Effect of Binaural Stimulation on Attention and EEG

Abstract

When two pure tones of slightly different frequency are presented separately to each ear, the listener perceives a third single tone with amplitude variations at a frequency that equals the difference between the two tones; this perceptual illusion is known as the binaural auditory beat (BB). There are anecdotal reports that suggest that the binaural beat can entrain EEG activity and may affect the arousal levels, although few studies have been published.There is a need for double-blind, well-designed studies in order to establish a solid foundation for these sounds, as most of the documented benefits come from self-reported cases that could be affected by placebo effect. As BBs are a cheap technology (it even exists a free open source programmable binauralbeat generator on the Internet named Gnaural), any achievement in this area could be of public interest. The aim in our research was to explore the potential of BBs in a particular field: tasks that require focus and concentration. In order to detect changes in the brain waves that could relate to any particular improvement, EEG recordings of a small sample of individuals were also obtained.In this study we compare the effect of different binaural stimulation in 7 EEG frequency ranges. 78 participants were exposed to 20-min binaural beat stimulation. The effects were obtained both qualitative with cognitive test and quantitative with EEG analysis. Results suggest no significant statistical improvement in 20-min stimulation.

The Effects of Binaural and Monoaural Beat Stimulation on Cognitive Functioning in Subjects with Different Levels of Emotionality

“…The absence of effects of MB and BB on the quality of attention in the present study is also in line with previous studies which examined the relationship between ABS and attention (Crespo et al, 2013;Kennel, Taylor, Lyon, & Bourguignon, 2010). In these studies, no significant improvement was found in attention performance with BB stimulation.…”

“…In a more recent study, high frequency (40 Hz) BBs were presented to 36 students (22 female, 14 male; aged 18-28 years old) and it was shown that the presentation of these BBs increased attentional focusing (Colzato et al, 2017). In contrast, in a placebo controlled study in healthy adults, no significant differences were found between the BB group and control group on any of the presented attention tasks (Crespo, Recuero, Galvez, & Begona, 2013).…”

Evaluation of the Impact of Using Electronic Marketing in Marketing Illegal Products by Applying to Marketing of Digital Drugs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

“…The websites marketing digital drugs promote them using some arguments and false claims, such as that they do not contain chemicals, and that they do not affect the body (Curtis & Wendel, 2014). They are also promoted as they make their users feel relaxation or excessive movement and energy (Crespo, Recuero, Galvez, & Begona, 2016), awakening inert memory (Kennel, Taylor, Lyon, Bourguignon, 2014), sense of happiness, imagination and inspiration, all without alcohol or headache. ( Connolly, 2018).…”

“…The studies also show that digital drugs affect the level of awakening and concentration of abuser. They affect the normal development of the nervous system among children and young people up to the age of 25 years (Crespo, Recuero, Galvez, & Begona, 2016).…”

“…These products are likely to affect the future of e-marketing and possibly e-commerce as a whole, as customers may lose confidence in the entire tool (Crespo, Recuero, Galvez, & Begona, 2016). Accordingly, the third assumption would be: H3: There would be a statistically significant relationship between the spread of electronic marketing websites of Illegal products such as digital drugs and the future of electronic marketing in the Saudi society.…”