By Elizabeth W. Krasnoff, PhD

Creativity can be defined as the ability to connect apparently unrelated concepts or ideas and making new associations between them.^[1] Research shows that brainwave activity influences creativity. Your brain is always operating in some combination of five basic brainwave states. From slower to faster, the brainwave states are: delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma. Brain activity in the alpha and theta frequencies play key roles in the creative process by supporting a flow state.^[2] A flow state is where you relax and lose track of time as you reach enhanced states of performance.^[3]

What are alpha and theta brainwave states? Alpha brain waves, also called alpha brain rhythms, oscillate at a frequency of 8-12 Hz and are associated with a very relaxed and passive state.^[4] Alpha brain waves are linked with relaxed and happy mental states and have been found to be effective for treating anxiety and depression.^[5] Theta brainwaves are also associated with creativity and flow states; they are called the “trance brainwave”.  Theta brain waves oscillate in a brain wave pattern of 4-9 Hz. Theta brain waves correlate to a deeply relaxed, inwardly focused state.^[6] (Abhang et al., 2016; Herman, 1997).

How do we know this? Brainwave activity can be detected using electroencephalography (EEG) or magnetoencephalography (MEG) and are measured by quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG). Specifically, EEG can be used to gather moment-to-moment feedback showing changes in brain waves.^[7]

Binaural beats (BB) are a sound technology that influence the brainwaves that the brain produces in response to sound.^[8] BB are a specific type of sound that exist only in your head when you listen to them through stereo headphones. They consist of two slightly different sound frequencies, one in each ear. The brain responds to the difference between the two sound frequencies by producing a third sound, an auditory illusion that exists only in the listener’s mind. The two hemispheres of brain respond, communicate and regulate as they resonate with the two different frequencies. This process mimics our natural auditory response to echo-locate any sound that is not directly in front of us.^[9]

According to research, your brain learns and expresses emotions at different brainwave frequencies. When you use BB to enhance your brainwaves, you can support an intention to change the way you feel. Brainwave patterns correspond to emotions and feelings. By using BB to enhance a specific brain frequency, you can begin to communicate with your brain in its own language.

The brain processes BB as they travel through auditory pathways, influencing the brainwave patterns. Enhancing specific brainwave patterns influences how we think and feel. Alpha and theta BB address information processing systems in the brain by sending instructions to areas involved in creativity.^[10] This is possible because BB have an influence on the “relax or engage” switch of the human nervous system.^[11] The more relaxed we are, the easier it is for us to receive our creative flow state.^[12]

How do you know which BB to use to enhance your intention to enter into creativity and flow? Select BB of medium slow states, such as alpha, theta or a combination of alpha-theta. Creativity is enhanced when your brain is operating at the alpha frequency.^[13] Theta BB can even help your brain to enter a meditative state.^[14]

Combinations of two BB have been demonstrated to be even more effective, as our brain is a combination of all the brainwaves.^[15] Different states represent a “top note” of certain brainwaves. For example, a combination of theta-alpha BB can induce a trance state of consciousness.^[16] For an even deeper effect, keep your eyes closed when listening to alpha or theta BB. Alpha waves fade when your eyes are open and increase when eyes are closed.^[17]

Research continuously shows that you can use alpha and theta BB to infuse your brain with relaxation.^[18] Since BB are played silently beneath music, choose music that you like. The music all by itself should put you in a relaxed state, so choose music that works for you personally. Since the beats work by playing a different tone in each ear, you must use headphones or earbuds (but not in the car please!). Over-the-ear headphones are best since they provide you with a fuller frequency sound.

Always listen to BB for at least ten minutes. It takes at least that long for brain neurons to start firing at the same rate as the frequencies that you are hearing. I also prefer to use BB from research based binaural beats companies, rather than BB of unknown origin that are flooding Youtube, Spotify and other channels. Try combining your favorite relaxation technique with BB, for a pleasing synergy. You may find that BB are a powerful tool for creativity. 

Stay tuned to future issues of this column, where we will show you how to use BB to support your goals of sleep, mental focus, and intimacy.

Visit Elizabeth at www.sound-medicine.com. Sign up for the newsletter and receive a free binaural beats creativity track. For the full immersive Sound Medicine ® experience, download our app and receive a free two-week trial. 

^[1] Stevens Jr, C. E., & Zabelina, D. L. (2019). Creativity comes in waves: An EEG-focused exploration of the creative brain. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 27, 154-162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2019.02.003

^[2] Ibid., 155.

^[3] Csikszentmihalyi, M., Abuhamdeh, S., & Nakamura, J. (2005). Flow. Handbook of competence and motivation, 598-608.

^[4] Abhang, P. A., Gawali, B. W., & Mehrotra, S. C. (2016). Introduction to EEG-and speech-based emotion recognition. Academic Press; Foster, J. J., Sutterer, D. W., Serences, J. T., Vogel, E. K., Awh, E. (July 2017). Alpha-band oscillations enable spatially and temporally resolved tracking of covert spatial attention. Psychological Science, 28(7), 929–941;

 doi:10.1177/0956797617699167; Hermann, N. (1997). What is the function of the various brainwaves. Scientific American, 22. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-the-function-of-t-1997-12-22/

^[5] Bergland, C. (2015). Alpha brain waves boost creativity and reduce depression: Increasing alpha brain waves can stimulate creativity and minimize depression. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201504/alpha-brain-waves-boost-creativity-and-reduce-depression; Deshmukh, V. D. (2023). The electroencephalographic brainwave spectrum, mindful meditation, and awareness: Hypothesis. International Journal of Yoga, 16(1), 42-48. DOI: 10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_34_23; 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. doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2017.02.014; Lovati, C., Freddi, A., Muzio, F., & Pantoni, L. (2019). Binaural stimulation in migraine: Preliminary results from a 3-month evening treatment. Neurological Sciences, 40(1), 197-198. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-019-03803-9; Wang, X, Zhang, J., He, C., Wu, H., & Cheng, L. A novel emotion recognition method based on the feature fusion of single-lead EEG and ECG signals. IEEE Internet of Things Journal, doi: 10.1109/JIOT.2023.3320269

^[6] Abhang, Introduction to EEG, 44; Herman, “What is the function of the various brainwaves,” 22.

^[7] Bergland, “Alpha brain waves boost creativity and reduce depression: Increasing alpha brain waves can stimulate creativity and minimize depression”, 2; 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, 365. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00387

^[8] Bergland, “Alpha brain waves boost creativity and reduce depression: Increasing alpha brain waves can stimulate creativity and minimize depression”, 2; Jirakittayakorn, N., & Wongsawat, Y. “Brain responses to a 6-Hz binaural beat: Effects on general theta rhythm and frontal midline theta activity”, 11. 

^[9] Kraus, N. (2022). Of sound mind: How our brains construct a meaningful sonic world. MIT Press.

^[10] Reedijk, S. A., Bolders, A., & Hommel, B. (2013). The impact of binaural beats on creativity. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7(786). https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00786

^[11] 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 in military service members with postdeployment stress. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 49(4), 411–420. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12304

^[12] Tsai, H. Y. (2023). Do you feel like being proactive day? How daily cyberloafing influences creativity and proactive behavior: The moderating roles of work environment. Computers in Human Behavior, 138, 107470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107470

^[13] Stevens & Zabelina, “Creativity comes in waves: An EEG-focused exploration of the creative brain”, 155.

^[14] Ibid., 155.

^[15] 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. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-018-1066-8

^[16] 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.

https://doi.org/10.1556/0016.2015.70.4.4

^[17] Mazaheri, A. & Jensen, O. (2010). Shaping functional architecture by oscillatory activity: Gating by inhibition. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 4(186), 1–8. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2010.00186; Mazaheri, A. & Jensen, O. (2010). Shaping functional architecture by oscillatory activity: Gating by inhibition. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 4(186), 1–8. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2010.00186

^[18] Aparecido-Kanzler, S., Cidral-Filho, F. J., & Prediger, R. D. (2021). Effects of binaural beats and isochronic tones on brain wave modulation: Literature review. Revista mexicana de neurociencia, 22(6), 238-247. https://doi.org/10.24875/rmn.20000100; Gantt et al., The effect of binaural beat technology on the cardiovascular stress response in military service members with postdeployment stress, 420; Perales, F. J., Riera, L., Ramis, S., & Guerrero, A. (2019). Evaluation of a VR system for pain management using binaural acoustic stimulation. Multimedia Tools and Applications, 78(23), 32869-32890. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-019-07953-y