POZNAN, POLAND — A recent investigation conducted by researchers from the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience at Adam Mickiewicz University has shed light on the potential drawbacks of utilizing commonly used sound impulses, like binaural beats, as a means to enhance cognitive processes.
The study, led by Professor Michał Klichowski, Director of the Centre, challenges the prevailing belief that these auditory stimuli can boost cognitive performance.
‘There are thousands of recordings on platforms such as YouTube with acoustic stimuli used to improve cognitive processes. The so-called binaural beats, or synchronous rumblings, are relatively widespread. In simple terms, this form of brain stimulation involves delivering tonal sounds of different frequencies to each ear, interacting to produce the sensation of binaural beats. The frequencies are selected so that their difference mirrors the desired frequency of the brain waves. People all over the globe listen to recordings in their homes when they are studying or doing other cognitive activities.
–Prof. Michał Klichowski
Binaural beats, a form of auditory brain stimulation involving the delivery of tonal sounds with differing frequencies to each ear, creating a sensation of beats within the brain, have gained popularity as a tool to potentially enhance cognitive functions. Thousands of recordings, often available on platforms like YouTube, offer these sound impulses for users to listen to while studying or engaging in cognitive activities.
However, the research led by Prof. Klichowski and his team, including Dr. Agnieszka Kruszwick from the Faculty of Educational Studies, and Prof. Andrzej Wicher and Prof. Roman Gołębiewski from the Chair of Acoustics, reveals a contrasting reality.
The researchers conducted a two-year-long experiment involving 1,000 participants performing complex learning tasks in natural settings, while listening to different types of sounds, including binaural beats.
Binaural Beats “Significantly” Impaired Cognitive Performance
Contrary to popular belief, listening to binaural beats not only failed to enhance cognitive performance but significantly impaired it.
The results of the experiment were unexpected. Contrary to popular belief, listening to binaural beats not only failed to enhance cognitive performance but significantly impaired it. While participants performed tasks ranging from music to noise exposure and binaural beats, the latter demonstrated a marked decline in cognitive capabilities.
While this groundbreaking study underscores potential negative consequences associated with binaural beats, further investigation is necessary to fully understand the underlying mechanisms. Prof. Klichowski highlights the possibility of poorly chosen frequencies or excessive exposure time contributing to the adverse effects. Additionally, researchers postulate that an undiscovered neuronal mechanism might be at play, influencing the counterproductive impact of binaural beats.
Several hypotheses have emerged from the Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience to explain the findings.
One theory suggests that binaural beats may disrupt brainwave frequencies, causing them to deviate from the optimal range for specific cognitive tasks. Alternatively, the study’s second hypothesis proposes that as most cognitive tasks encompass a range of frequencies, modulating only one frequency might hinder the brain’s ability to adapt to varying cognitive demands.
The study calls for a more nuanced understanding of the potential implications of employing binaural beats as cognitive aids. The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Reference:
- Klichowski, M., Wicher, A., Kruszwicka, A. et al. Reverse effect of home-use binaural beats brain stimulation. Sci Rep 13, 11079 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38313-4
Source: AMU, Scientific Reports
