Music and Auditory Beat Stimulation for Anxiety

Overseen By Kay Wright-Whyte, MSc

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Toronto Metropolitan University

Must be taking: Anxiety medication

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Cardiac issues, Epilepsy

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 24 minutes

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests how music and special sound waves can reduce anxiety. Participants will listen to either calming music with theta auditory beat stimulation (a type of sound wave) or pink noise (a static-like sound) to determine which is more effective at lowering stress. Researchers will measure changes in heart rate, stress hormones, and feelings of anxiety before and after the session. The trial seeks participants aged 18-30 who have experienced generalized anxiety (scoring 1 or higher on the GAD-2 scale), are undergraduate students, and have normal hearing. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative anxiety-reduction techniques.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications, but it excludes people who are not taking anxiety medication. This suggests that you may need to continue your current anxiety medication to participate.

What prior data suggests that music and auditory beat stimulation are safe for anxiety treatment?

Research has shown that using music with special sound beats, known as auditory beat stimulation (ABS), is safe for treating anxiety. Studies have found that this method can reduce anxiety without causing harm. For example, participants in these studies experienced less anxiety with this approach. No serious side effects were reported. Most participants tolerated the treatment well and felt calmer from the music and beats. These findings suggest that combining music and ABS is a safe option for managing anxiety symptoms. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using music and theta auditory beat stimulation for anxiety because it offers a non-invasive and drug-free approach to managing symptoms. Unlike traditional treatments like medication and therapy, this method uses calm music combined with rhythmic sound waves to potentially influence brainwave activity, promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety. This approach is distinctive as it aims to harness the brain's natural responses to auditory stimuli, potentially providing quicker relief without the side effects often associated with medication. Additionally, the use of pink noise as a control helps to isolate the specific effects of the music and beat stimulation, offering insights into their unique benefits.

What evidence suggests that music and theta auditory beat stimulation might be an effective treatment for anxiety?

Research has shown that listening to music combined with specific sound patterns, known as auditory beat stimulation (ABS), can help reduce anxiety. In this trial, one group of participants will receive this combination treatment, which has been found to lower reported anxiety levels and decrease cortisol, a stress hormone, in saliva. For individuals with moderate anxiety, this combined treatment proved more effective than either listening to music alone or doing nothing. It also increased heart rate variability, often associated with relaxation and reduced stress. These findings suggest that using music and ABS could be an effective way to manage anxiety. ^{1 3 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Frank Russo, PhD

Principal Investigator

Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with mild anxiety, as indicated by a GAD-2 score of 1 or higher. Participants should have no known heart issues or epilepsy, moderate trait anxiety within specific ranges, and normal hearing.

Inclusion Criteria

I believe my hearing is normal.

I have no known heart problems.

I have never had epilepsy or seizures.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo a single 24-minute session of sound-based treatment with either music & ABS or pink noise

24 minutes

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in anxiety levels and physiological measures post-treatment

1-2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Music and Theta Auditory Beat Stimulation
• Pink Noise

Trial Overview

The study tests if calm music combined with Theta Auditory Beat Stimulation (ABS) can reduce anxiety more effectively than pink noise. It measures the effects using heart rate variability, EEGs, stress hormones like cortisol, and subjective anxiety assessments.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Music and Theta Auditory Beat Stimulation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Behavioural: Listening to calm music and auditory beat stimulation Participants will listen to calm music with theta auditory beat stimulation for 24-27 minutes

Group II: Pink Noise (control) Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Behavioural: Listening to pink noise Participants will listen to pink noise for 24 minutes

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Toronto Metropolitan University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

95

Recruited

19,300+

Ryerson University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

77

Recruited

7,800+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 74 military service members with postdeployment stress, music embedded with binaural beat technology (BBT) significantly improved heart rate variability (HRV) compared to music alone, indicating a better stress response.

Participants using music with BBT reported lower stress levels over four weeks, suggesting that this intervention may effectively reduce both physical and psychological stress indicators.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effect of Binaural Beat Technology on the Cardiovascular Stress Response in Military Service Members With Postdeployment Stress. Gantt, MA., Dadds, S., Burns, DS., et al.[2018]

Monaural beat stimulation significantly reduced state anxiety in healthy participants, suggesting it could be an effective tool for anxiety management.

All tested monaural beat frequencies (theta, alpha, and gamma) showed positive effects on reducing anxiety compared to a control stimulus, indicating that different frequencies may be beneficial for emotional well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Impact of Monaural Beat Stimulation on Anxiety and Cognition. Chaieb, L., Wilpert, EC., Hoppe, C., et al.[2020]

Auditory beat stimulation (ABS), particularly binaural beats, shows potential for influencing cognitive processes and mood states, suggesting it could be a useful tool in therapeutic settings.

The review highlights the importance of stimulation parameters in ABS, as variations can lead to contradictory findings in research outcomes, indicating that careful design of stimulation protocols is crucial for effective results.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Auditory beat stimulation and its effects on cognition and mood States. Chaieb, L., Wilpert, EC., Reber, TP., et al.[2022]

A pilot study involving 15 mildly anxious participants showed that listening to binaural beat tapes for 4 weeks significantly reduced daily anxiety scores, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit.

Participants showed a preference for one specific tape with pronounced binaural beats, indicating that the characteristics of the audio may influence its effectiveness in reducing anxiety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of binaural beat tapes for treatment of anxiety: a pilot study of tape preference and outcomes. Le Scouarnec, RP., Poirier, RM., Owens, JE., et al.[2007]

In a randomized controlled trial involving 170 emergency department patients, listening to purpose-designed music or sound compositions significantly reduced self-rated anxiety levels by 10%-15% compared to control groups that received no soundtrack or simulated ambient noise.

The most effective interventions included electroacoustic musical compositions and audio field recordings, both of which led to significant decreases in anxiety, highlighting the potential of sound therapy in clinical settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Original sound compositions reduce anxiety in emergency department patients: a randomised controlled trial. Weiland, TJ., Jelinek, GA., Macarow, KE., et al.[2019]

Binaural beat (BB) stimulation, specifically at 6 Hz, was found to significantly increase theta brain wave activity, which is associated with relaxation and sleep induction, in participants with subclinical insomnia after two weeks of use.

The study demonstrated that listening to music with BB not only enhanced theta power but also reduced beta power, indicating a decrease in hyper-arousal and potentially aiding in better sleep quality.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Entrapment of Binaural Auditory Beats in Subjects with Symptoms of Insomnia. Lee, E., Bang, Y., Yoon, IY., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 163 participants taking anxiolytics, combining calm music with theta auditory beat stimulation (ABS) was found to significantly reduce both somatic and cognitive state anxiety, especially in those with moderate trait anxiety.

Participants with moderate trait anxiety experienced the greatest benefits from the combined treatment, while music alone also showed effectiveness compared to a control group, indicating that sound-based therapies can be a valuable tool for anxiety management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of music & auditory beat stimulation on anxiety: A randomized clinical trial. Mallik, A., Russo, FA.[2022]

Citations

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Auditory beat stimulation (ABS), specifically binaural beats, has gained popularity for its potential anxiolytic effects47, (Mallik et al ...

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researchgate.net

researchgate.net/publication/351060654_The_Effect_of_Music_Auditory_Beat_Stimulation_on_Anxiety

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Among participants with moderate trait anxiety, we observed reductions in somatic anxiety that were greater in combined and music-alone conditions than in the ...

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For individuals with moderate anxiety, both the combined music and ABS and the music-alone conditions resulted in significant reductions in body ...