Do you suffer from anxiety? Perhaps you have difficulty focusing on work and school? If you answered yes to those questions, it is likely that doctors have prescribed you all kinds of medicines and treatments. But have you heard of sound therapy treatments? A sound therapy school specializes in teaching interested individuals the art of sound healing. As a sound therapist, you'll be able to understand and utilize the therapeutic benefits of auditory stimulus. This is done in many ways, one of them being: listening to binaural beats.
Binaural beats have taken the world by storm and have shot to popularity for their many advantages. Do you want to know how you can benefit from the fantastic frequency treatment?
Keep reading to find out.
What Are Binaural Beats?
Binaural beats are combinations of tones that cause an auditory illusion. For example, when wearing earphones separately, you may have noticed that you can hear slightly different pitches in each ear. Both tones playing in each earphone channel will sound stable with no vibrato effect. Once you wear two earphones and now listening to both the left and right channels at the same time, you start hearing a beat!
The intentionally adjusted inaccuracy between the two frequencies introduced in each ear causes an auditory illusion. Whereas each ear is receiving a different frequency, the brain perceives them together as one pulsating sound (beat). The brain then aligns with the frequency of the beat. This phenomenon is called Frequency Following Response.
The human mind is easily trained to achieve a certain mental state when listening to binaural beats. This comes with significant benefits.
How Do Binaural Beats Work?
Two slightly different pure tones are entering the auditory channels and cause the basilar membranes to resonate with the frequency of the signal. Two tones that are close together create an interference (overlapping effect) on the surface of the basilar membrane.
Two audio signals that are almost the same, can not be distinguished as separate tones. Instead of hearing these two frequencies isolated from each other, we perceive an average tone resulting from the synchronization of these two initial signals. This average tone appears as a pulse but the right term for this phenomenon is binaural beat.
For example, if the left ear receives a frequency of 300 Hz, while the right ear registers 295 Hz, then the binaural beat will be 5 Hz. In practice, the listener will observe sound pulsating (beats) five times per second. For the best results, the frequencies are better to be below 1000 Hz.
These frequencies act as the bandwidth of brain activity. Different levels of bandwidths are linked directly to the frequency response they create.
Frequencies exhibit themselves in five different categories:
- Delta: Frequencies operate at 0.5-4 Hz, leading to a deep sleep cycle that is typically dream-free
- Theta: These patterns help increase creativity, meditation abilities, and sleep at a frequency of 4-7 Hz
- Alpha: Binaural beats at a frequency of 7-13 Hz improves the chances of deep relaxation and refreshment
- Beta: The frequency of 13-30 Hz improves concentration and alertness
- Gamma: 30-50 Hz encourages a high level of arousal when awake
Understanding the different frequencies is beneficial, as users are then able to truly leverage the benefits they offer.
As you can see, each binaural beat frequency comes with its own advantages and is meant to be used in different situations.
Tailoring the beats you listen to according to the occasion will encourage vibrational healing.
Let's get into the main benefits of binaural beats in the section below.
1. Decreased Anxiety
One of the biggest benefits of binaural beats is their effect on anxious minds. Studies have shown that specific frequencies can reduce symptoms of anxiety significantly.
This study demonstrated that individuals experienced a 26% drop in anxiety after listening to binaural beats for 20 minutes daily. The study was conducted over two weeks, implying that beats need consistency for results.
Depending on the severity of anxiety, binaural beats may not act as consistently as anxiety medication to treat symptoms. However, when the beats are listened to regularly, they can make a significant impact.
2. Increased Focus
Binaural beats also increase attention span and focus. Even three minutes of listening to Gamma frequency beats help improve focus and attention.
And if you're looking to up your sustained focus for a longer time frame? Listen to Beta frequency binaural beats for 10-20 minutes!
Binaural beats have also helped students with ADHD and other learning impairments. Those who listened to the sounds consistently for over two weeks reported improvements in attention.
Listening to binaural beats while studying has to become a growing trend. The reason for this is simple - the beats help students power through difficult coursework with sustained focus and attention.
3. Improved Memory
Binaural beats is a relatively new branch of sound therapy. As such, there isn't too much conclusive evidence and research on its benefits.
Despite the limited studies, scientists say that binaural beats could boost different kinds of memory.
For example, Alpha binaural beats influence working memory. This memory is the mental facility involving easy recall and retaining of different information.
Long-term memory, on the other hand, improved through Beta frequency beats. Short-term memory benefits the most from Theta binaural beats.
The amount of time spent listening is directly correlated to the effects on memory. On the whole, anywhere between 10-30 minutes consistently is enough to make a significant difference.
4. More Creativity
Binaural beats stimulate different parts of the human brain. As the right brain gets stimulated, it improves on the mental faculty of creativity.
The beats help develop divergent thinking and unique problem-solving.
If practiced regularly, binaural beats can help increase inspirational, out-of-the-box thinking.
5. Improved Sleep
Everybody knows about the many benefits of deep sleep, but most of us struggle with getting those ZZZs in. Binaural beats in the Theta range can help usher in R.E.M sleep.
Sound therapy has been used to treat those who suffer from insomnia. Listening to the beats right before bed can help with restful, relaxing sleep quality.
6. Reduced Pain Perception
Although this area isn't adequately researched, it is believed that binaural beats can also potentially reduce chronic pain!
Beats in the Theta pattern or around 6 Hz will be critical to reducing the experience of pain. Scientists are researching how to harness beats for a short-term solution to severe pain problems.
7. Improved Mood
Sound therapy is also a great mood booster! Listeners can expect to feel positive emotions, reduced depression, an increased sense of happiness and enjoyment.
This is because Theta frequency patterns stimulate endorphins within the brain, leading to a rush of good feelings!
8. Gateway to Meditation
Meditation is one of those things that many people struggle with. However, listening to 30 minutes of Theta frequency beats helps relax the mind into a deeply meditative state.
If you're looking to meditate for health reasons, binaural beats are the perfect tools to still the mind. Once the mind is relaxed, the beats take over to increase mindfulness and grounding. It also helps people live in the present and focus on one task at a time.
9. Better Cognitive Flexibility
Binaural beats are an auditory illusion caused by our brains. Thus, it should come as no surprise that the beats influence our minds (for the better) too.
The frequency of the beats stimulates nerve endings in the brain to increase activity and response rate. To benefit from cognitive flexibility, listen to a couple of minutes of Gamma patterns daily.
10. Increased Relaxation
Many individuals find it challenging to relax and let go of the day's stresses and worries. If that sounds like you, why not give binaural beats a go?
Sound therapy is proven to wash away feelings of stress and induce deep contentment and relaxation.
If you want to increase your chances of benefitting from this treatment, surround yourself with a pleasing environment for a completely relaxing time.
11. Reduced Physical Symptoms
Do you suffer from lifestyle ailments such as an aching back and tired knees? Perhaps you deal with inflammation and raising blood sugar levels.
Doing binaural beat therapy can help ease these physical symptoms. All physical ailments result from a signal from the brain. By tackling the root cause here - the brain - you reduce the chances of being affected by minor physical ailments.
Be sure to check in with a physician about any physical symptoms you may be experiencing. But if you can supplement physical exercise or medicines with this easy treatment, why not?
Studies have shown that binaural beats help improve both physical and mental health. Remember to practice consistently for real results!
12. Improved Confidence
Music, in general, is proven to come with immense confidence-boosting abilities. Listening to sounds with a great rhythm and melody can be an instant mood booster.
And when you feel happy, you also feel more confident.
Binaural beats work similarly. They help increase individual vibrations to such a high level that individuals can alter their frequency state.
For some people, binaural frequencies help them achieve another realm of consciousness. Being free, open, and in high vibrations can be a great self-esteem booster and confidence provider.
Catch the Beat
Binaural beats are a self-help tool that every individual can benefit from. These sounds provide sound healing by reducing anxiety and improving mental health.
It is possible to practice binary beat therapy at home without sound therapy training. However, it is best to enroll in a sound therapy course to reap the full benefits of this amazing practice.
If you're looking to get a sound healing course completion certificate, be sure to check out Sound Medicine Academy. Learn to expand your heart and brain hemispheres for a positive, bright, and happy future.
Check out our sound healing courses here for training in binaural beats!