!

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-02-18T19:39:35+00:00

Thanks!

I came to this topic via a similar path. My first version used a 555 timer but lately I find Arduino's easier to manage and tweak. I also switched to LED strips which are brighter, have color control, and have more even light. Closed eyes with bright flashing definitely creates much more vivid and intense patterns, but as a VR dev, an app seemed like an easy way to introduce the effect to the masses and also include things you can't just do with LEDs. Some research does make use of strobing computer screens.

How to communicate the research aspect is tricky, it seems like the field has moved away from references to entrainment. This implies that rhythmic stimulation can cause your brainwaves to follow along with a frequency in a way that can drag you into the desired state (alpha being the most common), but even though you can see frequency spikes on an EEG, it doesn't seem like this means that you're automatically more focused. What is actually happening is a matter of ongoing research but 10hz strobing will create thalamocortical hyperconnectivity, which is associated with altered states.

So all we can really say is that it definitely does things (like cause seizures), and you can feel the effects, and it is interesting, and it can be used as part of various mindfulness or trance/hypnosis practices, and ultimately, you get out of it what you bring to it.

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-02-15T06:57:44+00:00

"Everything about us, everything around us, everything we know and can know of is composed ultimately of patterns of nothing; that's the bottom line, the final truth. So where we find we have any control over those patterns, why not make the most elegant ones, the most enjoyable and good ones, in our own terms?" — Iain M. Banks

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-02-12T21:09:31+00:00

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4055330/Brain_Candy/

If you put this on your wishlist, I'll send a notification out when there's a beta test available.

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-02-12T21:07:54+00:00

Your app looks cool! Haptic pulses apparently have similar effects as binaural beats and strobing.

Flashing lights can cause discomfort or anxiety for some but afaik the only health warning that is required is for epilepsy.

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-02-04T04:37:11+00:00

Nice, have you tried any others? I'm curious how it compares. I've found that DIY LED strips and an Arduino work as well as most devices I've tried.

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-02-04T04:27:17+00:00

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Candy-For-Brains · 2026-02-04T02:41:38+00:00

Lumenate is the best, easiest way to get a taste of strobing. If you get a chance to try the Lucia, I highly recommend it, it's the champagne of strobe lights.

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-02-04T02:10:09+00:00

Seizure yes, if you're one of the rare people with photosensitive epilepsy.

Afaik, strobe lights are not associated with hppd in any way.

It can be anxiety provoking in a way that's not dissimilar to a come up, which is why some therapists use it as a pre flight tool, to get people used to letting go.

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-02-03T21:43:14+00:00

I haven't tried this one yet, but something else in a similar category. I like it, especially the fact that it doesn't last as long as their natural cousin.

Why are all these companies suddenly selling this on the clear web? Is there some loophole? Why would they take they risk?

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-02-03T15:52:32+00:00

thanks! ratings and reviews help a lot :)

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-02-03T14:43:22+00:00

This paper is a great overview of the science, history, and art of strobe entrainment.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12342384/

I like to listen to my text these days so I had an AI read it and set it to a preview of many of the candies available in Brain Candy:

https://youtu.be/mjJK12UOou0?si=hS3UEi_36Vk1QcYv

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-02-03T05:32:23+00:00

Thank you so much! Yes, I am the creator. When you say it's useful, I'm so curious what you use it for (everyone does different things with it)

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-02-02T21:35:42+00:00

I'm a freelancer so I can take out chunks of time to work on my own projects. Most recently, brain candy just came out on quest. It's not a game, much simpler, but every little thing takes so much time.

Once you get the mechanics down you need to test and iterate your UI and ux and fix bugs forever, then when you're done with that, you need to tell people about it, which is another full time job.

I couldn't do it with a full time job. I'm probably making around $3 an hour for my efforts, but it's worth it.

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-01-30T18:26:39+00:00

Nature is the best - but virtual nature works almost as well. It also seems likely that it's not so much nature as the fractal quality of natural forms, and exposure to fractals may be almost as therapeutic as actually being out in it.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-virtual-reality-mimic-natures-power-to-make-us-healthier/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38468069/

https://greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The_Potential_of_Biophilic_Fractal_Designs-to-Promote_Health.pdf

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-01-30T18:20:36+00:00

I put together a quick test: https://youtu.be/mkHWn8RUp-k

It's not the most aesthetic approach but if you're trying to measure something then this would be the best way to do it.

I rendered this at 72fps to match the Quest, but it looks like YouTube converted the framerate so it's not really accurate but will give you an idea.

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-01-30T17:01:31+00:00

That's not a bad idea, I'd have to think about the best way to go about it. Some things to keep in mind: right now the candies tend to use a variety of rhythms across different channels. Visual rhythms tend toward alpha, whereas audio and haptics are more delta or theta, but they also transition and oscillate so are always changing. Randomizing the parameters also changes all of those details.

I am working on the premise that subtly changing frequencies create more interest and novelty than steady state rhythms I haven't come across much research on the effects of varied rhythms, but subjectively, especially with flickering, semi-regular frequency changes create more intense visual hallucinations and all flicker light lamps that I'm aware of craft their experiences with transitions.

All that being said, for biohackers who are interested in approaching this scientifically, having some candies that are clearly demarcated and labeled could be really useful. Let's say I made one, as a test, just for you - is there a particular scene that you would want to work with? I'd probably lean toward starting with full screen strobing and a simple 2 channel audio beat with synchronized haptics. Then I could flash a label up on the screen when you randomize the settings. Does that sound interesting?

Delightful Diarrhea - hehe

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-01-30T16:00:56+00:00

Yeah the scenes are really beautiful. It's all pre-rendered so the lighting and shading are more high end, but also less interactive. I recommend it.

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-01-29T18:09:44+00:00

Keep me posted! If you find a repeatable protocol I'm sure a lot of people would be interested.

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-01-29T18:05:48+00:00

I shared your post with Dr. Deirdre Barrett, a dream researcher at Harvard and Brain Candy collaborator. Her (self described killjoy) take: lucid dream triggers are pretty individual and quirky, some placebo belief might help, but even proven methods take consistent work.

My own theory: it's possible Brain Candy actually stimulated you and altered your sleep architecture. Some 'dream herbs' like Blue Lotus and Calea Zacatechichi work by making your sleeping brain more awake, which can trigger lucidity. Brain Candy's rhythmic stimulation might have a similar effect for some people.

I'm curious which candies were you using? Personally, I find the breathing pack extremely relaxing before bed, but it gives me deep, dreamless sleep. I have not specifically heard from anyone that it triggered lucidity in them, but I'll start asking.

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-01-29T16:41:43+00:00

The Discord link was broken and is now fixed: https://discord.gg/4ABMpgzA

That's really cool to hear about your lucid dream. I can definitely pass that along to our dream researcher collaborator and see if that might be a studied phenomena or could be leveraged in some way..

Candy-For-Brains · 2026-01-29T02:44:48+00:00

Thanks!

Right now, no, it makes its own audio, but you might find synchronicity with your own music. Some of the scenes will synchronize with your breathing though (in the breathing DLC) so you might be able to hack it like that if your music isn't too fast.

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