Binaural beats are pretty cool, if you ask me. Basically, they're a type of auditory illusion that's created when you play two slightly different tones in each ear. The brain then processes these tones and creates a third, internal tone that's the difference between the two. So, if you play a 440 Hz tone in one ear and a 450 Hz tone in the other, your brain will create a 10 Hz tone.

But what's really interesting is that these binaural beats can have some surprising effects on the brain. For example, some research has shown that binaural beats can change the brain's dominant frequency, which is the frequency that the brain waves are most synchronised to. Depending on the frequency of the binaural beat, this can cause the brain to enter different states of consciousness, such as a relaxed or meditative state.

But that's not all. Binaural beats have also been shown to improve focus and concentration. In one study, participants who listened to binaural beats at a frequency of 10 Hz (which is associated with a relaxed state) showed improved performance on a sustained attention task compared to those who didn't listen to binaural beats (Klimesch et al., 1999).

But here's where things get really interesting: binaural beats have also been shown to have effects on the brain that go beyond just changing the dominant frequency. For example, some research has shown that binaural beats can alter brain wave patterns in a way that's associated with improved memory and learning (Freeman, 2006). In one study, participants who listened to binaural beats while learning a new task showed improved memory for the task compared to those who didn't listen to binaural beats (Manns et al., 2010).

But wait, there's more! Binaural beats have also been shown to have potential therapeutic benefits for a range of conditions, including anxiety, stress, and insomnia. In one study, participants who listened to binaural beats showed reduced anxiety symptoms compared to those who didn't listen to binaural beats (Le Scouarnec et al., 2014). And in another study, participants who listened to binaural beats before bed showed improved sleep quality compared to those who didn't listen to binaural beats (Tarumi et al., 2010).‍

References:

Freeman, W. J. (2006). Binaural beat technology: a review. Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 12(3), 157-162.

Klimesch, W., Schimke, H., Schwaiger, J., & Doppelmayr, M. (1999). Slow wave activity and event-related desynchronization: effects of binaural beat stimuli. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 105(1),