Sound, perception
and the evidence.

01

What a binaural beat actually is.

A binaural beat is a perceptual effect. When two nearby tones are delivered separately to the ears, many listeners perceive a rhythmic fluctuation at the difference between them. For example, 400 Hz in one ear and 410 Hz in the other creates a perceived 10 Hz beat.

The 10 Hz value is a difference rate, not an audible 10 Hz tone. Stereo headphones are required because each ear must receive its own carrier tone. That mechanism is distinct from the larger question of whether listening produces a repeatable change in mood, cognition or EEG activity. See binaural vs isochronic tones for the practical difference between headphones and speakers.

A 2019 meta-analysis reported pooled effects across measures of memory, attention, anxiety and pain perception. Its included protocols varied by beat frequency, exposure time and whether stimulation occurred before or during a task. This supports further research—not a promise that a chosen beat will place every brain into a named state.

Sources: Ingendoh, Posny & Heine, 2023 ↗ · García-Argibay, Santed & Reales, 2019 ↗

02

Delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma are labels—not destinations.

EEG bands are conventional ranges used to describe patterns in measured electrical activity. Boundaries vary slightly across fields. Hamen uses familiar band names to organize beat or pulse rates; a label does not prove that listening moves the whole brain into that state.

“Deep Delta 2 Hz” therefore describes the session’s difference or modulation rate and its place in Hamen’s library. It does not mean the app is measuring your EEG, inducing clinical deep sleep or confirming a two-hertz brain state. The frequency guide turns these labels into a shorter, practical reference.

Laboratory work shows that 40 Hz auditory stimulation can evoke a measurable auditory steady-state response. That finding concerns sensory processing; by itself it does not demonstrate better focus, memory or health.

Sources: Galambos, Makeig & Talmachoff, 1981 ↗ · Schwarz & Taylor, 2005 ↗

03

Pure, binaural and pulse modes are acoustically different.

These definitions explain signal design, not wellness efficacy. Direct evidence for reliable outcomes from pulsed or isochronic tones remains limited, and results should not be borrowed from binaural or monaural studies as if every stimulation method were interchangeable.

04

What studies suggest about sleep, focus and calm.

Hamen is designed as a flexible sound environment: choose an intention, keep volume comfortable and notice whether a session suits you. It is not a substitute for treatment of insomnia, anxiety, ADHD, tinnitus or another condition.

Sources: Lin et al., 2024 sleep RCT ↗ · de Witte et al., 2020 music-and-stress meta-analysis ↗ · Buxton et al., 2021 natural-sound review ↗

05

432 Hz, 528 Hz, Solfeggio and 7.83.

These numbers need context. Audible pitches such as 432 Hz or 528 Hz are not EEG bands. Hamen presents them as tonal colors or intention-based traditions, not as medical frequencies.

One small exploratory study compared music tuned to 432 and 440 Hz; it does not establish a unique healing, sleep or cognitive effect attributable to 432 Hz. Evidence for other named pure tones in Hamen, including 528 Hz and Solfeggio labels, is not mature enough to support outcome claims. Claims that a single audible frequency repairs DNA, heals disease or guarantees calm go beyond the evidence.

Sources: Calamassi & Pomponi, 2019 exploratory tuning study ↗ · Balser & Wagner, 1960 Schumann-resonance measurement ↗

06

Noise colors describe spectral balance.

White, pink, brown, blue and violet noise describe different ways energy is distributed across frequencies. A color can change how bright, soft or deep a noise field feels. “Green” and “amber” do not have one universally accepted scientific definition; in Hamen they are sound-design labels.

Noise may help some listeners mask distracting environmental sound. Reviews of continuous white, pink or broadband noise for sleep find low-quality or mixed evidence, so Hamen does not promise that one color will improve sleep, concentration or a diagnosed condition.

Sources: Capezuti et al., 2022 ↗ · Riedy et al., 2021 ↗

07

Use sound gently.

• Keep the volume low and comfortable.
• Use stereo headphones for binaural mode; speakers are fine for pure, pulse and ambient modes.
• Never listen while driving or operating machinery.
• Stop if you feel discomfort, dizziness, agitation or hearing fatigue.
• Ask a qualified health professional before use if a health condition makes rhythmic sound a concern.

Hamen does not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent a condition. If sleep, anxiety, attention, pain or hearing symptoms are persistent or disruptive, seek qualified care rather than relying on an audio app.