Can I listen to binaural beats while studying?

A few months ago, I spoke with a stressed college student. He was fretting about finals week, and, with desperation in his voice, asked me if binaural beats actually help with studying or if they are just a placebo. It was a great question as we've all seen videos claiming certain frequencies can basically turn your brain into a supercomputer. I think that's a bit of an exaggeration though. They won't magically download a textbook into your brain I told him, but they can help you with the noise.

If you're trying to focus in a loud dorm or busy coffee shop, your brain will work overtime to filter out background noise. You're just fighting the environment, not the course material. Using binaural beats is more about creating a consistent, predictable soundscape. They give your brain one single thing to latch onto, and the rest of the outside sounds will just fade into the background.

The real consideration, however, is how you listen to binaural beats. I frequently speak with people who use hard plastic earbuds for hours long study sessions. They all share the same experience of their ears aching or the earbuds popping out every time they tilt their head. It's impossible to get into a flow state when you're in pain or constantly fiddling with something in your ear.

That's why we intentionally designed SleepPhones® headphones with flat, padded speakers inside a soft, breathable headband. As they gently rest over your ears there is no pressure in your ear canal. You actually forget you're wearing them, which is the point. If you're constantly distracted by your headphones, no amount of binaural beats will help you focus.

Find more answers on our "Frequently Asked Questions" page.