The Effects of 40 Hz Gamma Binaural Beat Auditory Stimulation on Postural Control, Motor Coordination, and Cognitive Function Among Healthy Adults: A Pilot Study.

Background/

Objectives

Auditory sensory stimulation, particularly binaural beats, affects neural oscillations and may improve cognitive and motor functions. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of research examining the concurrent effects of 40 Hz gamma binaural beats on postural control, motor coordination, and cognitive function in healthy adults. To evaluate the effects of 40 Hz gamma binaural beat auditory stimulation on postural control, motor coordination, and cognitive function in healthy adults.

Methods

A pre-post quasi-experimental study was conducted among healthy adults who received 20 min of daily 40 Hz gamma binaural beat stimulation for two weeks. Outcomes included static balance, dynamic balance, upper-limb coordination, and cognitive function.

Results

Thirty-two participants (mean age: 22.28 ± 2.43 years; 96.9% female) completed the study. Significant improvements were observed in dynamic balance (p < 0.001; d = 0.85), upper limb coordination (p < 0.001; d = 0.92), and PROMIS cognitive function scores (p < 0.001; d = 0.96). Static balance outcomes showed limited changes, except for the eyes-open Stability Index (p = 0.0005; d = -0.68).

Conclusions

In this single-arm exploratory pilot study, 40 Hz gamma binaural beat stimulation was associated with improvements in selected sensorimotor and cognitive outcomes; however, in the absence of a sham or acoustically matched control condition, these findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating effect-size estimates rather than evidence of stimulation-specific efficacy, pending confirmation in controlled trials.