Brainwave Entrainment: Scientific Studies & Proven Benefits
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Brainwave entrainment is grounded in a foundation of scientific research that stretches back over 4 decades. By using rhythmic sound to synchronize brainwave patterns, scientific studies have shown it can beneficially influence mood, academic performance, cognition, sleep, pain perception, and more.
Note: The benefits of brainwave entrainment stretch beyond what is shown in this article. View this article for a larger look at the FULL range of brainwave entrainment benefits:
(Brainwave entrainment benefits)
What Is Brainwave Entrainment?
Brainwave entrainment uses auditory beats (binaural, monaural, isochronic) to guide the brain into specific frequency ranges. These frequencies can be associated with relaxation, focus, creativity, deep sleep, or various other mental states.
For a deep dive into what brainwave entrainment is and how it works, check out this article: What is Brainwave Entrainment? Benefits, Methods, and How it Works.
A Brief History of Research
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1934 – Alpha Waves Stimulated Visually
In one of the first ever scientific studies on brainwave entrainment, Adrian & Matthews demonstrated that visual flicker could induce alpha brainwaves. View study → -
1959 – Auditory Stimulation Across Frequencies
Chatrian et al. showed basic auditory “clicks” could produce cortical responses from delta to beta ranges. View summary → -
1973 – Binaural vs. Monaural Beats
Gerald Oster found monaural beats produce stronger measurable EEG responses, while binaural beats have more hypnotic, relaxation-oriented effects. View summary →
Documented Benefits
1. Altered States of Consciousness
- Joseph Glickson (1987) found that frequencies of 6, 10, 18 Hz could consistently produce altered states. View abstract →
- The Monroe Institute has explored the use of brainwave entrainment extensively for expanded consciousness for decades and has a massive amount of information on their website. View research →
2. Pain Relief & Relaxation
- Isochronic tones outperformed biofeedback in reducing TMJ pain. (Manns et al., 1981)
- Slow-wave photic stimulation relieved headaches for most participants. (Solomon, 1985)
- A randomized trial found binaural beats reduced discomfort during colonoscopy without sedation. View study →
3. Cognitive Performance & Learning
- One important study focused specifically on students with ADHD. Results of brainwave entrainment exceeded expectations with improvements in GPA, IQ, attention, and behavior (Joyce, M. Sevier, D., & Twitty, M. 2000). View study →
- 15 Hz binaural beats improved visuospatial working memory and altered brain network activity. View article →
- 40 Hz beats accelerated improvement in an attentional-blink task. View study →
4. Stress & Anxiety Reduction
- Binaural beats reduced anxiety in medical procedural contexts, including pre-surgery approval in clinical RCTs. View example →
- Recent trials show reductions in situational anxiety using monaural beats. View study →
5. Sleep Support
- 0.25 Hz binaural beats shortened time to slow-wave sleep. View article →
- Audio-visual entrainment shows promise for improving sleep quality in insomnia. View pilot study →
6. Alzheimer’s / 40 Hz Gamma Stimulation
- Early human trials indicate 40 Hz light+sound stimulation can entrain gamma activity and potentially improve daily function in Alzheimer’s patients. View study →
- Animal studies demonstrate 40 Hz stimulation can reduce Alzheimer-like pathology and enhance waste clearance. View article →
Summary And Why This Matters
The purpose of this article is not to provide a full list of every scientific study ever performed on brainwave entrainment, but to show its grounding in science and demonstrate its proven ability to impact many areas of human health.
If you have a specific area you are interested in improving, there are many more related studies to look at. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to further discuss: (contact us)
At InnerSync Audios we use the existing scientific literature to help inform our strategy in creating the audios we offer, to ensure you are getting the best results.
(Grab a free copy of our Deep Alpha Audio now and experience the InnerSync difference for yourself!)