“Active music listening is top-down, in which the brain consciously processes elements of the music (like lyrics and tune) to trigger emotional responses. ABS music seeks to bypass conscious thought and impact brain activity,” Vernig said.
“I would not equate this kind of intervention with casual listening. Active music listening on your own can absolutely help with stress, but structured therapeutic use is a little different. The intent is more specific, the dose is controlled, and the response is being measured rather than assumed,” said Valdez.
McReynolds underscored that this intervention is not the same as listening to a playlist.
“For the study, the selection of music is based on the person’s self-reported mood and energy level which is designed to move the person toward a calmer state. Simply listening to calming music at home may help, but it is not replicating what this study tested,” she said.
Meanwhile, Jesus urged caution in labeling ABS as therapy, instead calling it a useful tool.
“While people cannot get the same benefits of auditory beat stimulation on their own without being provided with tools and methods from an expert, an individual can absolutely use their preferred music to help reduce their anxiety in a different way. Having an understanding of ways you can use music for yourself to help calm your anxiety, to help you relax before bed, or to increase your energy at the gym, can provide great benefit within your daily life, though different from auditory beat stimulation’s potential impact on the brain,” she said.
