Disclaimer

This is an emerging field of active research, not established science. Effectiveness varies significantly between individuals, necessitating personalized approaches. Some consider the evidence base to be questionable, and as such it is intended as a complement to, not replacement for, professional evaluation and treatment. The recommendation levels of these treatment strategies remain uncertain in available clinical guidelines (1 Hamblen et al., 2019).

A Vision for Therapeutic Sound That Doesn't Feel Like Medicine

We'd like to create soundscapes that weave complementary sounds with frequencies designed to trigger healing responses, entrain particular mindsets, and resonate with the innate physiological systems that hum beneath our awareness. The science is clear: sound vibration has measurable effects on human physiology, neurology, and biochemistry (2 Bartel & Mosabbir, 2021). Binaural beats can be perceived in the frequency range of 1-30 Hz—a range that coincides precisely with the main human EEG frequency bands, allowing external stimulation to guide the brain's electrocortical activity toward specific states (3 Ingendoh et al., 2023).

This is not a novel idea, and many have attempted it. But we feel there is still a need. So let me just cut to the chase my friend: we got a podcast for you!

Why? Well, for one thing, healing frequencies don't sound particularly melodic on their own. But try as they might, soundscape artists tend to miss the mark. You can usually hear pulsing, wavering tones, and other sounds that are clearly artificial—like finding a pill hidden in your applesauce (yuck!). SoundCloud, YouTube, and Apple Music are fairly clogged with rather ungainly and awkward musical blends that telegraph their therapeutic intentions with all the subtlety of a neon pharmacy sign 😆. That may be your thing, and I won't knock it—but I know we can do better.

For example, even though binaural beats are notoriously difficult to hide, Brain.fm really does an excellent job. Their patented neural phase-locking technology has been validated in peer-reviewed research funded by the National Science Foundation, demonstrating that their music creates measurable changes in brain patterns (4 Brain.fm, 2016; 5 Woods et al., 2024). They've moved beyond simple binaural beats to create functional music that enhances and promotes coordinated neural activity in just five minutes (6 Brain.fm, 2025).

Dr. Jeffrey Thompson has raised the bar even higher. As founder of the Center for Neuroacoustic Research in Carlsbad, California, Dr. Thompson is recognized not just by yours truly (my personal favorite for years). He is one of the world's leading experts in sound therapy, having created over 60 albums sold in 26 countries (7 Sound Oasis, 2016; 8 Center for Neuroacoustic Research, 2022). His Bio-Tuning® technology delivers "synchronicity of sound and kinesiologic vibrations, formulated to your body's own brainwave frequency, stimulating your body's innate ability for healing and restoration" (9 Center for Neuroacoustic Research, 2019). The soundscapes are immersive, resonant, melodic, and a feast for the ears—proof that therapeutic and beautiful need not be mutually exclusive.

The Cough Syrup Problem

Any technology sufficiently advanced is indistinguishable from magic. —Arthur C. Clarke

By the same token, I perceive that we can create a healing soundscape that is indistinguishable from entertainment. Rather than interpreting soundscapes as mechanical, unnatural, and obnoxious—something we listen to when we have to, like children resisting cherry cough syrup—we want to make it a genuinely enjoyable experience when it needs to be.

The research supports this approach to some extent. A systematic review published in the National Institutes of Health found that sound vibration affects humans through physiological, neurological, and biochemical mechanisms, with particular emphasis on low-frequency sound up to 250 Hz (2 Bartel & Mosabbir, 2021). Music therapy has been implemented for substance use disorders (10 Hohmann et al., 2017), post-traumatic stress disorder (11 Ma et al., 2024), and chronic pain management (12 Cournoyer Lemaire & Perreault, 2024; 13 Chen et al., 2025). Studies show that listening to therapeutic music reduces pain intensity, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and improves psychosocial outcomes (13 Chen et al., 2025) especially when participants choose their own music.

Finding the Right Vessel For EnTrainment 🚂

Healing from addiction, trauma, and chronic pain may be easier with an immersive soundscape, and in my experience, certain sounds blend naturally with therapeutic frequencies. The rhythmic, mechanical nature of trains—the steady pulse of wheels on rails, the Doppler shift of distant horns, the gentle creaking of metal—creates a natural envelope for embedding healing tones without the artificial "wobble" that betrays most binaural beat compositions—sounds just plain weird; I personally found it a challenge to weave them in.

An alternative soundscape could unfold in natural environments that are inherently interesting and novel, such as the avian madness of a rainforest dawn chorus or the layered symphony of a coastal wetland. These environments offer complex acoustic textures that can mask therapeutic frequencies while engaging the listener's curiosity and wonder.

When Engagement Is the Enemy

Caveat to that? Well, the experience need not always be entertaining. For example, users of focus@will are encouraged to change the track when they start paying attention to the music—because that means it's working. The moment you notice the music is the moment it stops being functional.

For this reason, soundscapes meant to facilitate learning can mask outside noise without interfering with the embedded frequency sounds. The goal shifts from immersion to invisibility—creating an acoustic environment that supports concentration without demanding attention. Research on binaural beats for cognitive enhancement suggests that this approach can improve memory and attention, though the effects depend heavily on the parameters used (14 Basu & Banerjee, 2023; 3 Ingendoh et al., 2023).

All Aboard

So now we embark on a healing journey: an immersive, gentle, ambient soundscape with sounds of trains on tracks. Locomotion woven delicately with distant horns and gentle whistles, rhythmic clacking and creaking of rails—a journey where you crawl on and dance off!

Healing Rails

Where healing doesn't feel like homework, and restoration arrives disguised as rest.

Welcome to The Healing Rails.

Through the large windows of the first-class passenger car, you can see three individuals in a sleepy southern rail station in the 1920’s. The two tall gentleman wear bowler hats. You’ll get to meet them—Mr. Mason Whitfield and Mr. Earl Beauregard. They are joined by a petite young woman who introduces herself as Janice. She’s quite down to earth and unassuming; we’ll find out more about her story and also about Mr. Beauregard in future episodes.

References.

  1. Bartel L, Mosabbir A. Possible mechanisms for the effects of sound vibration on human health. Healthcare (Basel). 2021;9(5):597. Accessed December 18, 2025. doi:10.3390/healthcare9050597
  2. Ingendoh RM, Posny ES, Heine A. Binaural beats to entrain the brain? A systematic review of the effects of binaural beat stimulation on brain oscillatory activity, and the implications for psychological research and intervention. PLoS One. 2023;18(5):e0286023. Accessed December 18, 2025. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0286023
  3. Brain.fm. Our science. Brain.fm. Published October 24, 2016. Accessed December 18, 2025. https://www.brain.fm/science
  4. Woods KJP, Sampaio G, James T, et al. Rapid modulation in music supports attention in listeners with attentional difficulties. Commun Biol. 2024;7(1):1376. Accessed December 18, 2025. doi:10.1038/s42003-024-07026-3
  5. Brain.fm. Music to focus better. Brain.fm. Accessed December 18, 2025. https://www.brain.fm/
  6. Sound Oasis. Dr. Thompson sound tracks that coax your mind. Sound Oasis. Published February 1, 2016. Accessed December 18, 2025. https://www.soundoasis.com/sounds/dr-thompson/
  7. Center for Neuroacoustic Research. Dr. Jeffrey Thompson. Center for Neuroacoustic Research. Published June 14, 2022. Accessed December 18, 2025. https://centerforneuroacousticresearch.com/the-creator/
  8. Center for Neuroacoustic Research. Bio-Tuning the power of sound. Center for Neuroacoustic Research. Published April 16, 2019. Accessed December 18, 2025. https://centerforneuroacousticresearch.com/
  9. Hohmann L, Bradt J, Stegemann T, Koelsch S. Effects of music therapy and music-based interventions in the treatment of substance use disorders: a systematic review. PLoS One. 2017;12(11):e0187363. Accessed December 18, 2025. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0187363
  10. Ma YM, Yuan MD, Zhong BL. Efficacy and acceptability of music therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2024;15(1):2342739. Accessed December 18, 2025. doi:10.1080/20008066.2024.2342739
  11. Cournoyer Lemaire E, Perreault M. The use of music in the treatment of chronic pain: a scoping review. Pain Manag. 2024;14(10-11):579-589. Accessed December 18, 2025. doi:10.1080/17581869.2024.2435243
  12. Chen S, Yuan Q, Wang C, Ye J, Yang L. The effect of music therapy for patients with chronic pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychol. 2025;13(1):455. Accessed December 18, 2025. doi:10.1186/s40359-025-02643-x
  13. Basu S, Banerjee B. Potential of binaural beats intervention for improving memory and attention: insights from meta-analysis and systematic review. Psychol Res. 2023;87(4):951-963. Accessed December 18, 2025. doi:10.1007/s00426-022-01706-7
  14. Hamblen JL, Norman SB, Sonis JH, et al. A guide to guidelines for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in adults: An update. Psychotherapy (Chic). 2019;56(3):359-373. Accessed December 18, 2025. doi:10.1037/pst0000231
The link has been copied!