Publication Date

2013

Document Type

Thesis

Committee Members

Gary Burns (Committee Chair), Tamera Schneider (Committee Member), Pamela Tsang (Committee Member), Joel Warm (Committee Member)

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Abstract

Currently, there is only one published study examining the impact of binaural beats on the performance of a laboratory vigilance task, however this study had mixed results and left many questions unanswered. I further examined this phenomenon by using a successive vigilance task, between-subjects design, and a control condition to determine whether beta frequency binaural beats could affect vigilance performance over time and across conditions. I hypothesized that participants listening to beta binaural beats would have more hits and fewer misses on the vigilance task than participants in the control condition. In addition, I hypothesized that participants listening to beta binaural beats would have lower levels of psychological stress and mental workload while completing the task than participants in the control condition. The participants underwent a 30-minute vigil, in which they were required to monitor a computer monitor and hit a button on a keyboard whenever a critical target was present. Results partially supported the hypothesis that beta binaural beats would improve vigilance performance; however no significant stress or workload differences existed between the control and binaural beat conditions. Although only partial support was found, this study provides important information about a little-researched phenomenon and opens the door to much needed future research in this field.

Page Count

61

Department or Program

Department of Psychology

Year Degree Awarded

2013

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