Can Gen Z's new noise trend bring me calm?

Lying on a hard dance floor with just a thin mat and cushion under my knees for comfort, my back cannot get comfy and my hair gets stuck in my headphones.

- 

I'm in a relaxation class at London fitness chain, Gymbox, in which participants listen to binaural beats, a new neuroscience-approved brand of electronic music that promises to boost calm, reduce stress and improve sleep.

Unsurprisingly, videos featuring binaural beats are also a hit with Gen Z, going viral on TikTok, with up to five million views.

"Binaural beats are an auditory phenomenon that occurs when two tones of slightly different frequencies are played in each ear," says neurologist Dr Faye Begeti.

"When each ear hears tones of different frequencies, the brain perceives the difference between the two frequencies as a third sound.

"For example, if a 300Hz tone is played in one ear and a 310Hz tone in the other, the brain perceives a 10Hz beat."

There's a reason the music in the class isn't being piped through the speakers too.

"This phenomenon relies on listening through headphones to deliver different frequencies in each ear. Without headphones, the 'beat' disappears," says Dr Begeti.