Binaural beats are an auditory illusion caused by listening to two tones of slightly different frequency in each ear. The odd thing about these beats, is that people claim to have “magical” experiences while listening to them.
In a study done by Global Drug Survey, 30,000 participants were asked why they listened to Binaural Beats. 12% Of the people surveyed were trying to get a “psychedelic effect“. Coined a “digital drug“, it’s expanding the means of the word “drug”. Researchers claim that these participants were just chasing a high. I’ve listened to Binaural Beats and can confirm that I didn’t experience any type of psychedelic effect besides getting tired.
Binaural beats may not have any psychedelic effects, but they can be therapeutic. Personally, I do feel more relaxed by listening to them. It makes it easier to meditate while listening, and I highly recommend it (tons of videos on YouTube). Although, in a study published by Science Daily, researchers claim that Binaural Beats are no different from any other sound as it relates to mood. The believed notion that auditory regions of the brain synchronize with external auditory stimuli, is false.
It’s definitely a very controversial topic, as I see many stances and research that go against one-another. In a study done by The University of Southern Denmark Faculty of Health Sciences, they found that 12 minutes of binaural beats a day with 4 weeks of meditation once a day is effective to counteract the negative effects of mental fatigue and sustained attention. I think that everyone experiences things differently, and it may work for some more than others. In different ways, too. Give them a listen and see if it’s for you.
You can find binaural beats to listen to for free on YouTube by typing “binaural beats” in the search bar.
