Frequency-following response effect according to gender using a 10-Hz binaural beat stimulation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Several studies have continuously investigated FFRs using binaural beat (BB) stimulations and their related effects. However, only a few studies have investigated the differences in BB stimulation effects according to basic demographic characteristics, such as gender and age. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the alpha wave activity after a 10-Hz BB stimulation and subsequently identify differences according to gender across all brain areas (frontal, central, parietal, temporal, and occipital areas). METHODS: A total of 23 healthy adults (11 male and 12 female), aged 20–29, participated in the study. For the 10-Hz BB stimulation, pure tone auditory stimuli of 250 and 260 Hz were given to the left and right ear, respectively. Through a power spectrum analysis of the phase-excluding BBs (non-BBs) and phase-including 10-Hz BBs (α-BBs), the alpha power at each brain area was estimated. These values were compared using a mixed-design ANOVA. RESULTS: With the exception of the temporal area, all other brain areas showed a significant increase in alpha power for α-BBs compared to those of non-BBs. However, the difference according to gender was not significant. CONCLUSION: The results indicated the lack of gender effects in alpha wave generation through a 10-Hz BB stimulation.

Binaural beats to entrain the brain? A systematic review of the effects of binaural beat stimulation on brain oscillatory activity, and the implications for psychological research and intervention

“…With respect to the study outcomes, only six out of the 14 studies of the final sample reported results in line with the entrainment hypothesis. Enhancement of EEG power through binaural beat stimulation when compared to control conditions or baseline recordings was found for the theta [1,43,59], the alpha [63,72] and the gamma bands [1,73]. The required stimulation durations were either six or ten minutes for theta [43,59], five minutes for alpha [72], and 15 minutes for gamma entrainment [73].…”

“…In terms of the EEG parameters which were used to operationalize brainwave entrainment, a number of studies referred to absolute power [38,43,55,59,72,73], while other studies reported relative [50,55,59] or normalized power measures [1,51,63]. Three studies implemented ASSR and FFR measures [1,63,72], and one study used EEG source localization techniques [25].…”

“…Evidently, the scientific investigation of binaural beat stimulation in line with the question of the present review has a history of about 15 years, with the first study being published in 2007 [38] and the most recent one in 2023 [72]. The journals in which the studies are published cover a topical scope ranging from hearing research and acoustics to neuroscience and different areas of applied psychology.…”

“…Six studies focused on applied effects of binaural beats on measures of attention [54], working memory and emotional states [73], mood [1] and physiological correlates [51]. One study aimed at comparing effects of binaural beat stimulations for male and female participants [72] and another study for groups of musicians and non-musicians [63].…”

“…Exceptions were studies that had participants watch a silent movie [51,52,63], focus on or listen to the sound [43,62,73], or try to ignore the presented sounds actively [63]. One study did not give information on the instructions given to the participants [72]. The carrier tones used in the sample ranged from 100 Hz to 900 Hz and were, thus, all below the threshold of 1 kHz [4].…”