“A calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health.”
Dalai Lama
Have you heard of binaural beats?
Well, to begin with, it’s not a brand-new music genre or a quirky band name. These beats are a form of sound therapy that have a positive impact on the brain. Often used as a form of relaxation and meditation, many people swear by their effectiveness.
You might be thinking, “How can brainwave entrainment improve my life?”
Well, have you ever listened to music or sounds through headphones and felt like you were in another world? That’s kind of what happens when you listen to binaural beats.
But how do they really work? Let’s briefly look at the science behind it.
These beats work by playing two different frequencies in each of your ears. For example, you hear a tone of 400Hz in your left ear and 410Hz in your right. But your brain will perceive a “beat” of 10Hz even though there’s no actual sound at that frequency.
[Hertz (Hz) is a measure of how fast something is vibrating or oscillating per second].
When different frequencies are played into each ear, the brain creates a “beat” at the difference in frequencies. This is what’s called a binaural beat. This beat has a multitude of effects on your brainwaves, making you feel calmer or focused as a result.
It’s all about your brainwaves. Brainwaves are electrical signals that your brain continuously produces. These brainwaves vary in frequency depending on what you’re doing.
For example, when you’re awake and alert, your brain produces faster beta waves. But when you’re relaxed or asleep, your brain produces slower alpha, theta, and delta waves.
As the term suggests, brainwave entrainment is a process that can influence your brainwaves. These beats can guide your brainwaves to a certain frequency, which can help induce a state of relaxation or focus.
Listening to these beats at 7Hz can help synchronize your brainwaves with that frequency, potentially inducing a state of relaxation. Different beat frequencies are believed to have different effects on the brain.
Your brain interprets binaural beats as a single tone that pulsates at a specific frequency. This process is known as brainwave entrainment, and it has a variety of benefits for mental and emotional health.
Here are seven surprising ways that binaural beats can boost your well-being:
Life may get very stressful at times, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and stressed. However, if you’re able to lower your cortisol levels (the hormone associated with stress), you can increase feelings of relaxation.
Binaural beats alter specific brainwave frequencies, which can aid in relaxation. Studies show that these beats can raise serotonin and dopamine (the feel-good hormones) while lowering cortisol, the stress hormone.
Karen Newell, an expert in the field of sound meditation, studies how binaural beats reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. One of her studies involves volunteers with moderate to high levels of anxiety.
Every day, the volunteers were exposed to the beats for 30 minutes. Within the next two weeks, the participants said their level of anxiety dropped by 26%.
To help you feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and reconnected with yourself, try engaging all your senses with this binaural audio.
If you’re easily distracted and find it a struggle to focus on tasks, brainwave entrainment may be the answer. Binaural beats can increase alertness and mental clarity by activating the alpha and beta brainwave frequencies in the brain.
Several studies have demonstrated that audio sound therapy can enhance memory retention and cognitive performance significantly. The beats promote the synchronization of the brain’s hemispheres, leading to enhanced communication between neurons, and, ultimately, better cognitive performance.
The Journal of Neurotherapy published a study in 2007 showing that hemispheric synchronization can improve cognitive function in adults with ADHD.
In the study, 8 adults with ADHD were tested on their thinking abilities before and after listening to binaural beats. After listening to a 30-minute brainwave entrainment, they showed a clear improvement in their thinking abilities.
Want to increase your capacity for attention and concentration? This recording will help you work with maximum efficiency while providing you with a sense of calmness and clarity.
Nothing ruins your day like a bad night’s sleep. And counting sheep is not a long-term option. Thankfully, binaural beats can help you sleep better in two different ways:
Binaural beats can affect delta brainwave frequencies in the brain, which are linked to deep sleep and restful rejuvenation. A study found that binaural beats delivered at a frequency of 3 Hz promoted stage three sleep by causing delta activity in the brain.
If you want to wake up feeling rested, you’ll need to experience deep sleep. By easing tension and fostering calmness, binaural beats’ calming influence enhances the quality of your sleep. You can do this to make it simpler for yourself to get to sleep and stay asleep all night.
If you want to experience sinking into a deep state of pure relaxation, try this Serene Sleep Album.
You might be interested to know that hemispheric synchronization can improve your creativity if you’re the creative sort. These beats stimulate your brain’s theta and gamma brainwave frequencies. Divergent thinking, a crucial element of creativity, is increased by these frequencies, which range from 10 Hz to 40 Hz.
In 2014, a study looked at how binaural beats might impact creativity. The results showed that people were more creative when they listened to binaural beats in certain frequency ranges.
The researchers compared this to people who listened to white noise or nothing at all, and the binaural beat listeners did better on a test of creativity. The authors of the study think that these brainwave frequencies could be helpful for boosting creativity.
To experience the power of binaural beats in enhancing creativity, give this binaural audio a try.
Feeling a little down? Synchronizing your brain hemispheres with audio frequencies may be able to help lift your spirits. As early as 1973, scientists at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine began blending binaural beats into music. This resulted in their patients experiencing a variety of physical and emotional benefits.
Brainwave entrainment can help boost the levels of endorphins and serotonin that your brain makes naturally. These two “feel-good” neurotransmitters are known to cause the emotions of exhilaration and pleasure. Hence, they can help boost mood and lessen depressive symptoms.
This is because these audio beats may be able to influence the activity of different brainwaves. For example, alpha waves are associated with a relaxed and calm state. By manipulating your brainwave frequency, it may be possible to induce a desired state and an improvement in your mood.
Are you trying to escape the grip of despair and bring happiness and optimism back into your life? Try this binaural recording.
Whether it is a minor discomfort or chronic pain, it can severely limit your daily activities. This includes your social life and your career.
Another surprising benefit of audio therapy is that they are a non-invasive way to manage pain. Listening to binaural beats reduces the perception of pain, making it easier to manage.
A study showed that listening to these beats during a painful dental procedure can reduce both pain and anxiety. However, audio therapy isn’t a miracle cure for all types of pain.
Before trying this, it’s imperative that you consult your doctor if you have a serious medical problem. Yet, for minor aches and pains, they can be an excellent pain management tool.
Mindfulness is all about being present in the moment and fully experiencing what’s going on around you. According to research published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, “individuals practicing mindfulness exhibit enhanced stress-coping and cognitive performance.”
But let’s face it, it can be hard to quiet your mind and stay focused. That’s where brainwave entrainment comes in. You can reach a meditative state by using binaural beats to calm your mind and feel relaxed.
Using these audio beats in conjunction with mindfulness techniques can enhance your overall meditation experience. These can also help you access deeper levels of consciousness.
If you’re not sure where to begin, use this audio to experience interconnectedness and relaxation on your mindfulness journey.
To make sure that I’ve got everything covered, here’s a quick and easy guide on how to use binaural beats:
Different frequencies correspond to different mental states. For instance, alpha waves (8–13 Hz) ignite creativity and relaxation, while beta waves (13–30 Hz) enhance concentration. Theta waves (4–7 Hz) are related to deep sleep and meditation.
To experience the full benefits of hemispheric synchronization, headphones are required. This is so that each ear can hear a different frequency, which is made possible by headphones. It also ensures that each ear gets its own sound signal.
Make sure they’re comfortable, and adjust the volume to a level that’s comfortable for you.
Find a comfortable and quiet place. Then sit or lie down in a relaxed position, and close your eyes.
Begin by playing the audio at a low volume. Then, increase the volume gradually until you feel that the volume is comfortable for you.
As the audio starts playing and you have closed your eyes, start focusing on your breathing. Take slow, deep breaths, and just allow the audio to take you into a relaxing state.
It must be used frequently in order to be effective. Over time, you’ll begin to notice its benefits.
One final point: it’s important to use binaural beats safely. You might get drowsy while listening to these audios. So, do not listen to them when handling heavy machinery or while driving.
Now that you’re aware of binaural beats and their benefits, are you ready to take the next step? When it comes to purchasing brainwave entrainment audios, you have a wide range of possibilities.
And it all depends on what you hope to get out of these audios. Are you looking to sleep better? Improve your focus? Reduce anxiety?
As a certified hypnotherapist and practitioner of the Neuro Linguistic Program, I understand the power of language to influence behavior. The audios that effectively helped me tap into my subconscious mind and create lasting change are from Hemi-Sync.
Hemi-Sync was founded by Robert Monroe, who is known for his pioneering research in the field of out-of-body experiences. Since the 1970s, they have been producing audio products designed to promote relaxation, meditation, and personal growth.
You can check out their store here.
Binaural beats offer a wealth of benefits that can enhance your quality of life. Its’ capacity to promote a relaxed state is one of their most important benefits.
Binaural audios cater to a variety of needs as there are so many audio titles available. Whether it’s for unwinding, sleeping better, or enhancing creativity, you can definitely find a binaural audio that meets your needs.
But do remember, audio frequency therapy is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. If you have any doubts, always consult your doctor.
The tranquil feeling you experience while listening to these hemispheric synchronization audios can be greatly beneficial to your overall wellbeing. So why not give binaural beats a try?
You might want to include this in your daily self-care regimen. I can assure you that you’ll definitely be amazed by its effects and results.
DISCLOSURE: In my article, I’ve mentioned a few products and services, all in a valiant attempt to turbocharge your life. Some of them are affiliate links. This is basically my not-so-secret way of saying, “Hey, be a superhero and click on these links.” When you joyfully tap and spend, I’ll be showered with some shiny coins, and the best part? It won’t cost you an extra dime, not even a single chocolate chip. Your kind support through these affiliate escapades ensures I can keep publishing these useful (and did I mention free?) articles for you in the future.
Like this article? Then you might want to read this:
READ NEXT