The Effect of Brainwave Synchronization Using Binaural Beats on Improving Working Memory and Reducing the Severity of Symptoms in Women With Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Hodhodi, Zahra; Pyvastegar, Mehrangiz; Hassani Abharian, Peyman; Bidjari, Azam Farah; Ahadi, Batool

doi:10.32598/bcn.2022.4233.1

Volume 15, Issue 2 (March & April 2024) BCN 2024, 15(2): 233-246 | Back to browse issues page

‎ 10.32598/bcn.2022.4233.1

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Hodhodi Z, Pyvastegar M, Hassani Abharian P, Bidjari A F, Ahadi B. The Effect of Brainwave Synchronization Using Binaural Beats on Improving Working Memory and Reducing the Severity of Symptoms in Women With Obsessive-compulsive Disorder. BCN 2024; 15 (2) :233-246
URL: http://bcn.iums.ac.ir/article-1-2482-en.html

The Effect of Brainwave Synchronization Using Binaural Beats on Improving Working Memory and Reducing the Severity of Symptoms in Women With Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Zahra Hodhodi¹

, Mehrangiz Pyvastegar ^*

¹, Peyman Hassani Abharian¹

, Azam Farah Bidjari¹

, Batool Ahadi¹

1- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract:

Introduction: Binaural beats are one of the new methods of brainwave synchronization. However, there is little knowledge about its clinical applications. The positive effect of this method on executive functions, such as attention and working memory, in the γ band has been mainly confirmed in healthy individuals. Still, its effectiveness on disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), with a prominent cognitive profile, has not been established. Therefore, the present study was conducted to examine the effect of binaural beats on working memory and the severity of OCD symptoms in the γ band in the affected women.a
Methods: Twenty-nine OCD women aged 25-40 years referring to psychological clinics in Tehran City, Iran, were selected by convenience sampling. After completing the symptom checklist 90 (SCL90) and the Yale-Brown severity scale (SS), the participants were given the Wechsler memory scale (WMS) digit repetition subtests. Then, they were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=15) and control (n=14) groups. The audio file of the binaural beats in the γ band was provided to the experimental group. The participants in the control group listened to the normal (no-wave) audio file. Both groups listened to the audio files for two weeks, three times a week, for 30 minutes each time. The Yale-Brown SS and digit repetition in post-test and one-month follow-up periods were obtained from both groups.
Results: According to the results, the severity of OCD symptoms was significantly reduced in the post-test and follow-up stages by the γ binaural beats (P<0.05). Also, the working memory function was improved, although it was not statistically significant (P>0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study show that binaural beats can be used as a complementary treatment to reduce the severity of OCD symptoms. Also, it seems that the patients’ working memory is strengthened with this method.

Keywords: Binaural beats, Severity of OCD symptoms, Working memory, Gamma band

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• Binaural beats in the γ band reduce the severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms (in both dimensions of obsession and compulsion).
• Binaural beats in the γ band can be considered a potential amplifier to improve working memory function in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients.

Plain Language Summary

So far, treatment methods for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have been pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Besides short-term positive effects, pharmacotherapy has possible complications, such as drug dependence, recurrence of symptoms after discontinuation, side effects specific to each drug, potential drug interactions, external control of the patient for treatment, and no recovery to the patient’s abilities and efforts. Psychotherapy is also effective, provided the sessions continue weekly, permanently, and sometimes over several years. The disadvantages of this method are that it is time-consuming, has high costs, causes the psychological resistance of the patient to accept therapeutic strategies, and relies on the therapist’s expertise and experience to achieve desired treatment outcomes. It is better to know that according to research, both treatments are ineffective in about 40%-60% of cases. For this reason, new therapies have turned to modulate brainwaves in this disorder. We know that the memory of OCD patients does not work well, which is why they keep checking to see if they have done something. We hypothesized that if we could induce γ waves in the brain by beats, we could generate the highest level of attention, accuracy, and alertness and thus improve memory. The results were amazing. The severity of OCD symptoms is reduced by this method. Patients’ memory was also strengthened. Although more research is needed in this regard, we can suggest binaural beats as a minimal complementary treatment, along with other therapies for individuals with OCD. Binaural beats are safe, accessible, complication-free, easy to use, and can be applied anywhere and time. Also, binaural beats enhance the effect of other treatments and pave the way for recovery.

Type of Study: Original | Subject: Cognitive Neuroscience
Received: 2022/05/30 | Accepted: 2022/08/21 | Published: 2024/03/1

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