An evidence-based, open-source tool for designing personalised subliminal audio reprogramming protocols. Generates structured session plans, affirmation scripts, 12-week calendars, and ready-to-record voice narration — all grounded in peer-reviewed research.
No audio files are produced. This outputs the protocol — the structure, the words, the schedule. You record it yourself. (That's the point: own-voice encoding produces stronger self-reference effects than generic recordings. Rogers et al. 1977.)
This tool is NOT a substitute for professional medical or psychological care.
- It generates a self-administered, evidence-informed identity-change protocol. It is not therapy, clinical treatment, or medical intervention.
- Do not use if you have: active psychosis, severe untreated PTSD, dissociative disorders, epilepsy (photosensitive or audio-sensitive), severe clinical depression, or if you are under 18.
- If you experience persistent anxiety, dissociation, or mood deterioration during use, stop immediately and consult a qualified mental health professional.
- If in doubt, consult your doctor or therapist before starting.
Given a research intelligence file (included) and your personal goals, the generator produces:
| Output | Description |
|---|---|
| Protocol document | Full session structure, affirmations, identity phases, safety guardrails, daily schedule, research appendix |
| Voice narration script | Ready-to-read script with [2s] pause cues, entrainment fade markers, and pacing notes — hit record and go |
| 12-week calendar | Per-day table mapping each week to its identity phase, with morning/evening session assignments |
| Weekly check-ins | Self-rating prompts for all 12 weeks with evidence questions, resistance checks, and affirmation adjustment reminders |
| Printer-friendly PDF | Clean typeset protocol via Pandoc (optional) |
| Machine-readable JSON | Structured export for habit trackers, Notion templates, or audio generation pipelines |
Everything traces back to [H]-confidence (high-confidence) research findings. No unverified claims are included in protocol output.
The protocol synthesises 52 high-confidence findings from 14 research domains:
| Domain | Key Findings |
|---|---|
| Subliminal perception & priming | Subliminal stimuli activate amygdala/reward networks without awareness (Ohman et al. 2001); evaluative conditioning shifts implicit self-esteem (Burling et al. 2017) |
| Expectancy & placebo | Expectancy drives subliminal treatment effects (Greenwald 1991); open-label placebo is clinically effective (Kaptchuk 2010/2014) |
| Identity-based motivation | Identity cues shape action readiness (Oyserman 2017); self-concept change is promising for identity health (Ghafoori 2021) |
| Self-affirmation theory | Reduces defensive resistance (Cohen & Sherman 2014); robust behavior change across domains (Epton et al. 2014) |
| Self-reference / own voice | Own-voice activates more widespread temporal lobe (Terry 2001); enhances memory encoding (Rogers 1977) |
| Breathing & HRV | Slow-paced breathing reduces psychological distress (Zaccaro 2018) |
| Brainwave entrainment | Theta binaural beats increase theta power (Jirakittayakorn 2017); isochronic tones produce cortical entrainment (Morse 2003) |
| Visualization | PETTLEP model for effective imagery (Holmes & Collins 2001); mental imagery produces similar neural activation to performance (Hétu 2013) |
| Habit formation | 66 days median for automaticity (Lally 2010); implementation intentions replace habitual patterns (Adriaanse 2011) |
| Hypnagogic state | Susceptible to auditory influence (Biller 2021); sleep memory reactivation strengthens retention (Diekelmann & Born 2010) |
| MKUltra declassified | Harm patterns inform safety guardrails; adverse effects documented (Senate Report 1975) |
See research-intelligence.md for the full source with all citations and confidence ratings.
- Python 3.10+
- (Optional) Pandoc + LaTeX engine for PDF export
# Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/iamnickthegeek/subliminal-audio-protocol.git
cd subliminal-audio-protocol
# Single goal — minimal
python3 scripts/build_protocol.py \
--input research-intelligence.md \
--output my-protocol.md \
--goal "Confident public speaker" \
--identity-shift "Shy wallflower -> Commanding speaker" \
--behaviors "Speak up in meetings,Volunteer for presentations" \
--values "Courage,Clarity"
# Full export suite
python3 scripts/build_protocol.py \
--input research-intelligence.md \
--output my-protocol.md \
--goal "Premium ghostwriter for agency owners,Lean and energetic at 50" \
--identity-shift "Author on hiatus -> Ghostwriter comeback,Sedentary carer -> Athletic entrepreneur" \
--behaviors "Write daily,Pitch weekly,Train 4x/week,Eat protein-first" \
--values "Craftsmanship,Directness,Health,Vitality" \
--affirmation-variants 3 \
--pdf --voice-script --calendar --checkin --export-json \
--start-date 2026-07-06This generates:
my-protocol.md— the full protocolmy-protocol-voice-script.md— ready-to-read narrationmy-protocol-calendar.md— 12-week daily calendarmy-protocol-checkins.md— weekly self-rating promptsmy-protocol.json— machine-readable exportmy-protocol.pdf— printer-friendly version (if Pandoc installed)
| Flag | Short | Description |
|---|---|---|
--input |
-i |
Path to research intelligence Markdown file (use research-intelligence.md from this repo) |
| Flag | Short | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
--output |
-o |
protocol.md |
Output protocol file path. All other exports derive their filenames from this stem. |
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
--goal / --goals |
The outcome(s) you're trying to achieve. Comma-separated for multiple goals. Example: "Confident speaker" or "Ghostwriter,Fit at 50" |
--identity-shift / --identity-shifts |
The identity transition required, one per goal. Format: "Old identity -> New identity". Comma-separated. Example: "Shy -> Commanding" |
--behaviors |
Specific behaviors to change or establish. Comma-separated. Example: "Write daily,Pitch weekly,Train 4x/week" |
--values |
Core values your affirmations should align with. Comma-separated. Example: "Courage,Clarity,Health" |
| Flag | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
--affirmation-variants N |
1 |
Generate N phrasing variants (1–5) per affirmation. Rotating variants prevents habituation — the brain stops processing repeated identical phrases. Uses five structural transforms: 1. Identity reframe: "I am a person who X" → "I'm the kind of person who X" 2. Embodied addition: "I am X" → "I feel X in every decision I make" 3. Clause inversion: "I am a person who X" → "X — this is who I am" 4. Competency framing: Append "with ease" or "naturally" 5. Temporal grounding: "I X" → "Every day, I X" |
| Flag | Output File | Description |
|---|---|---|
--pdf |
*.pdf |
Printer-friendly PDF via Pandoc. Requires pandoc and a LaTeX engine (pdflatex or xelatex). Gracefully skips with a warning if not installed. Clean 2.5cm margins, 11pt, DejaVu Sans. |
--voice-script |
*-voice-script.md |
Full narration script with second-precision pause cues ([2s], [15s]), entrainment fade-in/fade-out markers, breathing count-through, autogenic settling, affirmation delivery (4 reps each with inter-affirmation pauses), PETTLEP visualization narration, hypnagogic counting-down bridge, and final fade. Reads top-to-bottom, no improvisation needed. |
--calendar |
*-calendar.md |
12-week calendar showing every day: which phase you're in, what the morning session contains, what the evening session contains (if applicable), and special notes (weekend cautions, Sunday self-ratings). Multi-goal protocols use alternating-day scheduling (Goal 1 Mon/Wed/Fri, Goal 2 Tue/Thu/Sat). |
--start-date |
(today) | Calendar start date in YYYY-MM-DD format. Only used with --calendar. |
--checkin |
*-checkins.md |
12 weekly self-rating prompts. Each week includes: per-goal 1–10 rating scales, "what evidence did you see" question, resistance check (during Disruption and Rewiring phases), and biweekly affirmation adjustment prompts. |
--export-json |
*.json |
Machine-readable JSON containing: protocol version, goals, identity shifts, behaviors, values, all 5 phases, session structure, goal-specific affirmations with variants, conflict analysis, and all research findings. For integration with habit trackers, Notion templates, or audio generation pipelines. |
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
--interactive |
Prompts for all goal fields interactively. Shows medical disclaimer first (requires Y/N acknowledgement). Then asks: goals (one per line), identity shifts, behaviors, values. Good for first-time users without a terminal workflow. |
--json-goals PATH |
Load goal configuration from a JSON file. JSON format: {"goals": [...], "identity_shifts": [...], "behaviors": [...], "values": [...]}. For automation or scripted workflows. |
The tool supports multiple simultaneous goals. When you provide more than one goal:
-
Compatibility check: Pairwise analysis against known-conflict patterns (e.g. minimalism ↔ accumulation, risk avoidance ↔ entrepreneurship, early riser ↔ night owl). Tensions are surfaced with resolution strategies.
-
Behavior distribution: Behaviors are distributed round-robin across goals. If you have 2 goals and 6 behaviors, each goal gets 3.
-
Session strategy: Two options generated automatically:
- Option A — Alternating days (recommended for Rewiring phase, weeks 5–8): Each day's full 5-affirmation session targets ONE goal. Stronger per-goal signal.
- Option B — Split sessions (recommended for Stabilization phase, weeks 9–12): Morning = Goal 1, Evening = Goal 2. Daily exposure for both, fewer affirmations per session.
-
Warning at 3+ goals: More than 3 goals risks cognitive load dilution. The 5-affirmation-per-session cap means each goal gets ~1–2 affirmations — spread too thin and none land.
| Phase | Weeks | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Awareness | 1–2 | Audit current identity scripts. Journaling + gentle breathing only. No affirmations yet. |
| Disruption | 3–4 | Introduce contradictions to the old story. Self-affirmation values writing + first simple identity affirmations. |
| Rewiring | 5–8 | Full daily protocol at full intensity. Morning + evening sessions. All 5 affirmations per session. |
| Stabilization | 9–12 | Reduce to morning-only. Shorter affirmation blocks. Maintenance mode. |
| Integration | 13+ | Affirmations become self-initiated mental habits. Audio sessions as-needed. |
Evidence: Lally et al. 2010 [H] — 66 days median for habit automaticity. Deeper identity-level shifts (Oyserman 2017) typically require 3–6+ months.
| Phase | Duration | Content | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breathing Induction | 2–3 min | Guided coherent breathing 5.5 breaths/min | [M] HRV, Zaccaro 2018 |
| Body Settling | 1–2 min | Autogenic heaviness/warmth | [H] Autogenic Training |
| Entrainment Layer | continuous | Pink noise + theta binaural 4–7 Hz (under voice) | [H] Jirakittayakorn 2017 |
| Affirmation Block A | 3–4 min | Identity-level "I am" statements | [H] Oyserman 2015 |
| Visualization | 3–4 min | PETTLEP-guided imagery | [H] Holmes & Collins 2001 |
| Affirmation Block B | 3–4 min | Behavior/skill statements | [H] Oyserman 2015 |
| Hypnagogic Bridge | 2–3 min | Counting-down induction (evening only) | [H] Biller 2021 |
| Silence / Fade | 1 min | Gradual volume fade | Audio engineering |
Hard rules derived from research (all [H]-backed):
- Identity first, behavior second: Lead with "I am a person who..." (Oyserman identity-based motivation)
- Present tense only: "I am confident" not "I will become confident"
- Specific and concrete: "I speak clearly in 10-person meetings" not "I am a great communicator"
- Emotionally resonant: Include felt-sense words (embodied cognition / James-Lange pathway)
- Self-referencing: Record in your own voice for superior encoding (Rogers et al. 1977)
- Values-aligned: Connect to your stated core values (Cohen & Sherman — reduces defensive resistance)
- 3–5 repetitions per affirmation within session (clinical hypnosis convention)
- Maximum 5 affirmations per session to avoid cognitive load dilution
The mechanism is expectancy + repetition, not magic. This is a feature, not a limitation — Kaptchuk's open-label placebo work shows that knowing the mechanism doesn't reduce the effect. The protocol builds in:
- Open framing: Acknowledge the mechanism honestly
- Ritual container: Same time, same place, same breathing — ritual amplifies expectation
- Somatic anchor: Thumb-to-forefinger gesture during session and during the day to cue the relaxed state (classical conditioning)
- Progress tracking: Weekly self-rating gives visible "evidence" that reinforces belief
- Audio quality: Clean recording, no hiss, no reverb — bad audio destroys expectancy
Informed by MKUltra declassified harm patterns:
- ❌ No trauma reactivation — never revisit traumatic memories in sessions
- ❌ No memory-erasure framing — use "build new pathways alongside" language, never "erase old beliefs"
- ❌ No altered-state escalation beyond 25 min
- ❌ No strobe/flashing visual elements
- ❌ Exclusion criteria: active psychosis, severe untreated PTSD, dissociative disorders, epilepsy, severe depression, under 18
⚠️ The sessions are a catalyst, not a substitute for real-world behavioral experiments
- Binaural beats require headphones. Speakers collapse the frequency differential. If you won't wear headphones, use isochronic tones instead (lower evidence but speaker-compatible).
- Theta for morning, alpha for evening. Theta (4–7 Hz) = deep relaxation. Alpha (8–12 Hz) = relaxed alertness, better if you need to stay conscious before sleep.
- Don't layer many audio tracks. One voice + one entrainment track. More layers create auditory fatigue.
- 432 Hz claims are unverified. No peer-reviewed study supports "more harmonious" claims. Use standard 440 Hz.
- Over-reliance on audio is the #1 failure mode. The sessions prime identity; the behavior provides disconfirming evidence against the old self. You must act outside the sessions.
python3 scripts/build_protocol.py \
-i research-intelligence.md \
-o examples/single-goal.md \
--goal "Confident public speaker" \
--identity-shift "Shy wallflower -> Commanding speaker" \
--behaviors "Speak up in meetings,Volunteer for presentations,Practice impromptu weekly" \
--values "Courage,Clarity,Authority" \
--affirmation-variants 2 \
--voice-script --calendar --checkinpython3 scripts/build_protocol.py \
-i research-intelligence.md \
-o examples/multi-goal.md \
--goal "Premium ghostwriter for agency owners,Lean and energetic at 50" \
--identity-shift "Author on hiatus -> Ghostwriter comeback,Sedentary carer -> Athletic entrepreneur" \
--behaviors "Write daily,Pitch weekly,Train 4x/week,Eat protein-first,Walk 30 min daily" \
--values "Craftsmanship,Directness,Health,Vitality" \
--affirmation-variants 3 \
--pdf --voice-script --calendar --checkin --export-json \
--start-date 2026-07-06python3 scripts/build_protocol.py \
-i research-intelligence.md \
-o examples/conflict-test.md \
--goal "Minimalism and simplicity,Entrepreneurship and accumulation of wealth" \
--identity-shift "Consumer -> Minimalist,Cautious employee -> Bold entrepreneur" \
--behaviors "Declutter daily,Save 20%,Pitch weekly,Launch monthly" \
--values "Simplicity,Security,Ambition"{
"goals": ["Confident speaker", "Early riser"],
"identity_shifts": ["Shy -> Commanding", "Night owl -> 5am riser"],
"behaviors": ["Speak up in meetings", "Wake at 5am", "No phone first 30 min"],
"values": ["Courage", "Discipline"]
}python3 scripts/build_protocol.py -i research-intelligence.md -o protocol.md --json-goals goals.jsonsubliminal-audio-protocol/
├── README.md # This file
├── CHANGELOG.md # Version history
├── CONTRIBUTING.md # How to contribute
├── LICENSE # MIT
├── research-intelligence.md # 52 [H]-confidence findings across 14 domains
├── scripts/
│ └── build_protocol.py # The generator (v0.3.0)
└── .github/
└── FUNDING.yml # Sponsor link
MIT — use it, modify it, share it. See LICENSE.
The research findings in research-intelligence.md are cited from published peer-reviewed sources and declassified government documents. They are presented under fair use for educational and informational purposes.