Binaural Beats - What Are They & How Can They Help You? 

Different sounds make us feel different kinds of ways.

If you listen to sad music, you might start to feel a little down in the dumps.

If you listen to upbeat music, you might feel energized.

Interestingly, binaural beats are a type of sound frequency that also have the potential to impact how we feel and think.

The amygdala part of your brain is responsible for regulating your emotions and even encoding emotional memories, and it is crazy sensitive to sound. In fact, this part of your brain is why you might have strong emotional reactions to sounds or music you hear. And this is also partially the way binaural beats might impact your mind and your mental state.

So, let’s dig into this topic a bit further. What are binaural beats? What do they do? How do they help enhance your mental state? And how can you make binaural beats part of your life?

What Do Binaural Beats Actually Do?

Binaural beats involve two different frequencies in each ear.

For instance, you might listen to 132 Hz in one ear and 100 Hz in another ear. Yet, your brain does something kind of interesting here. It actually reconciles these two beats, and you hear the difference between the two. So, instead of hearing 132 Hz or 100 Hz, you hear 32 Hz.

And okay, amygdala aside, binaural beats actually go a step above a simple emotional response. Binaural beats create a sort of auditory illusion. 

Now, different frequencies can actually give way to differing brain waves. These different brain waves, then, have the capacity to make us feel certain kinds of ways, with some of them actually calming your amygdala (meaning you might feel less stressed!).

Different frequencies of beats are associated with varying benefits, such as the following:

• 1-4 Hz: Enhanced sleep and relaxation
• 4-8 Hz: Improved REM sleep, decreased anxiety, and enhanced creativity
• 8-13 Hz: Increased relaxation, enhanced positivity, and reduced anxiety
• 14-30 Hz: Improved concentration, increased alertness, improved memory, and better problem-solving abilities
• 40 Hz: Enhanced learning and training

Is It Good to Sleep With Binaural Beats?

Yes! In fact, as mentioned above, beats ranging from 1-8 Hz are shown to be the most beneficial when it comes to sleep. These ranges may help enhance REM sleep, which aids in memory processing, emotional processing, and more. 

However, you may want to set an automatic timer so that the beats turn off on their own. For some, they may find constant music disruptive in different stages of sleep.

Related Article: How To Do a Sleep Meditation to Fall Asleep Easier, Faster & Better

How Long Should You Listen to Binaural Beats?

It’s best to listen to them as you would when performing a meditation. Find a calm, quiet, and relaxing area. Aim for 30-minute sessions. If you have time, try to record mentally how you feel before and after. This can help you solidify whether this method is working for you or not. 

Do Binaural Beats Have Any Disadvantages?

While binaural beats can enhance mood, the downside is that some binaural beats may lead certain individuals to feel more depressed. Some individuals may also feel anger or anxiety. This may be due to the memories your amygdala holds onto.

And this is also why it’s important to track how you feel before and after when you first implement using binaural beats.

It’s also important to make sure any music you listen to is set at a reasonable volume. Loud music for extended durations may lead to the death of hair cells in the ear, leading to hearing loss.

On the flip side, they may help some individuals, such as those suffering from chronic headaches. Researchers concluded that “[The] external audio protocol of TBB was effective in reducing perceived pain severity for participants.”

As per most wellness and medical protocols, it comes down to the individual and what works for them.

Do Binaural Beats Actually Work?

At the end of the day, this all comes down to you! Some binaural beats can have immediate positive effects on some individuals. Meanwhile, others might not find them very helpful. Some individuals may further find binaural beats particularly useful at certain times of the day, such as the morning or night.

The undeniable part is that certain types of music interact with our brain states to produce certain outcomes. Thus, you can leverage it to adjust your mood, alertness, and concentration levels. 

Keith Richards even once said, “Music is a language that doesn’t speak in particular words. It speaks in emotions.”

Related Article: How to Benefit From Color Psychology: Influence Your Emotions & Behavior

Use Music to Your Advantage!

Whether that means using binaural beats to enhance your sleep or focus or simply listening to your favorite song to boost your mood, music is powerful. It’s been used through the ages to invoke different emotions and pass on many myths and stories. 

So, will you try them? Do you use music to enhance your life? How?

Read Next: 5 Ways to Take Care of Your Emotional Wellbeing

Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom