How do binaural beats impact brain waves?
In essence, the process by which binaural beats can modulate human brain waves is known as the frequency-following response or entrainment (Smith, Marsh, & Brown, 1975). The basic concept is as follows: the interaction between two slightly different oscillations in the left and right ear create a pulse which repeats at a certain frequency (measured in hertz). When the brain begins to generate this binaural pattern it will complement the frequency of the pattern with a brainwave that would normally be experienced at the same frequency. For example: if you take two sound waves and split them into each earphone, one at 235 hertz and 225 hertz, the binaural difference would be 10 hertz. Once the brain was creating a binaural beat at 10 hertz it would complement this pattern by creating alpha brain waves (which also oscillate at 10 hertz). Using this frequency-following response cycle you can train the brain to quickly generate any brainwave as so long as the binaural tone matches up with t
