Evaluating the effect of gamma binaural beat on working memory performance and brain activity

Abstract

The cognitive function of memory undergoes development from childhood to aging and can be stimulated and improved by various techniques. Binaural beats (BB) have been proposed as a potential enhancement method for memory performance and treatment of psychological disorders. BB stimulation in the gamma frequency band (30-100Hz) has been associated with increased transmission of information across functional neural circuits, leading to enhanced memory performance. The current literature presents controversial approaches, including variability in stimulation parameters and participant numbers. Few studies analyzed the correlation between BB stimulation in the gamma frequency band and memory tasks. This makes it challenging to determine the optimal therapeutic stimulation parameters and underlying neural dynamics involved in gamma frequency stimulation. To address these limitations, this study proposes a detailed methodology to better understand the relationship between gamma-BB stimulation and memory performance. We collected electroencephalographic data (EEG) from 30 subjects in 3 phases - a baseline, with gamma-BB stim, and control stim - in a resting state, with eyes closed - and while performing memory tasks. Both behavioral and neurophysiology data were analyzed. The study found no significant changes in memory task performance or EEG power spectral density between experimental and control conditions. However, significant differences in brain connectivity were observed using phase-locked value (PLV) analysis in frontal and parietal areas, which are essential for memory processes. This study highlights the importance of exploring the underlying neural dynamics involved in BB stimulation and memory performance. The findings provide insight into using PLV as a metric for measuring brain connectivity and its potential application in future research. This research contributes to the development of optimal therapeutic stimulation parameters for improving memory performance.