Francisco J. Cidral-Filho, Laboratory of Experimental Neurosciences, University of South Santa Catarina (UNISUL), Palhoça, Brazil; Integrative Wellbeing Institute (IWI), Windermere, United States of America; Research Laboratory of Posturology and Neuromodulation (RELPON), Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy;
Nathalia N. Donatello, Laboratory of Experimental Neurosciences, University of South Santa Catarina (UNISUL), Palhoça, Brazil; Integrative Wellbeing Institute (IWI), Windermere, United States of America
Margaret Scarbrough, Healthcare Programs, Seminole State College of Florida, Altamonte Springs, United States of America
Geraldine Peréz, Disability Support Services, Seminole State College of Florida, Sanford, United States of America
Erin Miller, Integrative Wellbeing Institute (IWI), Windermere, United States of America
Objective: This pilot study aimed to explore the modulatory potential of auditory Brainwave Entrainment (aBWE) on the emotional and physical well-being of college students enrolled in healthcare programs. Methods: All enrolled participants from the Seminole State College received the same intervention of daily aBWE sessions over a 12-week period. Evaluations were conducted at the outset (1st week), midpoint (6th week), and conclusion (12th week), utilizing four distinct questionnaires: the Pittsburgh quality of sleep index (PQSI), the perceived stress scale (PSS), the generalized anxiety disorder 7 (GAD-7), and the profile of mood States (POMS). Results: Twenty-nine participants (mean age of 39.41) completed the study. In the PQSI, reductions were observed in Subjective Sleep Quality (p = 0.0039), Sleep Latency (p = 0.0454), and the Global Score (p = 0.0175). The PSS indicated significant reductions in stress after 6 weeks (p = 0.0402) and 12 weeks (p = 0.0006). The GAD-7 scale revealed a significant reduction in anxiety by the final evaluation (p < 0.0001). Similarly, the POMS questionnaire showed significant decreases in Tension at both midpoint (p = 0.0259) and final evaluations (p = 0.0001), along with reductions in Total Mood Disturbance (midpoint p = 0.0485, final p < 0.0001). In addition, significant improvements were noted in Depression (p = 0.0314), Anger (p = 0.0454), Vigor (p = 0.0297), Fatigue (p = 0.0002), and Confusion (p = 0.0019) by the final evaluation. Conclusions: We conclude that aBWE presents a promising intervention for enhancing sleep quality, mood states, and reducing stress and anxiety, without any reported adverse effects, indicating its safety.
Keywords: Brainwave entrainment. Neuromodulation. Anxiety. Mood. Sleep. Stress.
