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Volume 25, Issue 163 (9-2026)                   Journal of Psychological Science 2026, 25(163): 1-14 | Back to browse issues page


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Bayrami M, Hashemi Nosrat abad T, Noshad L. (2026). The Effects of Brainwave Entrainment on Physiological Indices and Memory in Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Journal of Psychological Science. 25(163), : 5 doi:10.66224/jps.25.163.5
URL: http://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-3315-en.html
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran , dr.bayrami@yahoo.com
Abstract:   (62 Views)
Background: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is associated with aberrant patterns of neural activity, which may lead to impairments in physiological indices and memory functioning. Brainwave entrainment has been proposed as a noninvasive intervention aimed at enhancing neural regulation and cognitive performance; however, empirical evidence regarding its effects on physiological parameters and memory in patients with GAD remains limited.
Aims: The present study aimed to examine the effects of brainwave entrainment on physiological indices and memory in patients diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group. The statistical population consisted of all patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder who attended counseling centers and psychiatric clinics in the city of Tabriz in  (2025–2026). A total of 60 patients with GAD were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD‑7; Spitzer et al., 2006) was used for assessment. The experimental group received brainwave entrainment intervention using alpha-frequency (10 Hz) binaural beats for four weeks, five days per week, and 30 minutes per session, while the control group received no intervention. Assessments were conducted at pretest and posttest using the Qtech bioresonance device to measure physiological indices and the overall memory index, as well as the Corsi Block-Tapping Test to assess working memory. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, employing multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).
Results: The results of the multivariate analysis of covariance indicated that brainwave entrainment led to a statistically significant increase in the adrenal gland index and the overall memory index in the experimental group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant effect was observed on cerebral vascular resistance (p > 0.05). In addition, the results of univariate analysis of covariance revealed a significant difference between the two groups in working memory, such that approximately 10% of the variance in working memory was attributable to the intervention (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that brainwave entrainment may serve as a noninvasive and complementary intervention for improving adrenal gland functioning and enhancing memory performance, particularly working memory, in patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. These results underscore the potential clinical applicability of brainwave entrainment in intervention programs focused on neural regulation and cognitive rehabilitation for individuals with anxiety disorders.
Article number: 5
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Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2026/01/29 | Accepted: 2026/06/22 | Published: 2026/09/23

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