Beats In the nineteenth century, researcher H. W. Dove found that, when exposed to tones of different frequencies, the auditory system in the brain “mixes” and synchronizes the tones in a binaural or “stereo” sound. Continuing his work more than a century later, Gerald Oster believed these binaural “beats” could be used to explain how we locate sounds and distinguish them from background noise. He also felt that binaural beats could pinpoint auditory defects and detect a variety of conditions, from early Parkinson’s Disease to hormonal changes. [1] But what are some of the direct health benefits of binaural beats? Writing in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, researchers tracked the effects of products they classified as Binaural Beat Technology (BBT). Collecting data before and after a 60-day intervention, they measured depression, anxiety, mood, absorption, quality-of-life, cortisol, melatonin, serotonin, dopamine, weight, and blood pressure. They found that the benefits from regularly listening to binaural beats included stress reduction and impoved concentration, motivation, and overall health. [2] Since our early beginnings, humanity has used rhythm, like the beating of a drum, to induce changes in consciousness. This meditative process is called sonic “driving.” Binaural beats too deliver a driving stimulus but one that arises directly within the auditory system. And compared to other forms of “entrainment” (e.g., chemical), binaural beats are harmless.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 00:11:09 +0000
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