Sound Frequency as a Therapeutic Tool: A Student's Perspective

Written by: Anika Jagasia

Edited by: Isabella Polsfuss, Zoee Drimmer, Hannah Schleifer

Illustrated by: Toni Chavez

We've all used music to drown out the world or boost our mood, but have you ever thought about why that works? Recent research has suggested that the impact of sound frequencies stretches far beyond our music playlists. From helping us relax to potentially boosting our focus, sound therapy is being explored for its therapeutic potential [1]. This is not only relevant to clinicians and therapists but is incredibly applicable to students navigating academic and life stresses [1].

Types of Brainwaves and Their Frequencies

Understanding the types of brainwaves, or electrical signals from the brain itself, can offer insight into how different sound frequencies may affect us. These are the range of frequencies in Hertz (Hz) that brainwaves operate under and the functions associated with them: 

Delta (0.5 - 4 Hz): Deep sleep, relaxation, and healing [2].

Theta (4 - 7 Hz): Meditation, creativity, and intuition.

Alpha (8 - 12 Hz): Relaxation, stress reduction, and learning.

Beta (16 - 31 Hz): Active thinking, problem-solving, and focus.

Gamma (36 - 90 Hz): High-level cognitive processing and heightened perception [2].

Understanding Sound Waves and Brain Frequencies

Sound waves do more than just stimulate our auditory senses. They can interact directly with our brainwaves, affecting our mental state [3]. This phenomenon allows specific frequencies to synchronize with our brain's natural rhythms, otherwise known as brainwave synchronization [4]. Take, for example, instruments like gongs and singing bowls. When played, these instruments stimulate our auditory cortex with sound waves, potentially influencing neurotransmitter dynamics and subsequently altering the brain's electrical activity [5]. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that can communicate signals between one neuron and the target neuron [6]. An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a tool used to measure the electrical activity in our brain, enabling us to observe how brainwaves respond to certain sound frequencies [2]. 

The Scientific Study of Sound Waves

This possible relationship between the effects of sound vibrations on human mechanisms, including the physiological, neurological, and biochemical, has recently been approached with both openness and critique. One challenge in establishing a scientific foundation for the effects of music in healthcare is its inherent complexity [7]. These challenges were highlighted in a recent study examining the difficulty that arises from the myriad of variables inherent in the construction of music [7]. Despite these obstacles, the ability to examine the effects of auditory beat stimulation (ABS) is developing. One 2022 study by Mallik and Russo, described below, investigated how different sound treatments, specifically silence, pink noise (which is a lower frequency version of white noise), and ABS may affect people with different levels of anxiety [8]. 

Impact of Sound Frequency on Anxiety and Brain Activity

ABS is a technique that involves the use of sound waves to influence brain activity in a non-invasive manner [8]. It generates specific types of auditory stimuli that resonate within various frequency ranges. The frequency ranges include delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma. It can be thought of as similar to the ambient sounds or tones you would hear in meditation music. A 2022 study by Mallik and Russo used the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety in order to record self-reported cognitive and somatic anxiety levels, with scores ranging from low anxiety levels (cognitive: 20, somatic: 22) to high anxiety (cognitive: 80, somatic: 88) [8, 9]. Cognitive anxiety refers to the mental aspects, such as worry and apprehension, whereas somatic state anxiety relates to the physical symptoms experienced during anxiety, like an increased heart rate or shaking hands [10]. Study findings suggested that the combination of music with intermittent periods of silence can help reduce anxiety, especially for individuals with moderate anxiety [8]. Participants who listened to a combination of music and ABS experienced a self-reported score reduction of 6.38 points and 4.36 points for cognitive and somatic anxiety, respectively, while the music-only group experienced a reduction of 3.35 (cognitive) and 3.43 (somatic) points, the ABS group experienced a reduction of 3.13 (cognitive) and 1.86 (somatic) points, and there was a 4.42 (cognitive) and 2.10 (somatic) score reduction in the pink noise group. Pink noise is often used as a control sound in experiments that involve auditory stimuli because of its low frequency. These findings suggest a beneficial efficacy in sound-based treatments for reducing two types of anxiety: cognitive and somatic. Therefore, these treatments appear effective in alleviating not just the psychological distress associated with anxiety but also its perceived physical expressions [8]. It's important to note that these findings are based on self-reported measures, which can sometimes be subjective and influenced by personal perception or bias. While self-reports are valuable for gaining insights into personal experiences of anxiety, they may not always accurately reflect objective changes in physiological or neurological states.

Expanding Research in Sound-Based Treatments 

An additional 2023 study explored the relationship between sound frequency and brainwave activity [3]. In 17 individuals, they found that there was a notable difference in brain activity at the frequency of a sound bowl’s beat resonating at 6.68 Hz [3]. This 6.68 Hz frequency lies within the theta wave spectrum, which is often linked to a meditative and relaxed state [2]. The findings indicated that the emitted vibrational sounds from the sound bowl could be beneficial for inducing a harmonizing brain wave response [3]. As the study concludes, this is beneficial because when brain waves synchronize, they align with specific frequencies that can contribute to an improved mental and emotional balance [3]. 

The range of understanding the beneficial efficacy of sound-based treatments, especially in reducing cognitive and somatic state anxiety, is expanding in different research domains. One study on binaural auditory beats–the presentation of sounds that slightly differ in frequency to each ear separately–provides further evidence to this growing area of interest, indicating their positive effect not just on anxiety but also on memory, attention, and pain perception [11]. While these studies are receiving increased attention on the significance of frequencies affecting various cognitive and emotional parameters, they point out nuances of frequency, duration of exposure, and timing of exposure as crucial factors for deriving optimal benefits from listening to sound frequencies [11]. 

Why Students Should Care: Navigating Stress with Sound Frequencies

The sound-based treatments examined in the aforementioned studies can ultimately be practical for navigating academic stressors. Academic pressures, looming deadlines, and social stresses can be overwhelming. One simple, yet effective way to manage this stress can be through the use of sound frequencies [1]. Tuning into alpha waves while studying or utilizing delta waves for restful sleep can make a significant difference in academic and emotional well-being [12, 13]. For students, this can be implemented into their daily routines. With a simple search on YouTube, among other listening platforms, there is a myriad of sound frequency and calming brainwave synchronization playlists. This implementation can potentially help with stress management, maintaining focus, and keeping calm, which can be beneficial to helping students navigate their never-ending, busy college life [1, 14]. 

Conclusion

Sound frequency has the potential to significantly impact mental states and overall well-being [1, 3, 8]. Taking advantage of this through sound therapy could be a valuable complement to other treatments, offering a more comprehensive approach to healthcare. Nevertheless, there are some limitations and challenges in current research, such as specific questions regarding the optimal frequency, duration, and methodology for establishing research parameters and administering sound therapy [11]. Additionally, it is also unclear how individual variations such as one’s health status or musical experience and preference may affect research and therapeutic outcomes. As future research emerges, there is growing interest in exploring the domain of sound therapy in both medical and therapeutic settings. Students can use sound therapy as a simple but effective way to manage stress and enhance focus [1, 14]. As the scientific community digs deeper, sound therapy is increasingly recognized as a valuable tool in medical and therapeutic settings.

References

[1] Kantor, J., Vilímek, Z., Vítězník, M., Smrčka, P., Campbell, E. A., Bucharová, M., ... & Kantorová, L. (2022). Effect of low frequency sound vibration on acute stress response in university students—Pilot randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 980756. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.980756

[2] Attar, E. T. (2022). Review of electroencephalography signals approaches for mental stress assessment. Neurosciences Journal, 27(4), 209-215. https://doi.org/10.17712/nsj.2022.4.20220025

[3] Kim, S. C., & Choi, M. J. (2023). Does the Sound of a Singing Bowl Synchronize Meditational Brainwaves in the Listeners?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(12), 6180. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20126180

[4] Will, U., & Berg, E. (2007). Brain wave synchronization and entrainment to periodic acoustic stimuli. Neuroscience letters, 424(1), 55-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2007.07.036

[5] Seetharaman, R., Avhad, S., & Rane, J. (2023). Exploring the healing power of singing bowls: an overview of key findings and potential benefits. EXPLORE. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2023.07.007

[6] (n.d.). Neurotransmitters: What they are, functions & types. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22513-neurotransmitters

[7] Bartel, L., & Mosabbir, A. (2021, May). Possible mechanisms for the effects of sound vibration on human health. In Healthcare (Vol. 9, No. 5, p. 597). MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9050597

[8] Mallik, A., & Russo, F. A. (2022). The effects of music & auditory beat stimulation on anxiety: A randomized clinical trial. Plos one, 17(3), e0259312. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259312

[9] Ree, M. J., French, D., MacLeod, C., & Locke, V. (2008). Distinguishing cognitive and somatic dimensions of state and trait anxiety: Development and validation of the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA). Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 36(3), 313-332. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465808004232

[10] Schoen, C. B., & Holtzer, R. (2017). Differential relationships of somatic and cognitive anxiety with measures of processing speed in older adults. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 24(5), 481-495. https://doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2016.1226247

[11] Garcia-Argibay, M., Santed, M. A., & Reales, J. M. (2019). Efficacy of binaural auditory beats in cognition, anxiety, and pain perception: a meta-analysis. Psychological research, 83, 357-372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-018-1066-8

[12] Nguyen, L. Q., An, H. M. A., Tran, V. Q. T., Le, P. H. A., Le, M. T., Nguyen, T. K., & Ha, T. T. H. (2022). Investigation of the effect of alpha wave-containing music on the cognitive performance and brain activity of university students. Vietnam Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering, 64(3), 69-75. https://doi.org/10.31276/VJSTE.64(3).69-75

[13] Dabiri, R., Monazzam Esmaielpour, M. R., Salmani Nodoushan, M., Khaneshenas, F., & Zakerian, S. A. (2022). The effect of auditory stimulation using delta binaural beat for a better sleep and post-sleep mood: A pilot study. Digital Health, 8, 20552076221102243. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221102243

[14] Ahonen, H., Deek, P., & Kroeker, J. (2012). Low frequency sound treatment promoting physical and emotional relaxation qualitative study. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation. Vol 17 (1) 45-58 This research was supported by a WLU SSHRCH internal grant.