Improve productivity with sound
Scientists agree - sound can make our brains more productive.
Studies prove that we can utilise elements of sound to shift brain patterns towards the state we want, whether we need to sleep, relax, concentrate, control pain, multi-task or even be creative.
One sound element that helps shift brain states is binaural beats.
Interestingly binaural beats are not present in sound, rather they emerge in our brains as a result of a special combination of sound waves.
Binaural beats occur when two slightly different frequencies are presented to each ear. This produces a third ‘phantom’ or illusionary binaural beat that sounds like a soft hum, whose frequency is equal to the difference between the two tones.
Binaural beats can stimulate our brains via Cortical Synchronization (CS). CS occurs when our brain waves replicate the frequencies in the outside world.
What kind of CS brain activity is best for productivity?
Audicin's research team have reviewed over 25 years of science into CS and productivity to provide you with the best audio treatment solution.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
The frequency bands of choice are Beta (12-30Hz) and Gamma (30-80Hz).
Here are 3 peer reviewed science papers that prove it.
The Beta range (12-30Hz)
STUDY 1
Published in PLOS ONE, this study, tested 28 healthy young adults to determine the effects of various sound conditions on memory and CS activity, as measured by EEG.
(Courtesy: ©UNIGE)
Three sound conditions and three binaural beat (BB) conditions were used: No sounds, Pure Tone, Classical Music, and then 5Hz BB, 10Hz BB, and 15Hz BB.
Listening to 15Hz BBs increased memory accuracy and modified the expected cortical networks.
All the other sound conditions - including the other BBs - decreased accuracy.
Based on brain analyses, the CS activity during 15Hz binaural beats produced high information transfer with consistent connection throughout the memory task, a sure sign of an active concentration state.
STUDY 2
Another paper was produced by the same research group one year later
34 young healthy adults (average age 27 years)listened to 15 Hz BBs during an N-back task. This is another form of memory task, this time with a multitasking twist.
Once again the 15Hz BBs were associated with improved accuracy on the difficult work task – none of the other sound conditions produced the same effect, including the other forms of BB.
Furthermore, they replicated their finding that 15Hz BBs triggered brain activity and produced CS networks that are the hallmark of high information transfer.
Gamma (30-80Hz)
Gamma frequencies are also important to productivity because of their role in attention and learning.
Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile
Over a dozen studies exist that support this connection. Beneficial effects of Gamma BB have also been reported for creativity and positive modulation of mood.
It is worth noting that Gamma BBs are typically more hit and miss that beta as they result in less stable CS activity. At higher levels it is more difficult for the brain to entrain with BBs.
STUDY 3
The authors of this Nature Scientific Report argue that skill training requires great time and effort, and one method to accelerate this process is to employ non-invasive brain stimulation, like binaural beats (BBs).
The authors trialled 15 mins of BBs for 29 young healthy volunteers. MEG (brain pattern) recordings confirmed a strong entrainment of Gamma oscillations during 40-Hz BB stimulation and smaller Gamma entrainment with 16-Hz BB.
The 40-Hz BBs accelerated the training outcome. The improvement became evident after a period of consolidation that occurred during sleep.
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto
Overall, studies are mounting that show convincing effects - binaural beat stimulation is a promising new method of non-invasive brain stimulation for the purpose of enhancing productivity, focus and learning.
This is why binaural beats are ONE of the active elements that make Audicin a highly effective audio treatment, allowing our users to recharge while they work and exceed their targets at the same time.
