Binaural beats do not refer to a rhythm or beat technically.
To be more accurate, they are the measured change in your brain activity when you hear a sound with two different tones.
Ultimately, it is the brain’s reaction to hearing two different tones.
So what are binaural beats all about?
Binaural beats were found in 1839 by a physicist. He found that when you present two different signals with two different frequencies to each ear, the brain detects the variation in phases between the two frequencies. It is useful in increasing certain brain activity, such as alpha waves.
There are five brainwave states that binaural beats can affect. These are determined and affected by the brainwave state your music is targeting.
For example, when it comes to deeper sleep, you should listen to Delta state music and for relaxation, opt for Theta state music.
If you’d like to see a graphical breakdown of the binaural beats, we got you covered:
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What are binaural beats good for?
The effects of listening to binaural beats are similar to that of meditation.
It is especially helpful to people who find it hard to relax and meditate. Lots of people cannot meditate because they can’t calm down long enough to do so.
Binaural beats relax you and offer lots of benefits such as inner growth and peace.
So if you have tried meditation before and it’s not exactly your cup of tea, why not give binaural beats a try and what it can do for you.
Astral Projection
When you hear the term “astral projection,” it is referring to an out of body experience. This process supports the idea that the soul is separate from the body.
This so-called soul travels to astral planes and is thought to be a powerful and intriguing form of Out of body experience.
You will need high-quality beats, created especially for astral projections in order to accomplish the goal.
There are lots of beats online, and lots of them are free too.
Ensure that you are using stereo headphones as your brain needs to make sense of two different sounds, so the only way to achieve this is by listening to the stereo.
The songs or sounds that you use must be able to mask the binaural beats. Another reason is also that plain binaural beats are not easy to listen to.
You should start off with soothing ambient noises such as those of a waterfall or rustling leaves.
The next thing you need to do is ensure that your surroundings are safe. There should not be anything sharp around or near you.
This is primarily because these beats can induce a trancelike state in you, and the last thing you need is to fall on something dangerous.
Binaural beats can definitely help you astral project.
However, you will also need to put in the effort and figure out the technique that is going to give you the most success.
Lucid Dreaming
The term used when you are aware that you are dreaming is known as lucid dreaming.
Along with the awareness, you are also able to control your dreams and direct the environment, narrative, and characters.
Binaural beats have been useful in inducing and sustaining lucid dreaming. Not only will it give you frequent lucids dreams but a better quality of sleep as well.
Your stress and anxiety levels will decrease, and your inner peace will radiate.
Your endorphin levels are also increased with binaural beats. These happy hormones will help you feel joy and reach deeper or higher medication levels.
One of the best was to use these beats for lucid dreaming is to combine it with the “wake back to bed” method.
This method works when you awake after about four to five hours of sleep, stay up for 30 to 60 minutes, and fall asleep again.
Binaural beats will also increase your mental clarity when you listen to them.
You must ensure that you listen to the beats after at least four to five hours of sleep in order for it to be effective.
This is also because lucid dreams take place in the latter half of sleep. It is often when the REM stage occurs.
Using binaural beats at the beginning of the night is not recommended as astral projection will not take place when you are entering deep sleep.
Focusing on relaxing yourself while listening to binaural beats is key. However, you should not relax to the point where you fall asleep.
When you begin this process, consider what you would like to achieve from it and visualize it.
Healing
One of the most popular reasons why binaural beats are sought after is because of its healing capabilities.
People have received relief from pain using binaural beats.
In fact, while lots of people remain, skeptics, when it comes to the healing power of music, studies are proving that music plays a decisive role in relieving pain.
Studies have even been conducted at Harvard University and conclude that music improves mental function, coordination, and balance.
It also lowers blood pressure and heart rate after a heart attack.
The benefits of Binaural beasts are not just limited to certain conditions but can also help with behavioral problems. It combats insomnia, anxiety, and stress too.
Depression
Depression seems to be an ever-increasing condition, especially in this day and age.
This is why there are literally thousands of different types of medications and treatments out there to treat the symptoms of depression.
Although there is no shortage of drugs to alleviate these symptoms, more people are turning to binaural beats to help them cope.
Binaural beats are so awesome because they have the ability to alter a person’s brain wave pattern and change their negative mood into a positive one.
When listening to these beats, you should set a frequency of between 4 to 7 Hz because this is the most optimal frequency range for your brain to transition into a meditative state.
By simply listening to binaural beats for about five times a week over a period of four weeks, your stress and anxiety levels will be noticeably reduced.
The frequency should always be checked as any mismatch can lead to possible reverse effects.
Weight Loss
It may sound like the oddest thing you’ve ever heard, but yes, listening to binaural beats can help you lose weight.
Of course, you have to put in the effort as well and can’t expect the binaural beats to do everything.
The first thing you should know about using these beats for weight loss is that you have to target the right brainwave.
If you want a really intense session, then opt for beats that target the alpha brain waves.
Alpha waves can help you learn new skills and also learn new things about the existing skills you have.
Therefore training with alpha waves forces your mind to reach a zone where you will train and perform faster and easier.
Beta waves are associated closely with focus and critical thinking. So if you are looking for better form, these are the brain waves to target.
If you are feeling discouraged and defeated, listening to sounds that target delta waves will help you.
These delta waves also affect your breathing, heartbeat, and automatic functions of your body organs.
So ultimately, they will help you get the desired results and perform at your best.
Do binaural beats actually work?
The short answer is yes, it does work.
However, as with many other things in life, the benefits of binaural beats can be made better by simply using a few best practices.
Firstly, listening to binaural beats in an area where there are other distractions is counterproductive.
So it’s pointless listening to these beats when you are doing anything that requires your full attention like driving.
People listen to binaural beats when they want to get creative, relax, and clear their minds or solve problems.
It is also a great process to use when you are doing affirmations and visualizations.
The following tips should be applied when listening to binaural beats:
Invest an ample amount of time in listening to these beats.
This is not an instant gratification process and simply falling into sync with an auditory stimulus takes roughly seven minutes.
So you would need a total of at least 15 minutes listening to binaural beats for it to count.
Meditation using these beats can be done in one of two ways.
You may choose to keep your eyes open and focus on an object, or you can close your eyes and in this case, just focus on the music.
Experiment with both options to see which works best for you.
Binaural beats relate to two ears, so you’ll need stereo headphones.
The sound must be introduced to both ears simultaneously so that the difference in frequencies can be perceived.
So wearing headphones while listening to the beats is non-negotiable.
If for some reason you decide to try the beats without headphones, the frequencies will mix together and fill the room.
So, in a nutshell, the entire process will be useless.
Quality headphones are also compulsory. Ones that block out background noise that can distract you are especially recommended.
It should also fit you well and have adequate volume control settings.
Patience is needed with this process. Although binaural beats have a lot of rewards, you must also be willing to put in the effort and make changes.
Unless you are one hundred percent comfortable, you will not achieve the maximum benefits from binaural beats.
So ensure that you sit in your most comfortable chair and that your room temperature is just right.
Also, make sure that you are wearing comfortable clothing, and there are no distractions before you begin.
Choosing an ideal time to listen to binaural beats is recommended. However, the time you select will also depend on the purpose you are trying to achieve.
If your goal is to meditate, then you can use it in the morning or night. However, according to many users, the morning is the best time to get into deep meditation.
If your goal is lucid dreaming, then listen to it after a few hours of sleep and right before falling asleep again.
Are binaural beats safe to use?
In the majority of cases, the answer is yes; binaural beats are safe to use. However, this doesn’t mean that it is without any risks.
This technique makes use of frequencies and creates neurological impulses that can trigger seizures.
This is why children should never use binaural beats. The brain of a child is developing, and this makes them prone to seizures later in life.
Just as the impulses in the brain are affected by the beats, so to is the heart’s rhythm.
So people who wear pacemakers or suffer from heart conditions should not be engaging in this process.
Since these binaural beats put you in a state of relaxation, you should not be listening to it while doing anything that could compromise your safety.
This is because it is not unheard of for people to fall asleep while listening to these beats. If you are working heavy machinery or driving, then it’s a big no-no.
Can You Listen to binaural beats while working?
So while it is clear that binaural beats should not be listened to while operating heavy machinery or driving, it can be an effective, productivity booster in other instances.
You may use binaural beats to boost your productivity. There are hundreds of apps available, or you may choose to create your own.
In order to boost productivity, you need to spend at least 25 minutes listening to the beats. Set a timer for 25 minutes and think of this as your productivity window.
It serves as a cognitive enhancer but also lets you know when to stop.
This is also an excellent way to stay focused and avoid unwanted distractions. Most binaural beats are not extremely loud, so feel free to use them to get some “you” time.
Although they may not block out all external noise, you can listen to some overlapping music.
There is a long way to go before binaural beats are considered one hundred percent cognitive boosters.
However, that shouldn’t stop you from benefiting from the other positive effects.
What Research Supports Binaural Beats?
Small studies have been conducted to determine the positive effects of binaural beats.
One particular studyshowed that it improved cortisol, melatonin, and DHEA production.
- Effects on Cortisol: This hormone is directly linked to stress levels. When cortisol content is high, it stresses you out and has a negative effect on the body. High levels of this stress hormone can also lead to other conditions such as menstrual cycle and female libido, anxiety, Cushing syndrome, and depression. After listening to binaural beats cortisol levels in patients reduced by 70-80 percent.
- Effects on Melatonin: This hormone is responsible for restful sleep. Studies showed that binaural beats improved melatonin levels by an average of 97.77 percent.
- Effects of DHEA: This hormone plays a huge role in how a person resists disease and ages. Approximately 68 percent of patients who used binaural beats had increased DHEA levels.
Can Binaural Beats Help You Study?
It is quite possible that binaural beats can enhance your study sessions and help you retain more information.
Certain types of binaural beats target the alpha brain waves, and this is precisely what you need to do if your purpose is to study better.
Once alpha brain activity is increased, you’ll start learning more effectively. So while these beats may calm and relax you, there is no telling exactly how much it can help with your studying.
Ultimately the binaural beats create a safe and natural way for you to concentrate deeper for longer.
Binaural Beats and Isochronic Tones
So you know what binaural beats are all about. What about Isochronic tones?
These tones were found in 1981 and are somewhat different from binaural beats. For starters, they contain only one tone as opposed to the two-tone frequencies of binaural beats.
This single tone also switches off and on to create repetitive beats. The brain reacts more strongly to these tones since they possess a higher depth of modulation.
They create a stronger cortical evoked response in the brain and is, therefore, more effective.
Aside from this, the tones enable you to either increase or decrease the activity on one side of your brain.
Another advantage of isochronic tones is that they only contain a single sound, and this is why headphones are not needed.
You can play it straight from a speaker without minimizing its effectiveness.
So how much better are isochronic tones to binaural beats?
The truth is, no, it is not. They are different from each other, and therefore, each one has its own way of working and influencing the brain.
An example is that isochronic tones are pretty much useless once they drop below 4 Hz. They will not even block out pain at this point.
Isochronic tones are also quite annoying to listen to. What’s worse is that there is no way to mask the beats, so that you can make it bearable.
However, the beats and pulse must be audible for you to experience the benefits.
Related Questions
Can You use binaural beats too frequently?
The short answer is no; you can never overdose on binaural beats.
However, that said, you still should use your own discretion to figure out when you’ve had enough. Simply follow your instincts when it comes to this.
Why do the effects of the beats wear off after some time?
Your brain may become adjusted to the entrainment once you’ve been using the same binaural beats for a few weeks or months.
This is a good thing, but it’s also a good point to switch to a new one.
How to get the best use out of binaural beats?
For most people, there is no right and wrong answer to this question.
You should ensure that you are relaxed, ready to let your creativity flow, in good health, and able to visualize when you listen to the beats.
