Effect of audiovisual Brainwave Entrainment on Weight Reduction, Stress and Heart Rate variability
Jody Dowd 1, Cidral-Filho, F.J.2; Porter, P.1
1. Postgraduate Program in Integrative Medicine. Quantum University. Honolulu, HI, USA.
2. Laboratory of Experimental Neurosciences (LaNEX), University of Southern Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil.
Objective
To evaluate the effect of audiovisual brainwave Entrainment (BWE) with the BrainTap headset on weight loss, stress, and heart rate variability.
Methods
Sample size consisted of 12 participants (three men and nine women, ages of 29 and 63, BMI of at least 30, who wanted to lose at least 15 pounds. Baseline assessments consisted of body weight (Health O Meter, USA), stress and heart rate variability (through the Neuralchek device, New Bern, USA). Participants were then asked to listen to two BWE sessions from the Braintap Application of their choice each day (one in the morning – in the Motivation category) and one in the evening (in the Relaxation category) with two of them being Weight Loss category sessions each week.
Results
12 participants were initially enrolled, but only 8 completed the program and the evaluations. A weight reduction of 2.125 pounds was recorded at the end of the program (p=0.0243 – Figure 1), and stress index was also reduced (24.1%, although stress index data was not statistically significant p=0.2013 – Figure 2). Additionally, although not statistically significance was obtained, assessments also indicated increased HRV, increased parasympathetic activity and increased balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic (Figure 2), as decrease in the LF/HF ratio indicates vagal activation, with results closer to 1 (one) reflecting better sympathovagal balance.
Conclusion
Audiovisual Brainwave Entrainment positively affected Weight Reduction. Results also indicate a positive effect on stress and Heart rate variability (with increased HRV, increased parasympathetic activity and increased sympathovagal balance), although data was not statistically significant, we argue that a larger size study is awarded.
Figures
Figure 1 – Effect of audiovisual Brainwave Entrainment on Weight Reduction. Paired T-Test with a 95% confidence interval – Graphpad Prism software, USA.
Figure 2 – Effect of audiovisual Brainwave Entrainment on Stress, Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Low Frequency (LF) to High Frequency (HF) ratio. NS = Not statistically significant (Paired T-Test with a 95% confidence interval – Graphpad Prism software, USA).
Study #9 – PhD Thesis in the 2022 postgraduate Program in Integrative Medicine at the Quantum University, Honolulu, HI, USA.
