Entrainment is a phenomenon in which two or more natural oscillations synchronize with each other in frequency. It is a process of synchronization in which a periodic stimulus influences the periodicity of a given oscillating system. In this process, the oscillations of the receiving system become synchronized with the oscillations of the external stimulus, resulting in resonance and entrainment (Lazar, 2010).
Entrainment is observed in numerous physical phenomena, such as pendulum clocks, in which the clock with the most dominant oscillation will influence the other clock and cause it to synchronize. Entrainment has also been observed in biological systems, such as circadian rhythms, in which the light-dark cycle of the environment influences the rhythms of the organism. Entrainment has been identified as a possible mechanism for synchronization of neuronal firing in the brain (Lazar, 2010).
Entrainment can occur at various levels, from the macro-level to the micro-level. For example, the synchronization of circadian rhythms is an example of macro-level entrainment, while the synchronization of neuronal firing is an example of micro-level entrainment. Entrainment is often used to explain synchronization of neuronal firing in the brain, as it is believed that certain regions of the brain are more sensitive to entrainment than others (Lazar, 2010).
Entrainment has also been used to explain synchronization of behavior in social contexts. For example, entrainment has been suggested as a possible explanation for the synchronization of group behavior in crowds (Lazar, 2010).
In conclusion, entrainment is a phenomenon in which two or more oscillations become synchronized in frequency. It has been observed in numerous physical and biological systems, including pendulum clocks and circadian rhythms. Entrainment is believed to play a role in synchronization of behavior in social contexts, as well as in the synchronization of neuronal firing in the brain.
References
Lazar, R. (2010). Entrainment: A natural phenomenon with implications for neuroscience and medicine. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 4, 77.