Binaural Beats Science
Sound Waves Creating Brainwave Shifts
What are binaural beats?
Binaural beats are an auditory illusion that occur when you detune a tone and send the two tones of slightly different frequency to each ear separately.
This difference in frequencies creates the illusion of the third sound—a beating rhythm. The brain has been shown to resonate at the same frequency as the binaural beats rhythm. For example, a tone that is de-tuned by 6 Hz for example, will create a resonance in your brain of 6 Hz. We measure 6 Hz to correlate with meditative, calm emotional/cognitive states. Currently, research shows that these states are able to be consistently produced in clinical settings.
Research has shown that in addition to effecting our states of consciousness, binaural beats have the important effect of synchronizing our brain hemispheres. Existing therapies such as EMDR and Neurologic Music Therapy have demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of brain synchronization.
Elizabeth's doctoral dissertation reviews the transformative effects of sound, specifically "The Effects of Auditory Binaural Beats on Consciousness and the Human Nervous System."
Listen to Elizabeth's iAwake interview: "Do Binaural Beats Really Entrain the Brain?"
Elizabeth, a professional musician, is writing, producing and working with other artists around the world in creating binaural beats music for all. She custom designs binaural beats formulas in the categories of sleep, relax, focus and move for her music.
Binaural Beats Studies
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Gantt, M. A., Dadds, S., Burns, D. S., Glaser, D., & Moore, A. D. (2017). The effect of binaural beat technology on the cardiovascular stress response inmilitary service members with postdeployment stress. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 49(4), 411–420.
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Gao, X., Cao, H., Ming, D., Qi, H., Wang, X., Wang, X., Chen, R., & Zhou, P. (2014). Analysis of EEG activity in response to binaural beats with different frequencies. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 94(3), 399–406.
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Garcia-Argibay, M., Santed, M. A., & Reales, J. M. (2019). Efficacy of binaural auditory beats in cognition, anxiety, and pain perception: A meta-analysis. Psychological Research, 83(2), 357–372.
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Gkolias, V., Amaniti, A., Triantafyllou, A., Papakonstantinou, P., Kartsidis, P., Paraskevopoulos, E., Bamidis, P. D., Hadjileontiadis, L., & Kouvelas, D. (2020). Reduced pain and analgesic use after acoustic binaural beats therapy in chronic pain‐A double‐blind randomized control cross‐over trial. European Journal of Pain, 24(9), 1716–1729.
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Isik, B. K., Esen, A., Büyükerkmen, B., Kilinç, A., & Menziletoglu, D. (2017). Effectiveness of binaural beats in reducing preoperative dental anxiety. The British Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, 55(6), 571–574.
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Jirakittayakorn, N., & Wongsawat, Y. (2017). Brain responses to a 6-Hz binaural beat: Effects on general theta rhythm and frontal midline theta activity. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 11, Article 365.
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Jirakittayakorn, N., & Wongsawat, Y. (2018). A novel insight of effects of a 3-Hz binaural beat on sleep stages during sleep. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12, Article 387.
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Oster, G. (1973). Auditory beats in the brain. Scientific American, 229(4), 94–103.
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Reedijk, S. A., Bolders, A., Colzato, L. S., & Hommel, B. (2015). Eliminating the attentional blink through binaural beats: a case for tailored cognitive enhancement. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 6, Article 82.
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Reedijk, S. A., Bolders, A., & Hommel, B. (2013). The impact of binaural beats on creativity. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7(786).
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Szabó, G., Drótos, G., & Szabó, C. (2015). Az elvárások és a hanginger szerepe a binaurális ütemek hallgatása során átélt szubjektív élményekre [The effects of the expectation and sound stimuli on the subjective experiences of binaural beat listening]. Magyar Pszichológiai Szemle, 70(4), 769–785.
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