1 Hz is at the very bottom of the delta range. Neuro Gardens uses it for Deep Rest: lying-down recovery such as a nap, yoga nidra or non-sleep deep rest.
What the research on 1 Hz binaural beats shows
Direct evidence for 1 Hz is thin. In an EEG study, five-minute 1 Hz beats raised theta and alpha activity and changed brain connectivity, without clear entrainment at 1 Hz 1. A 60-day pilot of daily delta (0–4 Hz) listening found lower anxiety and better quality of life, but it had no control group 2.
A broader caution applies here too: a 2023 review found that only 5 of 14 EEG studies supported the idea that the brain follows the beat frequency 3.
How to use 1 Hz
Lie down somewhere safe for 20–30 minutes. Treat 1 Hz as a cue to slow down rather than a proven effect. Never use it while driving.
How to listen
- Use headphones for binaural beats. Each ear needs its own tone. Isochronic tones work on speakers.
- Start before the task. A meta-analysis found that listening before (or before and during) a task worked better than listening only during it, and that longer sessions helped.
- Keep the volume low. The beat works at a comfortable, quiet level. Louder is not better.
- One goal at a time. Studies tested one beat frequency at a time. You can layer sounds in Neuro Gardens, but there is no evidence that stacked frequencies add up.
About the evidence
Binaural-beat research is promising but uneven. Studies are often small and use different settings, and a 2023 systematic review found that only 5 of 14 EEG studies showed the brain following the beat frequency (Ingendoh 2023). We rate each frequency honestly, link every study to PubMed, and update these pages as new research is published.
Frequently asked questions
What do 1 Hz binaural beats do?
Research specific to 1 Hz is limited. One EEG study found changes in theta and alpha activity during 1 Hz beats. It is mostly used as a slow backdrop for deep rest.
Is non-sleep deep rest the same as sleep?
No. Non-sleep deep rest practices such as yoga nidra keep you awake but deeply relaxed. A slow delta backdrop can help some people settle.
Studies cited
All studies link to PubMed, run by the National Library of Medicine at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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Analysis of EEG activity in response to binaural beats with different frequencies
Gao X, Cao H, Ming D, et al. · International Journal of Psychophysiology · PMID 25448376
Five-minute beats at 1, 5, 10 and 20 Hz changed relative EEG power and brain connectivity, but the researchers found no clear entrainment at the beat frequency itself.
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Binaural beat technology in humans: a pilot study to assess psychologic and physiologic effects
Wahbeh H, Calabrese C, Zwickey H · Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine · PMID 17309374
After 60 days of daily listening to delta (0–4 Hz) beats, trait anxiety fell and quality of life rose. With no control group, the authors call for a larger randomized trial.
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Ingendoh RM, Posny ES, Heine A · PLoS One · PMID 37205669
Of 14 EEG studies, 5 supported the brainwave-entrainment hypothesis, 8 contradicted it and 1 was mixed. Methods varied widely, which limits comparison.
Try 1 Hz in Neuro Gardens
Pick Deep Rest on the outcome wheel, choose music from ambient, jazz, lo-fi, classical or nature, and press play. Audio keeps going with your screen locked.
Get notified at launchNeuro Gardens is a general wellness app, not a medical device, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Studies cited here are research on binaural beats in general, not tests of Neuro Gardens. Never listen to low frequencies while driving.