2.2Cognition and MemoryĪn uncontrolled study of 58 people found that a 5 minute exposure to gamma binaural beats was sufficient to produce gamma waves in the brain, and that gamma waves measured during a long-term memory test were directly proportional to performance on that test, although binaural beats were not used during the test itself. Delta and theta binaural beats have shown some promise for improving some sleep parameters, but the jury is still out. The second study, conducted in 15 elite young soccer players, found that eight weeks of sleeping with binaural beats in the delta and theta range improved sleep and awakening quality, reduced daytime sleepiness, and improved mental state compared to silence. The first study, conducted in 21 people, found that using theta and delta binaural beats for 20 minutes prior to a nap had no effect on sleep latency (time to fall asleep), but did improve sleep stability (the regularity of the sleep-wake cycle) compared to silence. There have been two studies that evaluated the efficacy of binaural beats on sleep, which have found some positive effects: Binaural beats may increase production of brainwaves of the same frequency, which could help facilitate certain aspects of cognition. Some studies have successfully measured an FFR from binaural beats using electroencephalography (EEG), particularly when visual stimulation of the same frequency was used concurrently, although other studies have failed to find this effect. Because different brain wave frequencies are associated with different types of mental activity, the binaural beat frequency could be used to improve certain types of cognition or produce specific moods. This term is also referred to as “brainwave entrainment”.īy playing the perceived third tone at a certain frequency, the brain should (theoretically) increase the presence of brainwaves of the same frequency. 1.2How do binaural beats work?Īlthough the mechanism is still under investigation, it is thought that binaural beats elicit a “frequency following response” (FFR), which is the tendency of the electrical activity in the brain to match the frequency of an external periodic stimulus such as a tone. People with hearing or neurological conditions should exercise more caution. There isn’t much safety data related to binaural beats, but they are likely safe. Of course, listening to beats too loudly can potentially damage hearing.Īlthough we did not find any research suggesting this, binaural beats could theoretically produce a negative effect in people with some sort of pre-existing neurological condition, simply due to the wide variety of possible interactions any intervention would have with diverse conditions. Additionally, the frequency of binaural beats matters, and some may impair certain types of cognition transiently. Adverse effects of binaural beats are rarely reported, although no safety trials have been conducted.
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