are binaural beats scientifically proven

This slow wave is explained as similar to alpha oscillation in humans. However, the experiment indicated that slow wave oscillation was generated in the rats' brain when they were immobile in waking state. After the rats were treated with some medicine to let them in stupor, gamma oscillation pattern was disrupted by suppression. During normal postures, which are head held up against gravity, and eyes open, gamma oscillation pattern was found. It is found during consciousness and the oscillation pattern is interrupted when lack of consciousness occurs. Gamma oscillation is associated with arousal maintenance of the brain during waking state (Vanderwolf, 2000, Gray, 1999, Gray and Singer, 1989, Llinas and Pare, 1991). The occurred oscillation which is generated for schema sending is gamma oscillation (Llinas and Ribary, 1993). These connections including connections within cerebral cortices communicate to one another by synchronization of neural activities which oscillate at the same frequency (Jones, 2009). The former sends projection fibers to specific cortical areas, i.e., primary auditory cortex while the later send projection fibers to widespread cortical areas, i.e., other auditory areas. Thalamus and cerebral cortex, normally, communicate via thalamocortical circuit including 2 types of thalamic neurons which are thalamic core neurons, and thalamic matrix cells. Gamma oscillation is neural oscillation that maintain long-range communication in the brain (Fries, 2005) including the communication between thalamus and cerebral cortex, and within cerebral cortices themselves (Llinas et al., 2002). The emotional results suggested that these changes were consistent with the induced neural oscillations. Brunel Mood Scale, a questionnaire to evaluate emotional states, revealed changes in emotional states after listening to the stimulus. The results showed that, after listening, the recalled words were increase in the working memory portion of the list. In the second experiment, word list recall task was conducted before and after listening to the stimulus for 20 min. The results suggested that frontal, temporal, and central regions were activated within 15 min.

In the first experiment, electroencephalograms were recorded while participants listened to the stimulus for 30 min. Two experiments were developed based on the study aims. This study aimed to investigate the neural oscillation responding to the 40-Hz binaural beat and to evaluate working memory function and emotional states after listening to that stimulus.

The stimulus used in this study was 40-Hz binaural beat because binaural beat induces frequency following response. Therefore, modulation of the brain activity can lead to manipulation of cognitive functions. Gamma oscillation also associates with cognitive functions, memory and emotion. Beta oscillation is also involved in interpreting received stimulus and occurs following gamma oscillation, and this process is known as gamma-to-beta transition, a process for neglecting unnecessary stimuli in surrounding environment. Gamma oscillation plays a role in binding process or sensory integration, a process by which several brain areas beside primary cortex are activated for higher perception of the received stimulus.

Are binaural beats scientifically proven