Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40717729›Full record

ArticleAIMS neuroscience2025

Distinct neural mechanisms of alpha binaural beats and white noise for cognitive enhancement in young adults.

Aini Ismafairus Abd Hamid, Nurfaten Hamzah, Siti Mariam Roslan, Nur Alia Amalin Suhardi, Muhammad Riddha Abdul Rahman, Faiz Mustafar, Hazim Omar, Asma Hayati Ahmad, Elza Azri Othman, Ahmad Nazlim Yusoff

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in AIMS neuroscience, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Aini Ismafairus Abd HamidDepartment of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Nurfaten HamzahDepartment of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Siti Mariam RoslanDepartment of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Nur Alia Amalin SuhardiFaculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Muhammad Riddha Abdul RahmanDepartment of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Faiz MustafarDepartment of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Hazim OmarDepartment of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Asma Hayati AhmadBrain & Behaviour Cluster, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Elza Azri OthmanSchool of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
Ahmad Nazlim YusoffCenter for Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Investigative Studies, Faculty of Health Science, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Young adulthood is a critical period marked by significant cognitive demands, requiring efficient brain function to manage academic, professional, and social challenges. Many young adults struggle with focus, stress management, and information processing. Emerging research suggests that auditory stimulation, specifically binaural beats and white noise, may enhance cognitive abilities and address these challenges. This exploratory study investigates the immediate effects of alpha binaural beats (ABB) and alpha binaural beats combined with white noise (AWN) on brain connectivity in young adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Twenty-nine participants (n = 14 ABB, n = 15 AWN; mean age ≈ 22.14 years) were randomly assigned to receive either ABB or AWN during fMRI scans. Using dynamic independent component analysis (dyn-ICA), we examined the modulation of functional brain circuits during auditory stimulation. Preliminary findings revealed distinct and overlapping patterns of brain connectivity modulation of ABB and AWN. ABB primarily modulated connectivity within circuits involving frontoparietal, visual-motor, and multisensory regions, potentially enhancing cognitive flexibility, attentional control, and multisensory processing. Conversely, AWN primarily modulated connectivity in salience and default mode networks, with notable effects in limbic or reward regions, suggesting enhancements in focused attention and emotional processing. These preliminary results demonstrate that ABB and AWN differentially modulate brain networks on an immediate timescale. ABB may promote cognitive adaptability, while AWN enhances focused attention and emotional stability. Although behavioral effects were not assessed, these findings provide a neurobiological basis for understanding how these stimuli impact brain circuits. These preliminary findings may aid the development of personalized strategies for cognitive and emotional well-being. Given the exploratory nature, small sample size, and lack of concurrent behavioral data, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Future research with rigorous designs, including control groups and behavioral measures, is needed to explore the long-term effects and applications of these interventions in various settings.

Indexed as

alpha binaural beatscognitive enhancementsfMRIfunctional connectivitywhite noiseyoung adults

Identifiers

PMID40717729
PMCPMC12287642

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.