What are 40 HZ binaural beats?

The concept of 40 Hz binaural beats is centered around playing two slightly different sound frequencies in each ear to create a perceived frequency inside the brain that promotes cognitive functioning. When a person listens to two sounds with frequencies that are a small number apart, such as one ear hearing a tone at 405 Hz and the other at 445 Hz, the brain perceives a beat at the difference of those frequencies, in this case, 40 Hz. Andrew Huberman has discussed the effects of binaural beats, particularly at 40 Hz, which appear to have multiple benefits:

• Being correlated with improved cognitive functions such as memory.
• Enhancing reaction times and verbal memory recall.
• Increasing striatal dopamine release, which is related to motivation and focus.
• Potentially augmenting visual spatial working memory.

The beats have a direct impact on the brain's behavior by influencing the oscillation patterns of brain waves. Regular listening to 40 Hz binaural beats can result in heightened levels of motivation and focus, which can be beneficial before or during cognitive tasks. For the best effects, it is recommended that these beats are heard using headphones, as they rely on the stereo difference between the two ears 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8.