These studies of MEG- and EEG- recorded delta, beta and gamma band responses to auditory rhythms confirm predictions of the DAT. Moreover, the amplitude of the SS-EPs at pulse and meter frequencies was selectively enhanced, suggesting a role for neural oscillations in pulse and meter induction ( Nozaradan, Peretz, & Mouraux, 2012b). In addition, complex rhythms were found to elicit multiple SS-EPs in the EEG spectrum at frequencies corresponding to the rhythmic pattern envelope. Additional EEG studies, using the steady-state evoked potential (SSEP) found that a periodic rhythm produced a sustained response in the delta band and meter imagery stimulated an additional subharmonic resonance corresponding to the metric interpretation ( Nozaradan, Peretz, & Mouraux, 2012a). For instance, MEG and EEG studies revealed that fluctuation in induced beta- and gamma-band power synchronized with periodic and metrical rhythms, revealing sensory and anticipatory responses to tones ( Fujioka, Trainor, Large, & Ross, 2009 Snyder & Large, 2005). Later, electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) studies have directly examined the role of endogenous oscillation. This theory further addressed the issue of how neural rhythms may be exploited by an organism to enable attentional coordination with the dynamic external world ( Large & Jones, 1999). Long before the application of ABS, dynamic attending theory (DAT) proposed synchronization of endogenous perceptual rhythms with temporally structured sequences of external stimuli, generating expectancies for future events ( Jones, 1976). For example, when listening to a 20 Hz binaural beat, the frequency of brainwave activity should change to 20 Hz. The assumption is that the brain can adapt its brainwave frequency to the frequency of the auditory beat by a synchronization process between neural activity and the auditory stimuli ( Wahbeh, Calabrese, & Zwickey, 2007). Many years ago, it was already suggested that ABS can elicit entrainment of brainwave activity ( Lane, Kasian, Owens, & Marsh, 1998). This method, called auditory beat stimulation (ABS), uses pulsating auditory stimuli to induce a frequency-following brainwave response. These audio files usually contain music or nature sounds, accompanied by tones that aim to influence brainwave activity in such a way that listeners are better able to focus. One frequently used method for increasing focus is the creation of a nondistractive environment, for example listening to specific audio files which can create a focused or relaxed state of mind. As a consequence, people are searching for methods to help them focus. Nowadays, society is characterized by a lot of distraction due to the use of electronic devices like smartphones. Further research is recommended to gain more insight in the role of factors such as duration of stimulation of BB and MB, frequency range, most appropriate carrier tones, and the role of personality traits. The present study supports the notion that faster attention processing may equally be attributed to the influence of BB and MB. Finally, as participants with low or high emotionality did not respond differently to BB and MB under any of the conditions, effects of BB and MB seem similar in high and low emotional participants. With respect to the quality of performance on the Flanker attention task and the Klingberg working memory task no significant differences under the WN, MB, and BB condition were found. No differences were found between BB and MB conditions. Speed of performance on all three levels of difficulty of the Flanker attention task was faster under the BB and MB condition than under WN. A group of 24 participants (16 females, 8 males) between 19 and 31 years old ( M = 22.33, SD = 3.42) performed a Flanker task to measure attention and a Klingberg task to measure working memory while listening to white noise (WN), 40 Hz gamma binaural beat (BB) and 40 Hz gamma monaural beat (MB). The present study examined the effects of binaural and monaural beat stimulation on attention and working memory in high and low emotional participants. This improvement is explained by the assumption that the brain adapts its brainwave frequency to the frequency of the auditory beat. Today, binaural and monaural beats are offered over the Internet or by mental health institutes to improve wellbeing or cognitive functioning.
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