Issue #5: The Healing Power of Sound · Current Issue

Subscriber article

Binaural Beats: What Happens When Each Ear Hears Something Different?

An auditory illusion with a fascinating mechanism—and modest, unsettled claims about effects.

By Dr. Constance Santego

Illustration of a woman wearing headphones as 200 Hz and 210 Hz waves enter each ear, forming a perceived 10 Hz beat

When each ear receives a slightly different tone, the brain can perceive a beat between them. Learn how the effect works, what researchers are investigating, and how to listen safely.