Binaural beats first came to the attention of the general public through a brilliant
work of fiction by Paddy Chayefsky, author of the book "Altered States". It and the subsequent box-office blockbuster of the same title gave the world a horrific view of a probable side effect to using binaural beats. Discovered in 1839 by renowned scientist Heinrich Dove it has only in recent years been investigated for its possible beneficial aspects. The movie gave the world a clear Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde like scenario and frightened most people. Like anything, if we are not familiar with it we tend to shy away from its use.
The misconception about binaural beats comes mainly from not understanding what they are and how they can be used to help society at large. Simply put binaural beats or tones if you will are auditory processing of apparent sound that is perceived internally in the brain for specified stimulation. Recent studies by neurophysiologists, the scientist who spend their lives studying the sense of hearing, have been aimed at using these low frequency binaural beats to stimulate the portion of the brain in deaf people in hopes of giving them some form of hearing.
Another use that has recently come to the forefront is the use of binaural beats to help in treatment of patients who experience extreme anxiety. This is accomplished through the entrainment of their brainwaves. Forget the stuff of nightmares and the horror movie glitz of a Hollywood production this is science, not science fiction and soon it may just well be the miracle of the future.
Binaural beats can also help you in your daily life. Since these studies have been done, binaural beats are currently being used as a part of relaxation music to help you reduce stress. Now that you have a better understanding of what binaural beats are and how they are used, you should try downloading one of these binaural beat mp3s and listening to this amazing audio for yourself. All you have to do is put on a pair of headphones. Then just sit back and relax and experience the calming effects of these audio frequencies on your mind.