Healthcare Performance and the Effects of

the Binaural Beats on Human Blood

Pressure and Heart Rate
Calvin Carter

ABSTRACT. Binaural beats are the differences in two differetit frequen-

cies (itî the range of 30-1 (X)0 Hz). Binaural beats are played through
headphones atid are perceived by the superior olivary nucleus of each
hetiiisphere ofthe brain. The brain perceives the binaural beat and resonates
to its frequency (frequency following response). Once the brain is in tune
with the binaural beat il produces brainwaves of that frequency altering
the listener's state of mind. In this experiineni, the effects of the bela and
theta bitiaural beac on human blood pressure and pulse were studied. Using
headphones, three sounds were played for 7 minutes each to 12 participants:
the control,- the sound of a babbling brook (the background sound to the two
binaural beats), the beta binaural beat (20 Hz), and the theta binaural beal
(7 Hz). Blood pressure and pulse were recorded before atid after each sound
was played. Each participant was given 2 tninutes in-between each sound.
The results showed that the control and the two binaural beats did tiot affect
the 12 participant's blood pressure or pulse (p > 0.05). One reasoti for this
may be that the soutids were not played long enough for the brain lo either
perceive and/or re.sonale to the frequency. Another reason why ihe soutids
did not affect blood pressure and pulse may be due to the participant's age
since older brains may ttot perceive the bitiaural beats as well as younger
brains.

KEYWORDS. Binaural beats, blood pressure, frequencies, heallh care,

performance

Calvin Carter is affiliated with Hofstra University (E-mail: tnontisunio@

yahoo.com).
Journal of Hospital Marketing & Public Relations, Vol. 18(2), 2008
Available online at littp://jhmpr.haworthpress.com
© 2008 by The Haworth Press. All rights reserved.
doi: 10.1080/15390940802234263 213
2N JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS

INTRODUCTION

Human brainwaves reflect the ongoing activity in llie brain: the higher
tlie aclivily, the higher the brainwave frequency (Hz) and ihe lower the
activity, the lower the brainwave frequency (Hz). When someone is asleep,
their brainwave frequencies are Ihe lowest due to little brain activity (unless
ill the REM stage of sleep): in the range of 0 . 1 ^ Hz (delta brainwave).
Someone who is in a meditative, daydreaming state of mind has a brainwave
frequency of 5-8 Hz (theta brainwave); one who is in a relaxed, but an
aware state of mind, has a brainwave frequency in the range of 9-12 Hz
(alpha brainwave) and one who is fully conscious (reading or having a
conversation) has a brainwave frequency of 13-38 Hz (beta brainwave).
Although one brainwave predominates at any given time, the other three
brainwaves are present sometimes only at the trace level (Lane, Kasian,
Owens, and Marsh, 1998). Ail four brainwaves correlate to a specific
perception and state of mind. When one is anxious, they have a dominate
brainwave frequency in the beta range and when one is relaxed their
predominate brainwave frequency can be in the alpha, theta, and sometimes
delta ranges; thus, being in a certain brainwave can affect one's mood
which can affect one's blood pressure and heart rate (Le Scouamec et al.,

Human's can entrain themselves to enter a specific brainwave for

their desired effect through the use of binaural beat technology. Binaural
beats are the difference between two different frequencies (in the range
of 3O-I(KX) Hz) played in each ear. If the binaural beat is below 30
Hz, the brain will perceive it and resonate to that frequency (frequency
following response). When the brain resonates to the binaural beat
frequency, brainwaves in the binaural beat's frequency range are produced
and the person will enter a specific state of mind (Le Scouamec et al..

In order for humans to perceive a frequency of 7 Hz (theta brainwave

range), two different frequencies (in the range of 3(ï-l(MK) Hz) must be
played in each ear: 317 Hz in the left and 310 Hz in the right. The
brain will perceive the difference between the two frequencies (7 Hz) and
will resonate to that frequency (frequency following response) producing
brainwaves of 7 Hz (theta frequency range) (Wahbeh, CaUibrese, and
Zwickey,20ü7).
The purpose of the present experiment was to detemiine the effects of
the beta and theta binaural beats on human blood pressure and heart rate. It
is hypothesized that the beta binaural beat will increase blood pressure and
 Calvin Carter 215

heart rate; the theta binaural beat will decrease blood pressure and heart
rate, and the control will decrease blood pressure and heart rate (due to
the participants sitting down for an extended period of time) (Lane et al.,
1998).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Each of the 10 participants was seated with headphones placed over

their ears. Using the software "Brainwave Generator" subjects listened to
three sounds: control, beta binaural beat, and theta binaural beat. Each
sound had a background noise of a babbling brook. The control sound
was the background sound of the two binaural beats, i.e., the sound of
a babbling brook, which was played first for every participant. Using a
WrisTech HL-168 digital blood pressure monitor, blood pressure and heart
rate were recorded before and after each sound was played. The participants
were given 2 minutes of rest between each sound. The beta binaural beat
(320 Hz L 300 Hz R) and the theta binaural beat (307 Hz L 3(K) Hz R)
were played for 7 minutes each following the control in a randomized
order.

RESULTS
Each participant varied in their response to each of the three sounds
played. Some sounds increased blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety in
some participants while blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety decreased
in others. As shown in Figures I and 2, the average change in BP and pulse
when the control was played was +5/+4 mm/Hg (p = 0.37) and +2 bpm
(p = 0.30).
The beta binaural beat had a smaller effect on the 12 participants than
the control (Figure 1 ). Figures I and 3 show that the beta binaural beat had
an average change in blood pressure and pulse of +2/0 mm/Hg (p = 0.36)
and - 2 bpm (p = 0.34). The diastole did not change at all when the beta
binaural beat was played.
As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the effects of the theta binaural beat
resemble that of the control and the beta binaural beat. Figures I and 4
show that after playing the theta binaural beat, the 12 participants had an
average change in blood pressure of + 4 / - 3 mm/Hg (p = 0.35) and an
average change in pulse of +3 bpm (p = 0.30).
216 JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL MARKETING & PUBUC RELATIONS

FIGURE 1. The average change in participant's blood pressure and pulse

when the control, beta binaural beat, and theta binaural beats were played.

Average Change in Blood Pressure and Pulse

• Avg. Change in Systole

(mm/Hg)
• Avg. Change in Diastole
(mm/Hg)
a Avg, Change in Pulse
(bpm)

-4 J

Sound

DISCUSSION
All three sounds: the control the beta binaural beat (20 Hz) and the
theta binaural beat (7 Hz) did not affect any of the 12 participant's blood
pressure or pulse (p > 0.05). As shown in Figure I, there were small hut
insignificant differences in blood pressure and pulse as a result ofthe sound
being played. One possible reason for this small change may be due to the
participants changing their posture before the data was collected; it may

FIGURE 2. The average of the effects of the control (sound of a babbling

brook) on the 12 participant's blood pressure (mm/Hg) and pulse (bpm).

Effects of the Control

Systolic (mm/Hg) Diaslolic Pulse (bpm)

(mm/Hg)
 Calvin Carter 217

FIGURE 3. The average of the effects of the beta binaural beat (20 Hz) on
the 12 participant's blood pressure (mm/Hg) and pulse (bpm).

Effects of the Beta Binaural Beat (20 Hz)

Systolic (mm/Hg) Dtastolic Pulse (bpm)

(mm/Hg)

also be due to the participants moving while blood pressure and pulse were
being recorded.
Tliere may be several reasons why the sounds did not affect the
participant's blood pressure and heart rate in this study. One reason may be
that the binaural beats were nol played for a long enough period of time to
be perceived by the brain. If the brain did perceive the binaural beat, it may
not have had enough time to resonate to the binaural beat being played.
Thus, no signiñcant difference was recorded (Wahbeh et al., 2007).

FIGURE 4. The average of the effects of the theta binaural beat (7 Hz) on
the 12 participant's blood pressure (mm/Hg) and pulse (bpm).

Effects of the Theta Binaural Beat (7 Hz)

140
120
100
80 I Before
60 I After
40
20
0
Systolic (mm/Hg) Diastolic
(mm/Hg)
218 .lOURNAL OF HOSPITAL MARKETING & PUBUC RELATIONS

In order to test to see if time restrictions were the problem, the

experiment could be repeated except the amount of time the sounds are
played would be increased from 7 minutes to 30 minutes. Tiie added time
would give the brain more time to perceive the frequencies and resonate to
tiie frequency being played.
Another possible reason why the sounds did not affect the participant's
blood pressure and pulse may be due to Ihe participant's age. Older
participants may have been less responsive to the binaural beats than
younger participants. Older brains may not resonate as well as younger
brains. This would skew ihe average because older participant's blood
pressure and pulse would be unchanged, whereas younger participants may
increase or decrease significantly, but Ihe older participant's data would
lower the average making it insignificant (Le Scouarnec et al., 2()ül ).
In order lo test to see if age was the problem, the present experiment
could be rerun with minor adjustments. Two sample groups: one containing
older people of Ihe same age, and one containing younger people of the
same age. would complete the experiment. If the average change in blood
pressure and pulse were significantly different between the two groups
Ihen age would have been a source of error for the present experiment.
The control's null affect on the participants shows the hypothesis to
be inaccurate. One possible reason why ihe control did not affect blood
pressure and pulse may be because it was a neutral sound: there was no
binaural beat present. Tlius. the participant's brain could not perceive a
difference in frequencies and could not resonate to it. Another reason why
the control did not affect blood pressure and pulse may be because it was
not interesting to the participants; thus, it did not affect their state of mind
(it acted as a good control).
Further research is required to determine if the bela and thela binaural
beats affect blood pressure and pulse in humans. Tlie present experiment
could be repeated with minor adjustments including increasing the sample
size and lengthening the time the sounds are played. This method may
yield differenl results than in Ihe present study.

REFERENCES

Lane, J. D.. Kasian, J. J., Owens, J. F.., antl Marsh, Ci. R. (l^^íí)- Uinaural uuililory heals
alTcct vigilance perronnance and IIKKKI. Physiology & Behavior 2:249-252.
Le Scouarnec, R. P., Poirier, R. M., Owens, J. [:.,Cîaulhier. J., Taylor, A. O., and I'orcsman,
P. A. (20Ü1). Use of binaural beat tapes Ébr treainieni of anxiety: A pilot sludy of
 Calvin Carter 219

tape preference and outcomes. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 7:58-
63.
Wahbeh. II., Calabrese, C , and Zwickey, H. (2007). Binaural beat technology in humans:
A pilol .siudy to as.ses.s psychologic and physiologic effects. The Journal of Alternative
and Complementary Medicine 1: 25-32.