Stress is an inherent, universal human phenomenon that has gained a substantial amount of attention across a variety of fields in recent years, emphasizing how stress may negatively impact health. The current study was part of new, emerging research examining the interrelationship between brain wave entrainment and psychological functioning, with a focus on practical implications and clinical utility. The current study assessed the effectiveness of binaural beat technology as a buffer against stress, experimentally induced by the Trier Social Stress Test, by measuring salivary cortisol, heart rate, and subjective measures of perceived stress in 57 psychology undergraduate students. The impact of adverse life experiences on physiological and psychological measures of stress was also explored.

Consistent with previous literature, results of a mixed ANOVA revealed no significant differences in subjective stress based on condition, sex, or trauma history. Cortisol responses significantly differed by condition within each sex, such that men experienced greater cortisol reactivity in the control group, while women in the experimental group experienced a greater cortisol response. It may be that the cognitive load placed on women in their attempt to detect a binaural beat accounted for increased cortisol levels. Differences in heart rate by condition approached significance, with the experimental group demonstrating lower average heart rate relative to the control group. Contrary to previous literature, interpersonal trauma history did not impact heart rate or cortisol responses, although differences in methodology may account for these differences. Implications for the future of binaural beat technology research is discussed.