10 Hz flicker gets in the way of attention (Gulbinaite 2017)

Yes, for the worse: 10 Hz flicker interfered with the task when attention demands were high, and the effect was larger the closer 10 Hz was to the person's own alpha rate.

A plain-language summary from binaural's reading notes, edited by Jude Mc. Last updated 10 November 2026. Not medical advice.

The question: Does flicker at the brain's own alpha rate change how well people can pay attention?

What it found

• 10 Hz flicker interfered more on trials with high selective-attention demands.
• The size of the effect was predicted by the distance between 10 Hz and the individual's alpha peak frequency.
• The authors read this as flicker entraining the brain's own alpha networks.
• Related work shows the flicker must be regular to entrain alpha (Notbohm & Herrmann 2016) and that stimulation at a person's own alpha rate raises alpha coherence (Jaeger 2023).

Limits

• A laboratory task, eyes open.
• Shows interference with attention, not a benefit.

Where this sits

More in the library on light, flicker and 40 hz. For the wider picture, read 40 Hz, gamma and the brain.

This is our plain-language reading of the paper. It is not medical advice, and one study rarely settles a question.