Sound research: what the evidence can and cannot tell us
Studies examine binaural beats and other sounds under specific listening conditions. Participants, comparison sounds, listening duration and outcome measures shape the results. Some studies report changes in sleep, attention or mood, while others find little or no difference. Follow the sources below to see each study’s design and findings.
Garcia-Argibay, Santed, and Reales (2019)
Meta-analysis of 22 studies on cognition, anxiety and pain. Its exposure findings do not establish a sleep-session dose.
PubMed 30073406Al-Shargie and colleagues (2022)
An experiment on vigilance and stress under workplace conditions. Its protocol does not establish a best frequency for everyday focus.
PMC9208616Fan, Zhu, Suzuki and colleagues (2024)
Twelve healthy adults took daytime naps. The study reported earlier slow-wave sleep under the tested conditions; its protocol concerned daytime naps.
PMC11525714Dabiri and colleagues (2022)
Twenty students reported sleep changes in a before-and-after pilot. Sleep diaries and the lack of a separate control limit conclusions.
PMC9125055Lee and colleagues (2024, zsae097)
Ten participants tried dynamic beats and silence in a crossover study. The changing stimulus differs from a steady app setting.
Sleep, Volume 47, zsae097Lee, Song, Shin and Lee (2019)
Tested binaural beats combined with ASMR. The combined sound protocol does not isolate the effects of beats alone.
Frontiers in Human NeuroscienceWahbeh and colleagues (2007)
An uncontrolled pilot with eight healthy adults. Preliminary psychological findings need larger controlled studies.
PubMed 17309374Baseanu and colleagues (2024)
A systematic review of anxiety and depression research.
Applied Sciences, MDPIChoi and colleagues (2024)
A pilot of an app combining neurofeedback, meditation and binaural music. The combined program does not isolate the contribution of beats alone.
PMC11660268Ingendoh, Posny and Heine (2023)
Review of 14 EEG studies found inconsistent entrainment results. Study methods and findings varied.
PLOS ONE, e0286023Basner and colleagues (2026)
A laboratory study of 25 adults found reduced REM sleep with continuous pink noise under the tested conditions.
PubMed 41627391A quieter next hour.
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