Binaural beats and the brain: a narrative review (Mirmohamadi 2024)

The review concludes that binaural beats are a plausible non-invasive adjunct, but that effects depend heavily on stimulation parameters (duration, frequency, carrier) and personality traits, and that more rigorous research is needed.

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

The question: How does the brain process binaural beats, and what benefits have been reported?

What it found

• Monaural beats are peripheral (demodulated in the cochlea), while binaural beats are a central percept formed in the superior olivary complex from interaural phase differences.
• Auditory steady-state responses to beats can be recorded from brainstem and cortex.
• Binaural beats are detectable only with carriers below about 1000 Hz.
• The review surveys reported benefits across memory, attention, stress, anxiety, mood, pain, meditation and sleep.
• Effects depend heavily on stimulation parameters (duration, frequency, carrier) and personality traits.

Limits

• This is a narrative, non-systematic review.
• Effects depend heavily on stimulation parameters and personality.
• The authors say more rigorous research is needed.

Where this sits

More in the library on background.

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