Sound Asleep is the most minimal of our current sleep meditation offerings. The concept for this track was to create a wholly immersive yet minimal sound design that is really soft on the ears.
We paid really close attention to the sounds, ensuring that nothing is potentially distracting or startling.
The result is a soothing, warm vibe that mimics that feeling of sinking deeper into the pillow.
The Proven Effects of Binaural Beats on Sleep
There are quite a few studies that have shown the effectiveness of binaural beats on sleep quality.
A 2019 study, which used ASMR and Theta frequency binaural beats found that the auditory stimulation could help trigger the brain's sleep response (1).
Our findings indicate that the proposed auditory stimulus could induce the brain signals required for sleep, while simultaneously keeping the user in a psychologically comfortable state. This technology provides an important opportunity to develop a novel method for increasing the quality of sleep.
In 2018, a study showed that binaural beats at 3 Hz helped with better sleep quality in the deep sleep stage (N3) (2).
The results showed that the N3 duration of the experimental group was longer than that of the control group, and the N2 duration of the experimental group was shorter than that of the control group.
Similarly, a study on elite young soccer players showed an improvement in sleep quality (3).
In summary, eight weeks of auditory stimulation with binaural beats improved perceived sleep quality and the post-sleep state of athletes.
The majority of studies we have read use Theta wave frequencies for their test subjects rather than slower wave Delta frequencies, which are associated with deep sleep. Or they use a broad range of frequency entrainment. Despite this, the results are generally in positive favor of contributing towards better sleep.
However, our sleep tracks use Delta frequency binaural beats, which will provide deeper relaxation, as they will entrain the brain to provide slower frequency brainwaves.
Frequency & Tuning Information
Delta brainwaves are the slowest brainwaves, generally cycling between 1-4 Hertz (Hz).
The Sound Asleep meditation focusses on two main frequencies: 3.4 Hz and 0.5 Hz.
We start the track higher up in the lower Alpha state, at 12 Hz. This is because we estimate that your brainwave patterns are likely to be more dominant in this area at this time you start to listen.
So the track tunes into where your frequency response is, making it easier to then slowly entrain your brain down into relaxation.
We then step down a couple of Hertz per minute, leading your brain towards the Delta state. We settle just below the bottom of the Theta state at 3.4 Hz, a frequency associated with general sound sleep.
The track remains here for 15 minutes, before making its way down to 0.5 Hz, where you will begin to feel very deep relaxation and compelled to close your eyes.
The musical elements of the composition are tuned to 174 Hz. This is a frequency taken from the ancient Solfeggio scale, for which each frequency on the scale is said to promote different healing properties.
174 Hz is associated with pain relief and is said to have anesthetic properties, which contribute to the relaxation effect of the music.
Combining these deeply relaxing frequencies with a such a soothing soundscape is the perfect recipe for sound sleep.
How to Use the Sound Asleep Meditation
Sound Asleep is designed as sleep music and therefore intended to be listened to in the evening.
At what point you listen in the evening is up to you, but ideally it should be when you are in a settled state and intending to go to bed fairly soon. We recommend listening up to an hour before bed, two hours at the most.
You can listen before or after you do your nightly routine of changing clothes and brushing your teeth. You can listen in bed while reading a book, or while relaxing on the sofa before bed.
If you have headphones that are comfortable to fall asleep in, by all means let the music play out as you fall asleep. There are special SleepPhones that can be purchased for this purpose.
Because the music itself contains relaxation properties, you can listen without headphones and through speakers while you sleep. However, for binaural beats to be fully effective you need headphones to benefit from the Delta sound waves that entrain the brain.
Sound Asleep is very pleasant to listen to, and you may want to have it on as background music at other times of the day, which is totally fine.
We do ask that you don't listen to this music while driving or operating machinery. You should always listen when you are in an environment where you are relaxed and not actively engaged in any task that requires quick reactions and your full attention.
In terms of our other sleep tracks, you can use them interchangeably. They all achieve the same goal, but some people may prefer one sound design over another. This is the reason we have produced a few different sleep meditations.
Improve your sleep quality today. Download and listen to Sound Asleep tonight!
