Sounds for Silence

Consciousness involves a flow of neuronal information strongly linked to oscillatory synchronization within the brain. The alignment between environmental rhythms and brain oscillations is known as neural entrainment, and it potentially plays a role in states of consciousness. When it occurs in response to auditory stimuli, it is called auditory neural entrainment – brain waves synching with sound waves. Building on previous research about the effects of music in people with disorders of consciousness, we will utilize electroencephalography and auditory stimulation (binaural beats) to characterize and modulate states of consciousness (focused attention and mind wandering) through matching and mismatching of auditory neural entrainment. Furthermore, we will investigate the influence of musical training on such entrainment. Understanding neural entrainment with auditory stimulation in diverse states of consciousness holds potential for future research focused on improving the rehabilitation of disorders of consciousness, including coma, unresponsive wakefulness state, and minimal consciousness state.