Effect of Brainwave Entrainment Using Binaural Beat Stimulation on Short-Term Memory

Abstract

Auditory brain entrainment is a response to a rhythmic stimulus that increases the amount of a single brainwave frequency. It has been proposed to act as a key mechanism to heighten sensory intake.  Auditory brain entrainment can be induced by listening to binaural beat stimulation. It has been shown that there is a positive effect on memory caused by using binaural beat stimulation. There has been research done on memory in young adults using binaural beat stimulation, but little in adolescents. Due to the lack of research on the effects of brain entrainment on memory in adolescents, this study attempts to show that a teen's working memory will improve after listening to a 40 Hz binaural beat for five minutes as compared to 0 Hz and 4 Hz.  Participants were randomly assigned into three groups (0Hz, 4Hz, 40Hz) prior to the experiment. Participants completed the Sternberg Short-term memory test.The participants then listened to a binaural beat of their designated group for 5 minutes, after which they completed the second trial of the Sternberg Short-term memory test. The average change of speed recall and errors from no binaural beat to after the binaural beat stimulus was analyzed using a T-test of independent means. The results do not support the hypothesis that listening to binaural beat stimulation of 40Hz would improve short-term memory compared to 4Hz and 0Hz.