Effect of Audio-Visual Brain Entrainment on Mood, Sleep and Work Productivity of Professional Telemarketers
Francisco J Cidral-Filho1, Patrick K Porter2, Rodolfo B Parreira3,4,5, Noemy Ferreira de Castro3, Maria Luisa Ramos Mendes3, Afonso Salgado3,4
1. Laboratory of Experimental Neurosciences (LaNEX), University of Southern Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil.
2. Postgraduate Program in Integrative Medicine. Quantum University. Honolulu, HI, USA.
3. Residence Program in Manipulative, Complementary and Integrative Physical Therapy, Philadelphia University Center, PR, Brazil.
4. PostureLab, Paris France.
5. Health Sciences Program, Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, SP, Brazil.
Background
Audio Visual Brainwave entrainment (ABE) occurs when brainwaves synchronize to external rhythmic stimuli, e.g, visual (flickering lights), auditory (Isochronic tones, and/or Binaural beats) or physical (physical vibration).
Objective
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the Audio-Visual Brain Entrainment (ABE) on Anxiety, General Health, Stress, Quality of Sleep and Work
productivity and Activity Impairment of telemarketers.
Methods
The study was conducted at the Salgado Institute of Integrative Health, Londrina, PR – Brazil, and the protocol was approved by the Institutions Ethics Committee. Sample size consisted of 13 telemarketers (3 males and 10 females). ABE was delivered with a BrainTap headset (New Bern – NC – USA) in 20-minute sessions 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Session consists of Binaural beats (18 to 0.5 HZ), Isochronic Tones (18 to 0.5 HZ) and visual Entrainment (470 nanometers LEDs flickering at 18 to 0.5 HZ). The following questionnaires were applied at baseline and after 6 weeks: The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) that measures the severity of anxiety symptoms; the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), a screening device for identifying minor psychiatric disorders; the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the most widely used psychological instrument for measuring the perception of stress; the Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index (PQSI), that scores sleep quality; and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI), that measures impairments in work and activities.
Results
ABE positively affected all scores: HAM-A (22.95%); GHQ-12 (10.93%); PSS-10 (16.86%); PQSI (14.51%); as well as WPAI (absenteeism, 41.66%; presenteeism, 56.25%; work productivity, 56.22%; and activity Impairment due to health, 76%).
Conclusion
Although results did not achieve statistical significant when compared to baseline, ABE positively affect scores related to anxiety, general health, stress, quality of sleep, as well as work productivity and activity impairment of telemarketers. A lager sample size study is necessary to statistically confirm the effects of ABE.
Figures
Figure 1 – The Effect of Audio-Visual Brain Entrainment on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). NS: Not statistically significant (Paired T-Test with a 95% with a confidence interval – Graphpad Prism software, v.8, La Jolla, CA, USA).
Figure 2 – The Effect of Audio-Visual Brain Entrainment on the Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index (PQSI), and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI). NS: Not statistically significant (Paired T-Test with a 95% with a confidence interval – Graphpad Prism software, v.8, La Jolla, CA, USA).
Figure 3 – The Effect of Audio-Visual Brain Entrainment on the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI). NS: Not statistically significant (Paired T-Test with a 95% with a confidence interval – Graphpad Prism software, v.8, La Jolla, CA, USA).
Study #5 – Presented at the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society 22nd Scientific Conference. Orlando FL, OCT 2021. (ILADS 2021).
