The effect of music on the human mind: A study using brainwaves and binaural beats

Music is known to affect different states of the human mind, for example, in calming one's mind and leading to a blissful state. In this study, the effect of music on the states of human mind is examined by observing the changes in the alpha and beta brainwaves patterns. These changes are compared for ‘attention’ and ‘meditation’ state of mind. An electroencephalograph was used to record the brainwaves. Three experiments are carried out in a controlled environment. First, the effect of binaural beats, i.e., perceptual beat frequency created in human mind by the differential of two audio beats played to human ears, is examined. Secondly, the effects of 8 different music genres on states of mind are examined. Lastly, the effects of classical music of 5 different eminent musicians are examined. Parameters mean, standard deviation and normalized standard deviation are derived, for carrying out the comparative analysis of attention vs. meditation state. Results indicate larger effect of classical music for meditation state of mind, than for attention. The study reveals that classical music indeed helps in achieving relaxed or meditative state of human mind.