Isochronic tones versus binaural beats at 10 Hz: a trial (Kanzler 2023)

Symptoms fell across the active arms: binaural beats showed significant drops in anxiety (p = 0.028), stress (p = 0.012) and depression (p = 0.035), and isochronic tones significantly improved stress (p = 0.027) and sleep quality (p = 0.041). The groups were too small to show that one method differs from the other.

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

The question: Do 10 Hz isochronic tones and binaural beats, used daily for 21 days, reduce depression, anxiety and stress symptoms or improve sleep in healthy adults?

What it found

• Binaural beats showed the clearest significant drops: anxiety (p = 0.028), stress (p = 0.012) and depression (p = 0.035).
• Isochronic tones significantly reduced stress (p = 0.027) and improved sleep quality on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (p = 0.041), with a non-significant depression trend (p = 0.068).
• The combination of binaural beats and isochronic tones improved sleep at a trend level (p = 0.075).

Limits

• Small (n = 37) and single-blind, with four arms and therefore very small groups; the per-arm sample is too small to show a statistical difference between isochronic tones and binaural beats.
• Results are within-group before/after changes, not large between-group contrasts.
• No long-term follow-up; healthy volunteers only.

Where this sits

More in the library on anxiety and stress. For the wider picture, read Binaural beats for anxiety.

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