What Are Binaural Beats And Do They Even Work?

Below I have givene a explanation of binaural beats technology. I have tried to include the science as much as possible while ensuring the information given is easy to understand.

It is now time to get a full, clear explanation of binaural beats and learn how you can use them to better your life.

Binaural beats are just tones which are generated to have a specific frequency and when listened to they can entrain your brain. Brain entrainment is just a fancy term used to describe what happens when a technology, such as binaural beats, is used to alter your brainwaves. Changing your brainwave patterns has many benefits such as promoting deep relaxation, heightened creativity and even a sense of happiness as well as having immense health benefits.

Binaural beats were first discovered by Heinrich Wilhelm Dove in 1839. Dove learned that by taking two tones, that only differed by a small frequency, and playing one into the left ear and the other into the right ear, a beat effect was produced in the brain - even though no auditory beat actually existed. The beat had a frequency equal to the difference between the two tones. For example if one tone had a frequency of 1000 hertz and the other had a frequency of 1020 hertz the binaural beat produced would have a frequency of 20 hertz - the difference between the two tones. The beat itself does not really exist. It is merely the brain's perception of what it is hearing that causes these binaural beats. They do not exist independently of the brain. A simile would be when you hear a word when the wind blows or see a shape in a cloud. Nothing is really happening but your brain tries to put meaning to what it is hearing and seeing!

Although this was a great discovery it wasn't until 1973, when Gerald Oster's article "Auditory Beats in the Brain" was published by Scientific American, that the enormous benefits of using binaural beat technology became apparent. It was found that when these binaural tones are played the brainwaves of the listener will follow the frequency of the beat that is produced. It is now known that certain frequencies are conductive to different internal experiences. If your brainwaves are between 8 - 12 hertz, for example, you are said to be in the Alpha state. This knowledge and ability to entrain the brain to enter different states has tremendous benefits. Let's take a quick look at the common brainwave states and their associated physical states to get some idea of what I mean.

1. Beta - you are in the beta state when you are engaged in thinking activities, anxious or stressed.

2. Alpha - this is the state of relaxed focus. You would be in an alpha state if you were watching a movie or daydreaming, recalling memories.

3. Theta - this is the state of sleep, very deep relaxation or most forms of meditation.

4. Delta - this is the state of very deep sleep where the body repairs itself and the immune system is strong.

Each of these states has corresponding benefits. Entering the Beta brainwave state heightens alterness and focus. If you wanted to relax, learn new information or reprogram your beliefs then the Alpha state would be the most appropriate. Let's say you desired a change in the way you viewed memories. Perhaps they have strong negative emotional ties with them. You could use the Theta brainwave state to release the emotions connected to the memories. If you need to accelerate your healing, strengthen your immune system or undertake some powerful self improvement work then the Delta state would prove highly beneficial.

Here are the frequencies associated with the brainwave states mentioned above:

1. Beta - 13 - 25 Hz.

2. Alpha - 8 - 12 Hz.

3. Theta - 4 - 7 Hz.

4. Delta - 1 - 3 Hz.

Many people wonder why they can't just listen to the desired frequency without the need for two separate tones. This cannot be done as we can only hear sounds that are between 20 and 20000 hertz. Therefore frequencies that fall in the range of the desirable states, that we wish to create, would just not be heard if they were played as one track. As the tones used in binaural beats recordings create a beat that doesn't really exist, this problem is avoided. In addition, the binaural tones, that cause the beat, have the added advantage of increasing communication between the two cerebral parts of the brain.