For millennia musicians have used interference beats to check the tuning of their stringed instruments at the unison, perfect fifth, or other simple harmonic intervals. Piano tuners also use this method. But these are short tones that die off quickly. Only since building tone generators which can produce sine waves can we experiment with the effect of long tones. Binaural beats do interesting things to our brains. If the left ear hears a frequency that is different from the frequency perceived by the right ear the brain will produce the perception of a third frequency. This can be used to induce certain states in the mind, like concentration, relaxation and so on.
Binaural-beat perception originates in the inferior colliculus of the midbrain and the superior olivary complex of the brainstem, where auditory signals from each ear are integrated and precipitate electrical impulses along neural pathways through the reticular formation up the midbrain to the thalamus, auditory cortex, and other cortical regions.
Some potential benefits of binaural beats therapy may include: reduced stress, reduced anxiety, increased focus, increased concentration, increased motivation, increased confidence, and deeper meditation.
Binaural Beat Machine is a free Binaural Beat generator that’s part of a website called myNoise. The website mainly delivers pleasant noises for all sorts of purposes, but I find the Beat Generator most interesting. The Binaural Beat Machine is also on the iOS app of myNoise – also free. As I am writing this I am listening to Beta/Active. Happy Binaural Beating!
I just installed the app on my iPhone and will check it out. A buddy of mine & I were experimenting with these about 15 years ago through SBaGen online (http://uazu.net/sbagen/) and found it very interesting.
The idea has been around for a lot of years and for a while it seemed that some people sold binaural beats recordings for a lot of money.
Well, this might be a good time to revisit the concept, especially IF it can help us relax or focus us a bit. Plus the app is free.
Thanks, Ottmar. You’ve proven to be a source of good things! I really need myNoise this moment. As I watched the hospital ship Comfort dock in NYC, I dissolved into tears as the military officer admired the spirit of New Yorkers and said, “We’re here for you.” It hit home that we are in a war and cannot look to our head of state to even be reasonable. Hat off to Cuomo!
Just wanted to say thank you so much I really needed that app to get rid of all the noise I’ve been hearing. I really like the bells and the monks. Hope you and yours are doing well and again thank you so much for all the positive energy.