Positive effects of a beta-frequency binaural beats programme on memory

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study explored whether listening to a publicly available binaural beats programme while learning new material may impact memory. Undergraduate students (46 women, 29 men) first completed measures of verbal learning ability, preexisting knowledge, and mood. Afterward, they spent 20 min reading and reviewing a passage about sleep disorders, either in silence or while listening via headphones to a beta-frequency or theta-frequency binaural beats programme from the Brain Wave app by Banzai Labs. Finally, participants completed the mood measure again, followed by a 15-item multiple-choice test over the passage. The groups did not differ on verbal learning ability, preexisting knowledge, or mood, but they did differ on test score, with the beta-frequencies group having greater test scores than the theta-frequencies group and control group; the latter two groups did not differ. These findings suggest that learning may be enhanced with the use of this “Memory Boost” binaural beats programme.