Beats, Brainwaves, and Better Grades? The Neuroscience Behind Binaural Beats

Lofi study girl. Coconut Mall on loop. 

There’s no shortage of music and sounds claiming to help you study better—but have you ever heard come across binaural beats? 

Some swear by them as a focus-enhancing, memory-boosting hack that will get you in the zone. Others argue they’re no better than background noise—any benefits chalked up to placebo. So what’s the truth, and what does neuroscience have to say?

This article explores the claims behind binaural beats, with a focus on 40 Hz—the frequency often recommended for high-cognition tasks such as studying—and will explore whether this auditory illusion can actually help your brain. 

What are Binaural Beats?

Binaural beats are auditory illusions created when two slightly different sound frequencies are played, one in each ear. Your brain doesn’t hear them as separate tones, but perceives the difference of the two as a single, rhythmic ‘beat’. 

For example, if you hear 440 Hz in your left ear and 480 Hz in your right, your brain perceives this as a 40 Hz beat—even though it doesn’t actually exist as an external sound. 

This internal response is thought to influence the brain’s electrical activity—a process known as brainwave entrainment. 

Understanding Brainwaves

To understand how binaural beats might affect cognition, we need to talk about brainwaves. These are rhythmic electrical pulses generated by neurons communicating with each other. Different frequency bands are associated with different mental states, as can be seen in the diagram below:

Of these, gamma waves, especially around 40 Hz, have attracted attention for their role in memory, focus, and conscious awareness. Some researchers believe that listening to 40 Hz binaural beats can help the brain enter a gamma-dominant state, enhancing learning.

The Evidence: Brain Boost or Bust?

Research into binaural beats is ongoing—as there is limited clinical research on the subject matter. Furthermore, our current understanding of them is mixed, with studies that reveal conflicting results.

Several studies suggest that listening to binaural beats may enhance memory, attention, and cognitive flexibility. For instance:

• A 2018 study by researchers Kirk U., Wieghorst A., Nielsen C.M., and Staiano W. found that participants who listened to 15 minutes of 40 Hz binaural beats showed reduced mind-wandering compared to those who did not (Kirk et al., 2018). 

• A review by Basu and Banerjee (2022) also supports the idea that gamma-frequency beats could positively influence certain cognitive tasks.

Other studies suggest the effect might be overstated—or even negative.

• A 2023 study by cognitive neuroscientist Michał Klichowski tested 1,000 individuals using a two-part fluid intelligence test. Surprisingly, those exposed to binaural beats performed worse than those who were not, suggesting that these beats may weaken rather than enhance cognitive processing in some contexts (Klichowski et al., 2023).

These conflicting results may be due to placebo effects, individual variability, or the lack of standardisation in how binaural beats are used—in terms of frequency, duration, and task types.

40 Hz for Students: Productivity Tool or Placebo?

The rising popularity of 40 Hz binaural beats among students likely comes from the advice of self-improvement and productivity creators online. While it’s tempting to believe there’s a magical frequency for productivity, the safest takeaway would be that it wouldn’t hurt to try, but it’s not a guaranteed brain booster. Binaural beats should be used alongside, not instead of, proven study techniques such as active recall, spaced repetition, and the pomodoro technique.

How to Use Binaural Beats Effectively

If you want to give them a try, here’s how to optimise the experience:

1. Use good-quality headphones, since the illusion only works when each ear hears a separate tone.

2. Try 40 Hz gamma beats for focus, or alpha beats (8-15 Hz) for relaxed studying.

3. Limit use to 15-30 minutes if trying for the first time.

4. Avoid multitasking or changing volumes too frequently.

Unfortunately, we can’t tackle studying with a one-size-fits-all approach. One student might thrive under the works of Mozart, others on silence, and perhaps some on heavy metal. Binaural beats might work wonders for some—and do nothing for others.

While research is still indefinite, one thing’s for sure: Your grades depend more on what’s in your brain than what’s in your headphones. But if a 40 Hz beat helps you feel more focused—by all means, press play.

Reference list

Basu, S. and Banerjee, B. (2022). Potential of binaural beats intervention for improving memory and attention: insights from meta-analysis and systematic review. Psychological Research, [online] 87(4), pp.951–963. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-022-01706-7.

Chaieb, L., Wilpert, E.C., Reber, T.P. and Fell, J. (2015). Auditory Beat Stimulation and its Effects on Cognition and Mood States. Frontiers in Psychiatry, [online] 6. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00070.

Harmonance.com. (2024). Exploring the Impact of Binaural Beats on Brain Waves. [online] Available at: https://www.harmonance.com/resources/exploring-the-impact-of-binaural-beats-on-brain-waves [Accessed 28 Jul. 2025].

Kirk, U., Anders Wieghorst, Nielsen, C.M. and Staiano, W. (2018). On-the-Spot Binaural Beats and Mindfulness Reduces Behavioral Markers of Mind Wandering. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, [online] 3(2), pp.186–192. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-018-0114-z.

Klichowski, M., Wicher, A., Agnieszka Kruszwicka and Golebiewski, R. (2023). Reverse effect of home-use binaural beats brain stimulation. Scientific Reports, [online] 13(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38313-4.

Narbis (2022). The Science of Brainwave Entrainment - Age of Awareness - Medium. [online] Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/the-science-of-brainwave-entrainment-a303468dc2af [Accessed 28 Jul. 2025].

Thakur, V. (2019). ScienceABC. [online] ScienceABC. Available at: https://www.scienceabc.com/pure-sciences/what-are-binaural-beats.html [Accessed 28 Jul. 2025].

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