Entrapment of Binaural Auditory Beats in Subjects with Symptoms of Insomnia.

Eunyoung Lee,Ha-Yun Choi,In-Young Yoon,Youngrong Bang

doi:10.3390/brainsci12030339

Abstract

Binaural beat (BB) stimulation, which has two different frequencies for each ear, is reportedly effective in reducing anxiety and controlling mood. This study aimed to evaluate the brain wave entrainment effect of binaural beats and to propose an effective and safe supplementary therapy for relieving the symptoms of insomnia. Subjects between 20 and 59 years of age with subclinical symptoms of insomnia were recruited from the community. Quantitative electroencephalography was measured twice, before and two weeks after the BB intervention. Participants used the apparatus with or without 6 Hz BB for 30 min before going to bed for two weeks. When music with BB was played, the relative theta power increased (occipital, p = 0.009). After two weeks of intervention with music, the theta power increased when listening to music with BB (parietal, p = 0.009). After listening to music with BB for two weeks, the decrease in the beta power was more noticeable than after using music-only devices when participants listened to music in the laboratory (occipital, p = 0.035). When BB were played, the entrapment of the theta wave appeared. Therefore, exposure to music with BB is likely to reduce the hyper-arousal state and contribute to sleep induction.

Highlights

Academic Editor: MariaPeople with symptoms of insomnia account for 22.8% of the total population, and 5%of people with insomnia meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) criteria [1]
We have proposed an effective and safe protocol to improve the symptoms of insomnia by observing the entrapment effect on EEGs by playing the Binaural beat (BB) of theta waves with music as the carrier
There was no significant difference in demographics, such as age, sex and BMI, between the test and control groups

Summary

Introduction

People with symptoms of insomnia account for 22.8% of the total population, and 5%. Of people with insomnia meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) criteria [1]. Insomnia has the potential to increase the mortality rate from cardiovascular disease in relation to physiological awakening, and an objectively short duration of sleep is associated with attention shift impairment. Insomnia is a risk factor for alcohol dependence and other mental disorders. Insomnia needs to be treated because appropriate treatment significantly lowers the severity of comorbidities and significantly helps to improve fatigue, anxiety, depression and the quality of life [3]. Clinic visits may be delayed as they usually take over-thecounter drugs and herbal medicines first [4–6]. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the recommended initial treatment [7–9] and requires the patient’s time and effort. Drug treatment is widely available, but experts do not recommend taking benzodiazepines and z-drugs in the long term because there are no meta-analyses on the effectiveness and safety of the long-term use of sleeping pills yet [7–9]

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