Binaural beats

How to set it up

1. Put on headphones. Binaural beats do not work through speakers, because both ears hear both tones.
2. Press Play on one beat. Start with Binaural 10 Hz (alpha) for calm focus or Binaural 6 Hz (theta) for relaxation.
3. Keep the volume low. You should hear a gentle wobble in the tone, not a loud hum.
4. Open it in the sound masker to add rain, ocean, or noise underneath, which many people find more pleasant than tones alone.

Delta, theta, alpha, and gamma

The names come from brainwave bands measured with EEG. Delta (about 1 to 4 Hz) is linked with deep sleep. Theta (4 to 8 Hz) with drowsiness and meditation. Alpha (8 to 12 Hz) with relaxed, eyes-closed wakefulness. Gamma (above 30 Hz) with active processing. The idea behind binaural beats is that listening to a beat in one band might nudge the brain toward it.

Do binaural beats work?

The honest answer is: maybe a little, for some people, sometimes. Reviews of the research find mixed results. Some studies report less anxiety or better attention, others find no effect, and evidence that the brain actually follows the beat is inconsistent. They are safe to try at a low volume, and many people simply find the sound relaxing.

Why the carrier tones are low

Binaural beats are easiest to hear when the tones are below about 1,000 Hz and the difference between them is small. The tones here sit between 150 and 260 Hz. The 40 Hz beat is harder to hear as a beat and sounds more like a rough texture.

Questions