Are you struggling with anxiety and a constant feeling of restlessness in today’s rapidly changing world? Or do you feel drained and exhausted, no matter how much you rest? If you are going through such problems, you must have considered going for a professional diagnosis. However, there are other natural and cost-effective ways to decrease your anxiety and recharge your body.
One of the most effective ways of dealing with such a situation is using binaural beats. Binaural beats are a natural sound therapy used for more than a century to improve physical and psychological health. In this article, we will dive deep into the history of binaural beats, including early discoveries, scientific research, and how binaural beats have transformed from just “sound therapy” to the emerging lifestyle of people.
Introduction to Binaural Beats
The binaural beat is an auditory illusion formed by the brain while listening to two distinct tones in each ear. While listening to two separate frequencies in each ear, the brain generates a third frequency that the brain perceives as a single sound, known as a binaural beat.
For instance, suppose you’re listening to a tone at 60Hz in one ear and 45Hz in the other. Your brain attempts to blend the two frequencies and produces a third tone with a frequency of 15Hz (which is the difference between the two frequencies presented at each ear) is known as a binaural beat.
With its natural healing power, binaural beats have become increasingly popular in recent years. You name anything, from a restless mind to a restless body! Binaural beats can be the all-in-one solution. In short, listening to binaural beats can be a life-changing experience that allows you to improve your lifestyle.
With people shifting to healthier lifestyles now, binaural beats have gained popularity, but binaural beats have existed for over a century. Continue reading this article to understand more about history of binaural beats, early discoveries and scientific research of binaural beats.
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Early Discoveries of Binaural Beats
Now, let us learn about the early history of binaural beats.
Binaural beats were discovered in 1839 by Heinrich Wilhelm Dove, who found that when two tones of different frequencies are sent to each ear, the brain tries to combine the two frequencies to produce a single frequency.
During his teaching days in a secondary school, he experimented by placing a subject in a room. On one side of the room, he set up a tuning fork with a listening tube connected to the subject’s ear. A similar tuning fork was set up on the other side of the room and a listening tube was linked to the subject’s second ear.
Two forks were vibrating at different frequencies and the subject could feel the difference between the frequencies as a single combined sound known as a binaural beat.
| About Heinrich Wilhelm Dove Heinrich Wilhelm Dove was Born in Liegnitz, Prussia (now Legnica, Poland) on October 6th, 1803. He was a physicist who made significant contributions to the field of physics, meteorology, the theory of heat, and magnetism. Apart from physics, he was interested in politics, history, and philosophy, which he studied at the University of Breslau. Among all, he is mostly known for the paper he published in 1939 on binaural beats. |
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Scientific Research of Binaural Beats
After Heinrich Wilhelm Dove first discovered the binaural beats in 1839, there was no significant progress up until the late 19th Century.
More than a century later, in the year 1973, a biophysicist named Dr. Gerald Oster conducted research on binaural beats and published a paper named “Auditory Beats in Brain” and created the path for further development of binaural beats.
The study conducted on Auditory Beat Stimulation and its Effects on Cognition and Mood States states that binaural beats show promising results as a tool for changing mood states and listening to it properly has shown a diminishing impact on anxiety levels. Chaieb et al. (2015)
To learn more about the scientific research of binaural beats, check out our following article:
- Scientific Research on Binaural Beats | Proven Tests
Popular Culture: Rise of Binaural Beats
Along with the effective history of binaural beats, they have gained popularity in the past two decades due to their widespread usage and effectiveness. Binaural beats are used for various purposes ranging from the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of an individual.
Some of the potential benefits of binaural beats are
- Physical Benefits: Listening to binaural beats can effectively reduce stress, anxiety, and physical pain.
- Psychological Benefits: Binaural beats are proven to improve concentration and focus.
- Spiritual Benefits: Binaural beats also have meditative benefits and can induce a sense of peace and calm.
With rising popularity, the accessibility of binaural beats has also increased. Binaural beats can be found in mobile applications for both iOS and Android and can also be heard by listening to Youtube videos.
Binaural beats are also being applied in creative fields such as music production. With the unique power of binaural beats, musicians are able to create immersive music that is both attractive and calming to listeners.
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Criticisms and Controversies of Binaural Beats
Along with the positive response as a natural healing tool, binaural beats have also received some criticism and controversies over recent years.
Some of the criticisms and controversies received by binaural beats are
- Limited Scientific Evidence
- Potential Side Effects Due To Overuse of Binaural Beats
Limited Scientific Evidence
One of the most common criticisms received by binaural beats is that there is limited scientific evidence to support their effectiveness.
According to a research study conducted by Chaieb et al. in 2015, on the impact of Auditory beat stimulation on cognitive function and mood, listening to binaural beats is a potential technique used to alter mood states.
The study found that listening to binaural beats properly can reduce anxiety levels effectively. Likewise, the research also mentions that further research is required to fully understand how binaural beats work and their effectiveness.
Potential Side Effects Due To Overuse of Binaural Beats
Using binaural beats can be effective but there are potential side effects of binaural beats due to overuse. Listening to binaural beats without considering potential harm can have a negative effect.
As over-consumption of anything has a negative side effect, overuse of binaural beats has also one. Listening to binaural beats for a prolonged period of time at higher volumes can cause headaches and nausea.
Likewise, if consumed excessively, the brain will not be able to produce the frequency pattern, which can lead to physical and psychological discomfort. To minimize overstimulation or discomfort, binaural beats should be consumed in balance and at an acceptable volume, with intervals in between.
As there is a lack of rules and regulations in the industry, listening to Binaural beats from authentic sources is very important. Listening to binaural beats from a genuine source can increase their effectiveness and impact on an individual.
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Future Directions of Binaural Beats
Now, let us have a quick grasp on the future directions of binaural beats.
As binaural beats are gaining popularity and have been used across the globe for enhancing physical and psychological well-being, there are many possibilities for their future development.
The potential of binaural beats is limitless. Binaural beats have the bright prospect to be integrated with virtual reality and artificial intelligence to create an immersive and personalized listening experience in the future.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, Binaural beats are the auditory illusion formed by the brain. The history of binaural beats dates back to 1839 when it was first discovered by Heinrich Wilhelm Dove. It is used for various purposes and is proven to help an individual deal with physical and psychological needs.
Similarly, binaural beats have received some criticisms and controversies, yet it has endless possibilities for further development in the future, which includes integration with virtual reality and artificial intelligence.
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Key Takeaways: History of binaural beats | And Its Evolution
- The binaural beat is an auditory illusion formed by the brain while listening to two distinct tones in each ear.
- Binaural beats were discovered in 1839 by Heinrich Wilhelm Dove, who found that when two tones of different frequencies are sent to each ear, the brain tries to combine the two frequencies to produce a single frequency.
- More than a century later, in the year 1973, a biophysicist named Dr. Gerald Oster conducted research on binaural beats and published a paper named “Auditory Beats in Brain” and created the path for further development of binaural beats.
- Binaural beats are used for various purposes ranging from the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of an individual.
- Along with the positive response as a natural healing tool, binaural beats have also received some criticism and controversies over recent years, which include:
- Limited Scientific Evidence
- Potential Side Effects Due To Overuse of Binaural Beats
- Binaural beats have the bright prospect to be integrated with virtual reality and artificial intelligence to create an immersive and personalized listening experience in the future.
References
Chaieb, L., Wilpert, E. C., Reber, T. P., & Fell, J. (2015). Auditory Beat Stimulation and its Effects on Cognition and Mood States. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00070
