Medical Design Briefs - March 2022 - 13

beat transmission. This article explores
this technology and new devices that are
in development to improve the quality
of life for Parkinson's patients.
Binaural Beat Studies
A few tests have shown that neural
response activities are triggered by
applying binaural beat music effects
from two separate tones of an audio program
with identical beats being played at
minutely separate starting times. When
one ear detects the first tone, the other
ear hears the fractionally delayed program.
A human brain attempts to correct
the difference between the two. The
brain embarks on solving this problem
of dissimilar beat patterns and tries to
dampen or accelerate one audio beat
frequency to match the other. For example,
a 270-cycle-per-second tone in one
side and a 280-cycle-per-second tone in
the other creates a 10-cycle-per-second
tone available in the brain.
Additional brainwaves called frequencyfollowing-response
signals are developed at
the 10-cycle-per-second tone. Neuroscientists
have studied this entraining in
the brain for years and have used similar
information to help clients understand
human speech. (Additional study of the
neurological effects can be done on audio
frequency effects on the human brain by
studying brain wave states within the literature.
The information will suggest what
frequencies or beat-separations are more
beneficial from the brain wave delta level
of 3 Hz for sleep and up through the
gamma level of 50 Hz for high-intensity
study and memory improvement.)
Similar studies have given insights to
the benefits of hemispherical synchronization
within the brain. Routine exercise,
body muscles, and neural stimulation
of brain cells extends strength and
deepens the capability of a person's nervous
system. A function within the nervous
system is to keep both the right side and
left side of the brain in harmony. Times
of dizziness and anxiety have been traced
to unbalanced emotions from the left to
the right side of the brain. Soothing
music and aroma therapy are used to
calm a person by coordinating neural
pathways from left to right sides of the
brain. Most individuals perform logic,
mathematics, and sequential data analysis
within the left hemisphere and relegate
artistic, imaginary, and abstract processing
to the right hemisphere of the brain.
Medical Design Briefs, March 2022
Cov
EEG and EKG data has shown a reduction of neural noise during exposure to various levels of noninvasive
binaural beat transmission. (Credit: AdobeStock)
Binaural stimulation may help the brain
strengthen and extend its neuroplastic
capability and achieve balance between
hemispheres. While this balancing is
occurring, a person tends to reduce focus
on signals such as pain or anxiety.
Clinical studies are using binaural beat
applications to assist and reduce overstimulated
brains that cause insomnia
and even Parkinson's freezing of gait.
Some patients experiencing Parkinson's
effects may have dominant issues in the
form of anxiety, above that of fatigue and
mobility. More recent binaural testing
data has been showing promise, but with
limited depth of immediate success.
One concept is to combine current
Parkinson's therapy simultaneously with
binaural beat applications with the hope
of multiplying relief for the patient.
Fig. 1 - Binaural signal beat shift.
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New Devices in Development
To support this approach, new audio
devices are in development. A key to
the success of audio signal triggering
requires offering an adjustable beatshifting
control device that can be
operated by patients. Spinal modulation
physicians have success with
patients using simple control paddles
to adjust modulation frequencies. Spi -
nal modulation devices have proven
effective because of the technology's
adaptive process, and they can be
small, rugged, and portable. Parkinson's
patients may also be dependent
on an uncomplicated frequency-tuning
device that can easily adjust the beatspread
of the right and left signals
from one side to the other. This spread
will undoubtedly vary from patient to
patient. EEG tests alone will vary and
may not report the same control successes
as the individual using the
adjustable device personally.
Electronic Circuits. Electronic circuits
are being designed to vary beat signal
shifts in the range of needs for very low
frequency applications (see Figure 1).
Designers can set one side for the reference
beat rate, such as at 40 Hz, and
then offset the other side beat by various
step sizes. This is done by varying the
repeat frequency using the basic formula
for adjusting frequency:
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Medical Design Briefs - March 2022

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