What Research Says

Our apps are grounded in decades of research on sound and the brain. Explore the studies and findings behind each MindStateLabs app.

White & Pink Noise for AD/HD Focus

Research shows noise can help improve attention and reduce impulsivity in people with AD/HD.

A meta-analysis of 13 studies with 335 participants found that white and pink noise led to small but statistically significant improvements in task performance for children and young adults with AD/HD. Benefits included less impulsivity, better attention, and fewer errors. Interestingly, these noise types helped people with AD/HD but not those without, suggesting they work by optimizing brain arousal levels specifically for AD/HD brains.

Binaural Beats for AD/HD Symptoms

Pilot studies show promise for attention and homework-related improvements.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study with 20 children and adolescents with AD/HD found that listening to binaural beats (20 minutes, 3 times per week for 3 weeks) led to significant improvements reported by parents. While objective attention tests did not show significant changes, parents reported fewer homework problems related to inattention, suggesting real-world benefits for daily functioning.

Safe & Well-Studied

Binaural beats are generally safe for most people when used responsibly.

Binaural beats have been studied for decades and are considered safe for the majority of users when listening at comfortable volumes. They work through natural brainwave entrainment and do not require invasive procedures or substances. Reviews from Healthline and WebMD note potential benefits including reduced anxiety and stress, improved mood, increased focus, increased creativity, improved sleep habits, and better pain management when used thoughtfully.

Backed by Research

Scientific studies support the benefits of binaural beats and brainwave entrainment.

Research has shown that binaural beats can help reduce anxiety, improve focus, enhance meditation practice, and support better sleep. Studies have found positive effects on relaxation, stress reduction, and cognitive performance. While individual results may vary, the scientific evidence continues to grow, supporting the use of binaural beats as a tool for mental enhancement and well-being.

Peer-Reviewed Research Studies

AD/HD & White/Pink Noise Meta-Analysis

A meta-analysis of 13 studies (335 participants) found white and pink noise led to small but statistically significant improvements in attention, reduced impulsivity, and fewer errors in children and young adults with AD/HD.

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Meta-Analysis: Cognition, Anxiety & Pain

A comprehensive analysis of 22 studies found medium, significant effects on memory, attention, anxiety, and pain perception (effect size g = 0.45).

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Memory Enhancement Research

Research found that alpha, beta, and gamma binaural beats can modulate cortical networks and improve short-term memory performance.

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AD/HD Binaural Beats Pilot Study

A randomized controlled trial with 20 AD/HD children/adolescents found that binaural beats (20 min, 3x/week for 3 weeks) led to parents reporting significantly fewer homework problems related to inattention.

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Anxiety & Quality of Life Study

Daily exposure to delta-frequency binaural beats over 60 days showed significant decreases in trait anxiety and increases in quality of life.

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What Research Says

Scientific studies support the benefits of brainwave entrainment

“The group who listened to binaural beats experienced an increase in parasympathetic activity, reporting higher levels of relaxation.”

McConnell et al. (2014)

“White and pink noise led to small but statistically significant improvements in attention, reduced impulsivity, and fewer errors in children and young adults with AD/HD.”

Meta-analysis of 13 studies (2024, PubMed 38428577)

“Potential binaural beats benefits include: reduced anxiety and stress, improved mood, increased focus and concentration, increased creativity, improved sleep habits, better pain management.”

Healthline/WebMD reviews (2024-2025)

“Binaural beats could induce the brain signals required for sleep, potentially increasing the quality of sleep.”

Lee et al. (2019)

“Binaural beats may be helpful in enhancing training and learning.”

Huang & Charyton (2008)

“Electroencephalography (EEG) studies have demonstrated that exposure to binaural beats can synchronize brainwave patterns, leading to states of enhanced relaxation and altered states of consciousness.”

Systematic review (2023, PMC10198548)

Notched Sound Therapy

Sound shaped around your tinnitus pitch may help your brain respond differently.

Notched sound therapy removes a narrow band of frequencies around your tinnitus pitch. Researchers suggest this encourages neighbouring frequencies to gently calm the overactive region linked to the tinnitus tone, an effect known as lateral inhibition. The approach has been studied for more than a decade.

Neuroplasticity & Habituation

Regular, calm listening can help tinnitus fade into the background.

Your brain can adapt through neuroplasticity. When soothing sound reduces how much the tinnitus stands out, the brain gradually treats it as less important. Over time this supports habituation, where the tinnitus can feel less noticeable and less bothersome.

Part of Clinical Guidance

Sound therapy features in leading clinical practice guidelines for tinnitus.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery clinical practice guideline reviews sound therapy as an option clinicians may offer to people living with persistent, bothersome tinnitus, alongside education and counselling.

What Recent Reviews Show

Meta-analyses report measurable improvements after a few months of use.

A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials found that notched music therapy was associated with lower Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and loudness scores compared with conventional music after three months of listening.

Peer-Reviewed Research Studies

Notched Music Reduces Tinnitus Loudness

After twelve months of regular listening, patients using tailor-made notched music reported significantly lower tinnitus loudness and reduced tinnitus-related auditory cortex activity compared with a placebo group.

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Tailor-Made Notched Music Training RCT

A randomized controlled trial with 100 participants found that three months of tailor-made notched music training produced an observable change in the most direct measure of tinnitus perception: perceived loudness.

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Notched vs Conventional Music Meta-Analysis

A 2025 meta-analysis of 14 randomized trials (793 participants) found notched music therapy was associated with lower Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and loudness scores than conventional music after three months.

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Inhibition-Induced Plasticity Study

Using magnetoencephalography, researchers found that listening to notched music reduced perceived tinnitus loudness and lowered tinnitus-related neural activity across a temporal, parietal, and frontal network.

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Binaural Beats & Music for Tinnitus

A randomized controlled trial found that alpha-frequency binaural beats combined with music therapy led to significant improvements for people with chronic tinnitus.

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Clinical Practice Guideline: Tinnitus

The American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery guideline reviews the evidence for sound therapy and other options for managing persistent, bothersome tinnitus.

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What Research Says

Scientific studies support the use of notched sound therapy for tinnitus

“Tinnitus loudness can be significantly diminished by an enjoyable, low-cost, custom-tailored notched music treatment.”

Okamoto et al. (2010, PubMed 20080545)

“Already after three months, the effect of training with tailor-made notched music is observable in the most direct rating of tinnitus perception: loudness.”

Stein et al. (2016, PubMed 26987755)

“Notched music therapy was associated with lower tinnitus handicap and loudness scores than conventional music after three months of treatment.”

Meta-analysis of 14 trials (2025, PubMed 39992369)

“Perceived tinnitus loudness was significantly reduced after listening to tailor-made notched music, alongside reduced tinnitus-related neural activity.”

Stein et al. (2015, PLoS ONE)

“Sound therapy is among the options clinicians may recommend for people with persistent, bothersome tinnitus.”

AAO-HNS Clinical Practice Guideline (2014)

“Thanks to the brain's natural ability to adapt, regular listening may help reduce how noticeable tinnitus feels over time.”

Notched sound therapy research overview