This is how to boost your focus and sleep with binaural beats

What are binaural beats?

With binaural beats, two tones are played that differ by a few hertz. In other words, the tones are slightly higher or slightly lower than each other. These two tones are played very rhythmically. In your left ear you hear one tone and in your right ear you hear the other tone.

Because the two tones are not quite the same but are slightly different, your brain automatically adds an extra tone: a differential tone. Your brain tries to compensate for the two tones. For example, do you hear 14 hertz on the left and 14.5 hertz on the right? Then your brain makes a third tone of 0.5 hertz.

The frequency of the difference tone corresponds to a specific brain wave. In fact, brain waves also vibrate at different frequencies. For example, when you are very stressed, your brain waves vibrate at a different frequency than when you are very relaxed.

The brainwaves adjust to the frequencies coming in. So when you listen to binaural beats, a certain state of mind is evoked. Which state of mind that is depends on the type of binaural beats.

Brainwaves can vibrate at five different frequencies:

• Delta - 0 - 4 hertz - deep sleep, healing
• Beta - 4 - 8 hertz - meditation, deep relaxation, creativity, trance
• Alpha - 8 - 14 hertz - stress relieving, better learning
• Beta - 14 - 30 hertz - focus, energy, clear
• Gamma - 30 - 100 hertz - highly alert, high awareness, memory

What do 40 Hz binaural beats do?

For example, if you listen to 40 Hz binaural beats (gamma), it will increase mental clarity and focus. Gamma brain waves are, in fact, the fastest, most energetic brain waves. Listening to 40 Hz binaural beats for ten minutes before studying can help you focus better.

5 types of brain waves

Brain waves are expressed in Herz (Hz) and can be divided into five types:

Delta waves

Delta waves occur mainly during deep, dreamless sleep. This frequency promotes deep rest and deep-level meditation. Also, hypnosis is most active in this state.

Beta waves

Beta waves occur mainly just before going to sleep and waking up. It is the feeling you have when you are daydreaming. Dreaming, inspiration and creativity are associated with these waves. The more relaxed you are, the more likely you are to produce thta waves.

Alpha waves

Do you have your attention focused on something and are calm inside? Then you are producing alpha waves. This is often the case when you are making music or studying. You are relaxed and do not feel fear or anger. Binaural beats in this frequency therefore help you learn more efficiently.

Beta waves

Beta waves produce a calm feeling and make people alert, clear and energetic. They allow you to think more clearly and perform a task with focus. They ensure that the part that needs to be active in the brain is actually active.

Gamma waves

Gamma waves are actually high beta waves. At this frequency, there is a lot of mental activity and a high state of consciousness. You are very alert and have clear perception. But there are also gamma waves during stress or violence.

How do you use binaural beats?

All you need to experiment with binaural beats is a binaural beats audiofile and a pair of earbuds or headphones.

You can easily find the binaural beats audio files in the Meditation Moments app. Here you will find different tracks for different purposes. For each track, the frequency is indicated in hertz. You can achieve a desired state by choosing a corresponding frequency. For example, binaural beats between 8 - 14 hertz work against anxiety.

When using binaural beats, it is important to be in a comfortable place without distractions. It is best to listen to binaural beats for at least 30 minutes a day. This way, the rhythm of the beats is most likely to synchronize with your brain.

You can experiment yourself with the length of the binaural beats audio. In the Meditation Moments app, you can choose between 10-, 20-, 30- and 60-minute tracks. For example, if you suffer from stress or feeling agitated, it may be nice to listen to the audio for an hour or more.

Headphones or earbuds are a must for binaural beats to work. It can also be nice to close your eyes.

3 ways to apply binaural beats

Besides putting on your headphones and pressing "play," there are other ways to use binaural beats.

1. While meditating

Binaural beats can help you reach a meditative state faster. From there, you can work to strengthen your intuition, discover yourself or just enjoy "being" without being focused on your to-do list.

2. Before Sleep

Binaural beats can also help you sleep. According to research, listening to binaural beats in the lower delta category (0-4 hertz) can help you fall asleep. Delta waves are the slowest brain waves. When you fall asleep, your brain waves change from theta waves to delta waves. At these stages, you may start dreaming.

3. While studying

Have you ever heard of the "Mozart effect"? People who listen to Mozart while studying score better on cognitive tests and perform better mentally.

Binaural beats produce the same result - they improve the brain's cognitive function. By listening to binaural beats while studying, you use both the left and right halves of your brain. So you can think in a more holistic way because you use both your creativity and your analytical ability.

Binaural beats app

Are you looking for a binaural beats app? The Meditation Moments app contains several tracks with binaural beats of different frequencies. You can find them under the moment music. Listen to a preview below.