THE RESEARCH

Backed by Science

BrainTap uses rhythmic light and sound to gently guide your brainwaves toward calm, focus or rest. Here's how it works, and what the research shows.

THE BASICS

What is brainwave optimization?

Your brain is always producing rhythms, electrical patterns created as billions of neurons communicate. Those rhythms shift with your state: faster when you're alert or stressed, slower when you're calm or asleep.

Brainwave optimization uses a steady outside rhythm, such as pulses of light or sound, to invite your brain to follow along. It's similar to how your foot starts tapping to music without you deciding to.

BrainTap combines light, sound and guided audio into one 20-minute session, so you don't need years of meditation practice to reach a calmer, more focused state. You just press play.

Illustration of a brain with sound waves arriving from both sides and meeting in the middle

Light and sound pulse

Brainwaves follow

Rhythm in, rhythm matched.

BRAINWAVES 101

Five rhythms. One brain.

Scientists measure brainwaves with an EEG and group them by speed, in cycles per second (Hz). Each range is linked to a different state of mind.

Brainwave Speed FasterRhythmSlower Often linked to
Gamma 30+ Hz Peak concentration, processing information
Beta 12–30 Hz Active thinking and problem-solving; high beta with stress and worry
Alpha 8–12 Hz Relaxed alertness, calm focus
Theta 4–8 Hz Deep relaxation, creativity, the edge of sleep
Delta 0.5–4 Hz Deep, restorative sleep

In BrainTap's research sessions, light and sound frequencies gradually move from about 18 Hz down to 0.5 Hz, guiding the brain from busy beta toward the slower rhythms of deep rest.

Read more: what brainwaves are and how they shape memory

HOW IT REACHES YOUR BRAIN

Two senses. One rhythm.

BrainTap works through your senses, not on them. Light pulses travel through your closed eyelids to your visual system. Tones travel through your ears to your auditory system. When both carry the same rhythm at the same time, your brain receives one consistent signal to follow.

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  1. Eyes

    LED light pulses through closed eyelids

  2. Ears

    Binaural beats and isochronic tones through the headphones

  3. Ear points

    Light at the ear cups, BrainTap's auriculotherapy feature

One rhythm reaches the brain

Light and sound, in sync, guiding one rhythm.

5 TECHNOLOGIES

Five technologies, working as one.

Meditation apps play calming audio and leave the hard part, quieting your mind, to you. Other brands repeat a single beat or tone and miss alpha and theta, the brainwave states behind calm focus and deep restoration. BrainTap runs on a proprietary neurosensory algorithm that Dr. Patrick Porter has been refining since 1986. It layers five technologies into one precisely timed session, built to guide your brain through its full range of brainwave states instead of holding it in one. With the proper balance of brainwave activity throughout the day, you get a balanced brain for peak performance: mental clarity, focus, and better sleep. You don't focus, practice, or try. You press play, and the algorithm does the work.

01 — BINAURAL BEATS

Binaural Beats

Different tones reach each ear. Your brain perceives the difference as a steady rhythm — a simple way to settle into a focused or relaxed session.

A long-studied approach to brainwave optimization.

02 — ISOCHRONIC TONES

Isochronic Tones

Precise rhythmic pulses give your attention something steady to follow, like a metronome for your mind.

Helps make a guided session easier to stay with.

03 — HOLOGRAPHIC MUSIC

Holographic Music

Immersive 360° sound creates a fuller listening environment, so outside noise fades while you follow the session.

A more immersive way to stay with the audio.

04 — GUIDED VISUALIZATION

Guided Visualization

A calm voice gives your attention a clear path to follow, helping you rehearse the state you want to access.

Long used by athletes and performers to mentally rehearse before they perform.

05 — LIGHT THERAPY

Light Therapy

The headset adds rhythmic light stimulation through closed eyes, alongside the audio.

Use the app on its own, or add the headset for the full light-and-sound experience.

RESEARCH LIBRARY

The research

BrainTap's technology has been studied with university and research partners across four continents: Asia, Europe, North and South America. Here's what they've found.

FEATURED STUDY

One 20-minute session, measurable change.

In a trial with 100 adults (50 men, 50 women), a single BrainTap session combining binaural beats, isochronic tones and LED light was followed by:

Single-group study measured before and after one session; no control group.

Read the study⁠Published abstract (P05.39, Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 2020)⁠
  • 38.4% lower Stress Index
  • 32.2% higher RMSSD, a marker of rest-and-repair activity
  • 21.8% higher HRV Index
  • 6.2% lower heart rate
View all research

SCIENCE FAQ

Questions about the science.

How is BrainTap different from a meditation app?

Meditation apps rely on you to focus. BrainTap adds light and sound rhythms that guide your brainwaves, so you don't need meditation experience to relax.

Is BrainTap a medical product?

No. BrainTap is a wellness technology. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

How long until I notice a difference?

Many people feel calmer after one 20-minute session. Research looks at both single sessions and daily use over several weeks.

Do I need the headset?

The app's audio sessions work with any headphones. The headset adds light, the fifth technology.

Is it safe? Who shouldn't use it?

BrainTap's light pulses aren't recommended for people with epilepsy, a history of seizures or light sensitivity. If you're pregnant, have a medical condition or a pacemaker, check with your healthcare provider before use.

BrainTap products and services are intended for general wellness and educational purposes and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. Individual results may vary.

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