Would the Buddha and other great enlightened ones have used them if they had had them at their disposal? Do they really add something to the path to enlightenment? Simple gadget produced by our consumer society and marketed by merchants without qualms? Does binaural rhythm really have anything to offer us?

What is it?

Binaural beats are produced when a tone of very slightly different frequency is sent to each ear. This requires the use of stereo headphones. We then perceive a sound which is no longer linear, but which seems modulated and which we call binaural beat. I think that the perception of this modulation comes from an alternating functioning of the cerebral hemispheres, the brain being unable to uniformly process the information received in each ear. It is this particularity which will be used to obtain the appearance of specific brain waves such as the well-known alpha waves as well as the entire possible range of other brain frequencies.
Technically, the tones must be of a frequency less than 1500 hertz and the frequency difference between the two tones must not be greater than approximately 30 hertz for this binaural rhythm to be perceived. If this is not the case, we will perceive two separate sounds, as in the case of stereophonic music.

How does it work?

It appears that binaural beats influence brain function. If it receives a stimulus which has a frequency which is in the same frequency zone as the brain waves, through a training effect the brain will begin to produce waves of the same frequency as that of the stimulus.
So, if the perceived binaural frequency corresponds to the frequency of the alpha rhythm, the brain waves will be entrained and begin to operate on an alpha rhythm. The same goes for the other brain frequencies which are the delta, theta, beta and gamma rhythms.
For example, if a sound with a frequency of 315 hertz is sent to the right ear and a sound with a frequency of 325 hertz is sent to the left ear, the frequency resulting from this difference is 10 hertz, which corresponds to a brain functioning in alpha rhythm.

What is it for?

All variations and all combinations of different brain waves are therefore possible.
As everyone knows, the alpha rhythm of the brain corresponds to a state of relaxation and relaxation. So listening to a binaural rhythm located in this frequency will bring the subject into a corresponding state of relaxation.
For many years now altered states of consciousness have been studied by electroencephalography, whether among Tibetan monks and yogis or even among Catholic sisters. The step was therefore quickly taken to use binaural beats to put oneself in a state of meditation similar to that of experienced monks... without having to sit ten hours a day for thirty years and more.
It seems that repeated exposure to these frequencies produces a reorganization of brain functioning and the opening of new neural circuits.

It’s great! But who invented that?

It seems that the discovery of binaural beats dates back to a certain H. W. Dove in 1839!
But it was a 1973 article by Gerard Oster in Scientific American magazine, in which he outlined his own scientific discoveries, that really sparked interest in binaural beats. Robert Monroe became famous in the seventies as well, first for his book "Out-of-Body Journeys", then for having developed a set of exercises based on binaural beats in the aim of causing, in particular, trips outside the body. Since then, many others have embarked on the binaural adventure and there are numerous producers of binaural rhythm CDs in the United States, from the very expensive to the least expensive. There is even software that allows you to make your own recordings depending on the desired result.

Brain waves

In general, brain waves are classified as follows, although there are variations.

It should also be noted that binaural rhythms cause synchronization of the functioning of the cerebral hemispheres, which, it seems, presents numerous advantages in terms of the use of our abilities and our mental efficiency.

Some uses

Among the multiple possible uses of binaural beats are:
Easy and effortless meditation, the same encephalograms as the Tibetan monks, but remaining in your living room.
Out-of-body travel experiences, a specialty of Robert Monroe.
The production of endorphins with the resulting feeling of well-being.
Reduced sleep time.
Better resistance to stress and the difficulties of life.
Increased ability to learn, better concentration.
A significant reduction in anxiety.
And undoubtedly many other possibilities.
To discover.