Binaural beat technology in humans: a pilot study to assess psychologic and physiologic effects.

Binaural beat technology in humans: a pilot study to assess psychologic and physiologic effects
Helané Wahbeh 1 , Carlo Calabrese, Heather Zwickey J Altern Complement Med., Jan-Feb 2007;13(1):25-32. doi: 10.1089/acm.2006.6196.

Design: Uncontrolled pilot study.
Subjects: Eight healthy adults participated.
Intervention: Participants listened to a CD with delta (0-4 Hz) binaural beat frequencies daily for 60 days.
Cited by 17 articles

Conclusions: Binaural beat technology may exhibit positive effect on self-reported psychologic measures, especially anxiety. Further research is warranted to explore the effects on anxiety using a larger, randomized and controlled trial.

Results: There was a decrease in trait anxiety (p = 0.004), an increase in quality of life (p = 0.03), and a decrease in insulin-like growth factor-1 (p = 0.01) and dopamine (p = 0.02) observed between pre- and postintervention measurements.

Understanding the neurological mechanism involved in enhanced memory recall task following binaural beat: a pilot study

Mujib, M. D., Hasan, M. A., Qazi, S. A., & Vuckovic, A. (2021). Understanding the neurological mechanism involved in enhanced memory recall task following binaural beat: a pilot study. Experimental brain research, 239(9), 2741–2754. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-021-06132-6

Conclusions

``The results of this study indicate the neurological mechanism through which BB may affect memory recall tasks is related to theta band power and ICH. A single training session of 15 min might be enough to induce enhanced memory. Due to a simple experimental setup BB could easily be applied in clinical settings. Further studies with larger numbers of electrodes and experimental sessions would be required to establish its long term effectiveness.``

The effects of music & auditory beat stimulation on anxiety: A randomized clinical trial

Mallik, A., & Russo, F. A. (2022). The effects of music & auditory beat stimulation on anxiety: A randomized clinical trial. PloS one, 17(3), e0259312. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259312

``Background and objectives: Music and auditory beat stimulation (ABS) in the theta frequency range (4-7 Hz) are sound-based anxiety treatments that have been independently investigated in prior studies. Here, the anxiety-reducing potential of calm music combined with theta ABS was examined in a large sample of participants.``

Conclusions: Sound-based treatments are effective in reducing somatic and cognitive state anxiety. For participants with moderate trait anxiety, combined conditions were most efficacious.``

Gamma Band Neural Stimulation in Humans and the Promise of a New Modality to Prevent and Treat Alzheimer’s Disease

McDermott B, Porter E, Hughes D, McGinley B, Lang M, O'Halloran M, Jones M. Gamma Band Neural Stimulation in Humans and the Promise of a New Modality to Prevent and Treat Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;65(2):363-392. doi: 10.3233/JAD-180391. PMID: 30040729; PMCID: PMC6130417.

A-Life Summary. For the authors conclusion, see the study.

The authors confirm AD is debilitating condition with a complex pathology. This study examines examines external stimulatory modalities such as auditory, visual and somatasensory causing the responsive generation of activity in the brain. Althought their patterns are complex stimulatory modalities are predictable as to allow a targeted mixed treatment for certain areas of the brain, at certain frequencies and levels. This treatment would produce a therapeutic effect.

Benefits in Alzheimer’s Disease of Sensory and Multisensory Stimulation

Authors: Yang, Honga; b | Luo, Yinpeib | Hu, Qingrongb | Tian, Xuelongb; * | Wen, Huizhonga; *: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 82, no. 2, pp. 463-484, 2021, Accepted 27 April 2021 | Published: 21 July 2021 DOI: 10.3233/JAD-201554

A-Life Summary For more information read the authors conclusion.

This paper reviews the effects of multi-sensory stimulation on cognition and memory in Alzheimer's Disease. The authors review the effects of various sensory stimulation and try to explain the possible mechanism to provide data for future research. Their search was extensive reviewing all multisensory stimulation, including music therapy, aromatherapy, rhythmic (e.g., visual or acoustic) stimulation, light therapy, multisensory stimulation, and virtual reality assisted therapy, then conducted a systematic analysis. Their research provided data on how multi-sensory stimulation can effectively ameliorate the pathology of AD, arouse memory, and improve cognition and behaviors. What’s more, it can cause brain nerve oscillation, enhance brain plasticity, and regulate regional cerebral blood flow. The authors confirm they are very promising for therapeutic methods and will play an important role in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

Multi-sensory Gamma Stimulation Ameliorates Alzheimer's-Associated Pathology and Improves Cognition

Martorell, A. J., Paulson, A. L., Suk, H. J., Abdurrob, F., Drummond, G. T., Guan, W., Young, J. Z., Kim, D. N., Kritskiy, O., Barker, S. J., Mangena, V., Prince, S. M., Brown, E. N., Chung, K., Boyden, E. S., Singer, A. C., & Tsai, L. H. (2019). Multi-sensory Gamma Stimulation Ameliorates Alzheimer's-Associated Pathology and Improves Cognition. Cell, 177(2), 256–271.e22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2019.02.014

A-Life Summary. For more information read more.

The authors have previously reported on inducing gamma oscillations with a non-invasive light flicker. Also known by the acronym, GENUS, gamma entrainment using sensory stimulus, and how it impacts pathology in the visual cortex of Alzheimer's disease mouse models. The authors designed a auditory tone that excited gamma frequency and neural activity in the auditory cortex of the brain. Seven days of auditory GENUS improved spatial and recognition memory and reduced amyloid in the auditory cortex. Combined auditory and visual GENUS but not alone increased microglial cells which are macrophages whose immune response cleans detritus in the brain and spinal cord. A whole brain analysis revealed widespread reduction of anyloid plaques throughout the prefrontal cortex.
Thus, GENUS can be achieved through multiple sensory modalities with wide-ranging effects across multiple brain areas to improve cognitive function.

Entrapment of Binaural Auditory Beats in Subjects with Symptoms of Insomnia

Lee E, Bang Y, Yoon IY, Choi HY. Entrapment of Binaural Auditory Beats in Subjects with Symptoms of Insomnia. Brain Sci. 2022 Mar 2;12(3):339. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12030339. PMID: 35326295; PMCID: PMC8945912.

Abstract
``Binaural beat (BB) stimulation, which has two different frequencies for each ear, is reportedly effective in reducing anxiety and controlling mood. This study aimed to evaluate the brain wave entrainment effect of binaural beats and to propose an effective and safe supplementary therapy for relieving the symptoms of insomnia. Subjects between 20 and 59 years of age with subclinical symptoms of insomnia were recruited from the community. Quantitative electroencephalography was measured twice, before and two weeks after the BB intervention. Participants used the apparatus with or without 6 Hz BB for 30 min before going to bed for two weeks. When music with BB was played, the relative theta power increased (occipital, p = 0.009). After two weeks of intervention with music, the theta power increased when listening to music with BB (parietal, p = 0.009). After listening to music with BB for two weeks, the decrease in the beta power was more noticeable than after using music-only devices when participants listened to music in the laboratory (occipital, p = 0.035). When BB were played, the entrapment of the theta wave appeared. Therefore, exposure to music with BB is likely to reduce the hyper-arousal state and contribute to sleep induction.``

Flickering red-light stimulus for promoting coherent 40 Hz neural oscillation: A feasibility study

Sahin L, Figueiro MG. Flickering Red-Light Stimulus for Promoting Coherent 40 Hz Neural Oscillation: A Feasibility Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2020;75(3):911-921. doi:10.3233/JAD-200179

Results:

``The FRL intervention induced a significant increase in 40 Hz power and a modest increase in low gamma power. The intervention had no significant impact on working memory performance and subjective sleepiness compared to the control. However, increases in 40 Hz power were significantly correlated with reduced subjective sleepiness.``

``Conclusion
The results clearly demonstrate the feasibility of using a flickering light to increase 40 Hz power.``
``The present results nonetheless constitute an important initial step in this new area of research. The feasibility of using a flickering light to increase 40 Hz power has been clearly demonstrated. Future studies should employ patients with MCI and AD to further investigate whether the results of animal studies can be successfully translated to humans.``

Possible Effect of Binaural Beat Combined With Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response for Inducing Sleep

Lee, M., Song, C. B., Shin, G. H., & Lee, S. W. (2019). Possible Effect of Binaural Beat Combined With Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response for Inducing Sleep. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 13, 425. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2019.00425

Conclusion

``We investigated the effects of a CS that combined the binaural beat and ASMR trigger on two outcomes: the ability to induce brainwave entrainment and psychological stability. In order to induce sleep, it is necessary to not only induce frequencies in each sleep stage but also to be comfortable for users to reach sleep. Our proposed CS could induce the 6 Hz activity, which corresponds to the theta band, for inducing NREM sleep stage 1. In addition, the CS could be used for relieving negative emotions and increasing positive emotions for users. Our findings suggest that this could provide an effective way of improving the quality of sleep.``