I felt the effects of binaural beats, when I tried the „digital drug“ for the first time. It has always been difficult for me to focus while reading and studying. In my search of the literature, I found that there are not many scientific publications on how binaural beats affect us, yet. But the research community has picked up on it and here are the most interesting facts I found.
First up – what are Binaural Beats?
When listening to binaural beats one ear is fed a tone at one frequency (here 440 Hz) and the other ear a different one (445 Hz). Both tones have to be relatively close in frequency. Our neurons process what we hear and modulate the two tones into one. This new sound has a frequency that is determined by the difference in frequency between the two original tones (here 5 Hz).
To create monaural beats two tones that are at a similar frequency (here 440 and 445 Hz) are combined on a computer. Before we hear the tones the interplay of the different sound waves modulates a new wave with changing amplitude (figure 1).
How binaural Beats affect us
Throughout our brains electrical signals are constantly created. Depending on the state of mind we are in (sleeping, relaxed or focused) the frequency of these electrical signals’ changes. The frequency of these signals can synchronize with monaural and binaural beats that we hear (1). This remarkable finding was followed be more studies on how binaural beats subsequently affect our body and emotions.
A very concise study found that patients that listened to binaural beats (10 Hz) before a dental procedure ranked their anxiety significantly lower than the control group (2). And a more thorough study tested the effects of binaural beats (16 Hz) on a behavioral and molecular level. They found that vigilance is improved by measuring reaction time. And that an inflammation signaling molecule that is high when we are stressed is reduced by binaural beats (3). I find this particularly interesting because long term inflammation is known to impact our behavior negatively. Read more about this in BREAK bad habits – calm your IMMUNE SYSTEM.
Do binaural beats help us focus?
Binaural beats are best known to help people that are studying to better concentrate. For me, mind wandering is what distracts me the most from focusing and finishing a task. I am sure others that have to live this trauma can relate. Studies have testes different monaural and binaural beat frequencies and rather or not it helps people to stay focused. They actually found that monaural beats in the in the theta range (4-8 Hz) prevent people’s minds from wandering off the best. BUT ONLY in a subgroup of people that struggles rather heavily with mind wandering (4,5). So, people like me! In my quick search of the internet however I couldn’t find study music with monaural beats in the theta range. Hopefully the creators soon catch on with the science.
As it often is with complementary medicine as some call the binaural beats you have got to try and find out for yourself if it helps you…
(1) Intracranial electroencephalography power and phase synchronization changes during monaural and binaural beat stimulation (2014) A.-K. Becher, M. Höhne, N. Axmacher, L. Chaieb, C. E. Elger, J. Fell
(2) Binaural beats or 432 Hz music? which method is more effective for reducing preoperative dental anxiety? (2021) D. Menziletoglu, AY. Guler, T. Cayır, BK. Isik
(3) Stress management using fNIRS and binaural beats stimulation (2022) F. Al-Shargie, R. Katmah, U. Tariq, F. Babiloni, F. Al-Mughairbi, H. Al-Nashash
(4) Modulation of Mind Wandering Using Monaural Beat Stimulation in Subjects With High Trait-Level Mind Wandering (2022) L. Chaieb, S. Krakau, T. P. Reber, J. Fell
(5) Modulation of Mind Wandering Using Auditory Beat Stimulation: a Pilot Study (2019) L. Chaieb, M. Derner, M. Leszczyński, J. Fell
