the electrical activity of the brain results in oscillatory patterns of certain frequencies known as brainwaves. the typical bands are alpha (relaxtion), beta (focus), theta (meditation) and delta (sleep). through using direct, audio or visual stimulation, desired frequencies can be imparted to and then followed by the brain, in the same way that two pendulums synchronise their oscillations when brought close together (known as entrainment in physics). audio stimulation is typically in the form of binaural beats, however nurture implements isochronic tones as their effect is stronger and work even with a single headphone/speaker.

there are many studies on the psychological aspects of brainwave entrainment that focus on self-reported subjective effects (e.g. reduced perception of anxiety). what is more interesting are the physiological effects, on things such as heart rate variability and brainwave activity (measured by EEG).

gamma (40 hz) audiovisual stimulation has been shown to alleviate alzheimers related neurodegeneration in mice¹ and humans². this included measureable changes in brainwave activity - demonstrating that brainwave entrainment has measureable effects.

another study³ found alpha stimulation (10 hz) to enhance heart rate variability - thus reducing stress and anxiety. alpha stimulation has also been shown to reduce blood pressure during sleep.⁴ brainwave entrainment has also shown to be effective in improving sleep, sleep latency and insomnia.⁵

theta stimulation has been shown to improve post-exercise recovery (increased measured heart rate variability).⁶

in a randomised controlled trial on veterans⁷, it was found that theta stimulation decreased stress, beta stimulation improved focus, and delta stimulation improved sleep.

try out the brainwave entrainment, and see how it affects your heart rate variability!

References

1 Martorell, Anthony J., et al. "Multi-sensory gamma stimulation ameliorates Alzheimer’s-associated pathology and improves cognition." Cell 177.2 (2019): 256-271.

2 Chan, Diane et al. “Gamma frequency sensory stimulation in mild probable Alzheimer's dementia patients: Results of feasibility and pilot studies.” PloS one vol. 17,12 e0278412. 1 Dec. 2022, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0278412

3 Casciaro, F. , Laterza, V. , Conte, S. , Pieralice, M. , Federici, A. , Todarello, O. , Orsucci, F. and Conte, E. (2013) Alpha-rhythm stimulation using brain entrainment enhances heart rate variability in subjects with reduced HRV. World Journal of Neuroscience, 3, 213-220. doi: 10.4236/wjns.2013.34028.

4 Aftanas, Lyubomir I., et al. "Audio-visual-tactile brainwave entrainment decreases night arterial blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled essential hypertension: placebo controlled study." Frontiers in human neuroscience conference abstract: SAN2016 meeting. https://doi. org/10.3389/conf. fnhum. Vol. 63. 2016.

5 Dini H, Rahmanian M, Alipour A, Arbabi S. The Effectiveness of Brainwave Entrainment by Binaural Beats on the Sleep Quality. J Sleep Sci. 2022;6(3-4):92-100.

6 McConnell, Patrick A et al. “Auditory driving of the autonomic nervous system: Listening to theta-frequency binaural beats post-exercise increases parasympathetic activation and sympathetic withdrawal.” Frontiers in psychology vol. 5 1248. 14 Nov. 2014, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01248

7 Gantt, MeLisa A et al. “The Effect of Binaural Beat Technology on the Cardiovascular Stress Response in Military Service Members With Postdeployment Stress.” Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing vol. 49,4 (2017): 411-420. doi:10.1111/jnu.12304