The Science behind Moonai

Moonai is the first and only (yeah, baby!) app for period pain relief. BOOM! We have worked diligently to develop a badass, hormone-friendly, on-the-go, and digital solution that helps you feel better by reducing both physical and mental menstrual pain while enhancing mental clarity. We achieve this by utilizing neuroscience, sound therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, and below you can see how we excel in these areas.

The sounds used in Moonai workshops employ a neuroscientific concept known as "brainwave synchronization" or "brainwave entrainment." In short, this process involves different stimuli, such as sounds and visuals, influencing your brainwaves to modify mood, pain perception, or enhance cognitive function. Each frequency has a unique effect on brainwaves.

So, while writing this FAQ, we have nearly 17,000 people using the app, with over 80% reporting feeling better after using Moonai. On average, 30% of users utilize it to improve their focus, while 70% use Moonai for better sleep. However, these percentages can vary from month to month.

Typically, individuals initially start using Moonai to alleviate menstrual pain or PMS symptoms. Over time, they develop a habit of using it during each period and even outside of that time frame. Many find it increasingly helpful for sleep or to enhance focus. For instance, my mom uses it when she gets angry at my father and needs to relax.

Onboarding a new user directly impacts the expenses for our servers, tools like newsletters, the workload for Agus in design, Ivan in maintaining app stability, and implementing improvements based on your feedback. As for me, LJ, it allows me to reach out and communicate with you.

Let's be clear, we are not an NGO. We are developing a solution that requires substantial time and effort, and we need to sustain ourselves. It's similar to visiting a pharmacy and expecting free medicine.

The hormonal police won't stop you—so yes, go for it. Think of it as a painkiller—it may not know where your pain is, but it will affect the region of your brain controlling it. However, Moonai considers and optimizes the sound, app, experience, and neuroscience for individuals with a menstrual cycle. Studies have shown that music and pain perception vary based on sex differences, and menstrual pain management requires its own specific approach (psychologically, socially, and biologically).

So whether you're a man, someone without a menstrual cycle, Bruce Jenner, or part of a testosterone squad, you can use Moonai and experience some benefits. However, it's not optimized and personalized specifically for you.

We remain focused on delivering a solution for menstrual pain because there's still so much to do, it's still considered taboo, and we will stand our ground on this.

Neuroscience-based and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach is combined with ambient-drone soundscapes carefully designed by our handpicked team of music producers and scientists. We take pride in being the original O.G., creating these soundscapes with love.

So hot tea here, we all have been taught that period pain is normal. It’s not. It should be addressed, talked about, and examined. Menstruation pain is addressed in 3 specific verticals which are biological, psychological, and social.

Moonai integrates those 3 verticals through the app experience combining the sounds, the neuroscience, the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, our voice and “realness”, and how we build “the user flow”.

But we’re here to provide a digital therapeutic alternative but will always recommend first consulting a doctor to discuss menstrual-related diagnoses and treatments.

Yes, darling, please refer to the above explanation to understand why. Am I simply unwilling to rewrite the answer? Yes, I am.

Your period pain has physiological causes, such as inflammation or medical conditions. However, research shows that other factors, like your thoughts, emotions, and social support, can also influence the intensity of pain you experience (you don't say?). This means that you have the power to either amplify or minimize your monthly pain. By understanding its causes and taking preventative or reducing measures, you can be in control of your pain.

That's why we advocate for body literacy and provide educational content. It's crucial to comprehend how your menstrual cycle affects you and why! For instance, how breathwork impacts hormonal variations, which lubes are safest for your intimate area, which psychedelic therapies are hormonal-friendly, and how to reduce inflammation through herbs, diet, and plants, among other topics.

Studies have shown that pain perception does differ based on the sex.
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There are elements such as social conditioning and psychosocial factors, but many laboratory studies of humans have described sex differences in sensitivity to noxious stimuli, which suggests that biological mechanisms underlie such differences. In addition, sex hormones influence pain sensitivity; pain threshold and pain tolerance in women vary with the stage of the menstrual cycle. But fear not, sweet summer child, we will have some more educational content on the topic in the learn section.

Your period pain has physiological causes, such as inflammation or medical conditions. However, research shows that there are other factors that also affect the intensity of your pain: your thoughts, emotions, and social support. This means that you can literally amplify or minimize the amount of pain you experience each month.

Our past experiences often shape our expectations of the future, which, in turn, can influence how we perceive future events. Previous studies have demonstrated that our expectation of the level of pain from a stimulus can impact our perception and response to it.

Not all sounds and music have the same effect, in the same way, on the same people. Certain sounds, frequencies, and rhythms can impact the central nervous system and help reduce the perception of menstrual pain. This is why we are partnering with neuroscientists, gynecologists, and psychoacoustic experts to provide the most effective sounds for period pain relief.

We will offer soon the possibility to know more about the artists through the app and through your preference. You can check in "About Us" the different artists with who we work and their links. Show them some love.

A soundscape is a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an immersive environment.The term was originally coined by Michael Southworth and popularized by R. Murray Schafer.Soundscape encompasses the natural acoustic environment, including animal sounds (biophony), weather, and natural elements (geophony), as well as human-generated sounds like music, language, work, and industrial noise (anthropophony).

I ain't gonna lie, I've copied and pasted the Wikipedia and Frontiersin.org definitions.

So, isochronic tones are repetitive audio pulses (like a "Vuuu-v' Vuuu'v" noise) that are evenly spaced, producing a distinct and consistent rhythm (imagine placing your hands on your ears and pressing them, then releasing them; it's like that, but better, and you don't look stupid).

These tones are used for various purposes such as relaxation, meditation, and enhancing focus. They were first introduced as a sound therapy technique in the mid-20th century and have since gained popularity for their potential benefits in promoting mental and emotional well-being.

My favourite elements, binaural beats, are auditory illusions created by playing two slightly different frequencies in each ear. Your brain is like, "Oh, hell no!" and doesn't like that difference, so it compensates by creating the perception of a third tone. These beats are believed to influence brainwave activity and can be used for relaxation, meditation, and focus. The concept of binaural beats originated in the 19th century and gained popularity for its potential benefits in promoting mental states and well-being.

Brain scans show that your brain perceives music, pain, and emotions in a similar way. Listening to pleasing music increases activity in parts of the brain's reward center, and some studies suggest that music can interfere with the signals your brain interprets as pain.

Certain sounds, frequencies, and rhythms can impact the central nervous system and help reduce the perception of menstrual pain. However, not all sounds count, which is why we are partnering with neuroscientists, gynecologists, and psychoacoustic experts to provide the most effective sounds for period pain relief.

Some say their period pain is similar to what contractions during labor feel like. Others describe their cramps as if someone were stabbing, piercing, or scratching their insides. Research* has proven that music significantly minimizes that.

Spatial audio, immersive audio, and 3D audio are all innovative audio technologies that have the potential to revolutionise the future of digital health.

Spatial audio refers to the realistic reproduction of sound in a three-dimensional space, enhancing the immersive experience. It involves techniques such as sound localisation, where audio sources are positioned and moved in a virtual space, creating a sense of depth, width, and height in the sound field.

Immersive audio goes beyond spatial audio with a multi-sensory experience by incorporating additional sensory elements to create a fully immersive environment. It aims to stimulate multiple senses, such as sound, visuals, and sometimes even touch or smell, to create a realistic and engaging environment.

3D audio focuses on recreating sound sources and their movements in a way that mimics real-life perception. It aims to create an accurate three-dimensional representation of sound, capturing not only its position but also factors like velocity, tone, and timbre.

In summary, spatial audio focuses on recreating sound in a three-dimensional space, immersive audio aims to provide a fully immersive multi-sensory experience, and 3D audio aims to accurately replicate the characteristics and movement of sound sources in a three-dimensional environment.

Our new release also integrates immersive soundscapes powered by Dolby Atmos technology, providing a more dynamic and three-dimensional experience for users by incorporating 3D audio (incorrectly referred to as Spatial Audio, see below).

The numerous benefits of adding this technology to well-being are still often discussed. One of them is optimizing the three-dimensional perception of sound, offering a more accurate and precise representation. This results in less brain fatigue from transforming the input (sound) into the usual stereo channel (imagine the effort it takes for your brain to break down something 3D into only 2 channels).

Additionally, due to its immersive nature, it can create a sense of presence and transport individuals to different environments, positively impacting their emotional well-being.

Lastly, 3D audio creates a more immersive and engaging auditory experience. This heightened immersion can help individuals achieve a state of deep relaxation, potentially reducing stress levels and promoting a sense of calm.