Claim reviewed: Binaural beats increase lucid dreaming.
What do we know?
Higher gamma activity around 40 Hz than in REM sleep was measured frontally during lucid dreams (6 people). In one study, applying 25 and 40 Hz electrical current there increased self-awareness in dreams; but the stimulation was electrical, not sound, and in a follow-up study, signal-verified lucid dreams also occurred with sham stimulation.
What don't we know?
No controlled study has tested whether binaural beats increase lucid dreaming. A review of 35 studies found that no technique reliably induces lucid dreams.
Wording we use in the app: There is no controlled evidence that binaural beats increase lucid dreaming; they can be used as part of a relaxing preparation.
Sources (4)
Voss ve ark. 2009 · Experiment · 6 participants
Sleep-lab EEG recordings of 6 volunteers trained in lucid dreaming showed higher gamma activity around 40 Hz, especially frontally, during lucid dreams. The authors present this as preliminary evidence that lucid dreaming is a hybrid state between waking and REM sleep.
Voss U, Holzmann R, Tuin I, Hobson JA. Lucid dreaming: a state of consciousness with features of both waking and non-lucid dreaming. Sleep. 2009;32(9):1191-1200. doi:10.1093/sleep/32.9.1191 PMID 19750924 Go to source
Voss ve ark. 2014 · Experiment
Weak electrical current (tACS) in the low gamma band (25 and 40 Hz) applied frontally during REM sleep increased self-awareness in dreams; other frequencies had no effect. The stimulation was electrical, not sound.
Voss U, Holzmann R, Hobson A, Paulus W, Koppehele-Gossel J, Klimke A, et al. Induction of self awareness in dreams through frontal low current stimulation of gamma activity. Nat Neurosci. 2014;17(6):810-812. doi:10.1038/nn.3719 PMID 24816141 Go to source
Blanchette-Carrière ve ark. 2020 · Experiment
In an attempt to induce lucid dreams with electrical stimulation (tACS), signal-verified lucid dreams occurred with stimulation but also with the sham procedure. The authors suggest situational factors may be decisive.
Blanchette-Carrière C, Julien SH, Picard-Deland C, Bouchard M, Carrier J, Paquette T, et al. Attempted induction of signalled lucid dreaming by transcranial alternating current stimulation. Conscious Cogn. 2020;83:102957. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2020.102957 PMID 32534325 Go to source
Stumbrys ve ark. 2012 · Systematic review · 35 studies
The 35 studies of lucid-dream induction techniques (cognitive techniques, external stimulation, a drug) were of relatively low methodological quality; no technique was verified to induce lucid dreams reliably and consistently, though some looked promising.
Stumbrys T, Erlacher D, Schädlich M, Schredl M. Induction of lucid dreams: a systematic review of evidence. Conscious Cogn. 2012;21(3):1456-1475. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2012.07.003 PMID 22841958 Go to source
Last reviewed: 3 October 2026 · Next review: 3 April 2027