Can those same song beats provide pain relief for people with migraines?
Migraines can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and sensitivity to light and sound.
Fortunately, a number of new therapies are available to treat migraines.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
Most doctors consider this therapy experimental.
Yet, one small study assessed whether music intervention was helpful in the management ofchronic pain.
Binaural Beats: How it Works
Binaural beats use two tones at different frequencies in each ear.
The brain identifies the beat and creates an additional tone.
This third tone is called a binaural beat.
To hear the binaural beat there must be sound coming into both ears.
If you remove one of the sounds, you no longer will hear a binaural beat.
Binaural beats are considered to induce the same mental state as meditation.
Higher hertz is associated with a higher frequency of sound.
Brain waves can be recorded with an electroencephalogram, or EEG.
Gamma waves are the highest and fastest frequency of brain activity (between 30 and 50 hertz).
This kind of brain wave is associated with concentration, alertness, and problem solving.
Binaural beats help trigger the relaxing theta waves (48 hertz) related to meditation.
Known for triggering tingling sensations in the scalp and neck area, ASMR has become a YouTube phenomenon.
ASMR videos trigger tingling sensations due to sounds such as whispering, soft tapping, and light scratching.
There is limited research examining the role of ASMR.
One study has shown its effectiveness in improving relaxation, managing stress, and initiating sleep.
The same study also indicated that ASMR may reduce the symptoms of chronic pain.
Music with binaural beats could become part of your management plan for treating migraine pain.
This frequency is associated with meditation and relaxation.
Loud noises increase the pain of migraines.
The pain usually persists even when the noise has ended.
Loud and forceful noises not only contribute to worsening migraine attacks, but they can also trigger attacks.
Stop listening if music and binaural beats are worsening the painful effects of the migraine.
Some research suggests that listening to different music tones might help release tension and stress.
Making your mind relax could help lessen migraine pain.
Binaural beats are a healthy and safe way to achieve relaxation.
When migraine attacks occur, some people become sensitive to sound and seek silent environments.
Others may find music to be soothing and helpful in reducing stress during a migraine attack.
If youre looking for an alternative way to manage migraine pain, talk to your doctor about binaural beats.
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Holroyd KA, Drew JB.Behavioral approaches to the treatment of migraine.Semin Neurol.
In:2017 International Conference on Emerging Trends Innovation in ICT (ICEI).
In:2020 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN).
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