Binaural beats around surgery: anxiety and pain meta-analysis (Xiong 2025)

Pooled effects were large and significant for perioperative anxiety (SMD = −1.38, 95% CI −1.89 to −0.87) and postoperative pain (SMD = −0.61, 95% CI −1.03 to −0.19). Heterogeneity was very high (I² = 91.6% and 75.8%), so the pooled estimates are fragile.

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

The question: Do binaural beats reduce anxiety and pain around surgery and medical procedures?

What it found

• Perioperative anxiety was reduced (SMD = −1.38, 95% CI −1.89 to −0.87, p < 0.0001) across 14 trials.
• Postoperative pain was reduced (SMD = −0.61, 95% CI −1.03 to −0.19, p = 0.0024) across 5 trials.
• Binaural beats also reduced systolic blood pressure and heart rate.
• Heterogeneity was very high (I² = 91.6% for anxiety, 75.8% for pain): the effect varies enormously between trials.

Limits

• Extreme between-study heterogeneity undermines the large pooled effect.
• Controls were blank audio, not an active sham, so expectancy and the effect of simply listening to something are not ruled out.
• Perioperative patients are acutely stressed, so effects may not transfer to everyday listening.
• Variability in frequency, timing and duration across trials is unresolved.

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.