Systematic review finds inconsistent EEG evidence for binaural-beat brainwave entrainment
| Citation | Ingendoh RM, Posny ES, Heine A. Binaural beats to entrain the brain? A systematic review of the effects of binaural beat stimulation on brain oscillatory activity. PLOS ONE. 2023;18(5):e0286023. |
|---|---|
| Study type | Systematic review |
| Population | Healthy adults across 14 EEG studies |
| Sample | 14 studies reviewed |
| Primary source | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286023 |
Headline finding
Roughly half of the reviewed EEG studies reported evidence consistent with brainwave entrainment during binaural-beat stimulation and half did not; methodological differences (carrier frequency, beat frequency, exposure time, masking) plausibly explain the split.
Limitations
- Small samples in most included studies.
- No standardized stimulation protocol exists, making studies hard to compare.
- Detecting entrainment in scalp EEG is technically challenging; null results may reflect measurement limits.
Why this evidence label
The core mechanism claim (entrainment) has genuinely mixed direct evidence — neither confirmed nor refuted.
Editorial note
The subjective effects of binaural beats (calm, focus) and the proposed mechanism (brainwave entrainment) are separate questions. This review addresses the second one and finds the field split down the middle.
Why we cite it: it’s why our copy says tones are “designed around” a frequency band rather than claiming they put your brain into one.
Reviewed by Sonic Vitality Editorial on July 12, 2026 . See our methodology and corrections policy.