Beating
Two metro stops away from this one, it's utter mayhem. It's a busy transfer location where trains meet in the heart of downtown Porto. After leaving behind the busy bustle and as I ascend the escalator here on the way home, the greeting of majestic trees feels as relieving as setting down an awkward, heavy box. It's true even when I know drizzling rain and soggy shoes await.
Those refreshing moments of calm, focus, concentration, and clarity are always welcome. Short of escalators that plunge you directly into a tree bath, though, they can be challenging to conjure. It's why I've been exploring binaural beats, summed up nicely by Dr. Huberman here. Along with a small class of students I work with occasionally, I'm experimenting with the app Brain Waves to see what difference it makes. I'm also exploring YouTube to try more intriguing options that go beyond a flat tone (though I can't promise it's backed by science or as effective but it’s oh-so-soothing).
Years ago, I came across this compelling use of sound when a friend in Seattle bought a curious device to produce low-frequency emissions. Good Life Project podcaster Jonathan Fields then discussed his use of binaural beats in the yoga class he taught. And while no research proves its benefit conclusively, the National Institute of Health says this in their conclusion statement:
This review has aimed to give a brief overview of ABS and its role in cognition and potential use as a therapeutic tool for modulating mood states. While findings for most putative applications up to now are either solitary or contradictory, several studies consistently report a diminishing impact of binaural-beat stimulation on anxiety levels. The underlying neural mechanisms are still yet to be unraveled. Understanding how and where the binaural-beat percept is generated and which cortical networks are most affected will aid in the optimization of both monaural and binaural-beat stimulation as a tool to modulate cognitive and mode states. Many studies employing ABS as either a mechanistic tool or potential therapeutic aid, report contrasting findings. Further research, including more accurate reporting of experimental protocols, especially those studies undertaken in a clinical setting, will help to clarify the most promising effects. In a recent study, Ross and colleagues reported that inconsistencies relating to monaural and binaural beats at low frequencies, as well as at the 40 Hz frequency, could possibly be attributed to earlier investigations suggesting that they share common neural mechanisms (33). Many factors may impact upon the efficacy of beat stimulation, including the duration of the applied stimulus. Carrier frequencies may also play a role, as well as the addition of background white or pink noise, which may amplify the beat percept (46).
Chaieb L, Wilpert EC, Reber TP, Fell J. Auditory beat stimulation and its effects on cognition and mood States. Front Psychiatry. 2015 May 12;6:70. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00070. PMID: 26029120; PMCID: PMC4428073.
