LG Breeze earphones lull you into deep sleep with binaural beats

LG Electronics has introduced a new smart sleep care solution called Breeze. To be demoed at CES 2023, this is a wireless earphone that helps you sleep comfortably by using binaural beats.

What are binaural beats?

For those not in the know binaural beats are a type of brainwave technology. You’ve heard of visual illusions. Well, this is a type of auditory illusion.

To experience binaural beats you need to wear two headphones. Each plays a pure-tone sine wave of a slightly different frequency. The effect of this on the brain is the perception of a single pulsing tone called a binaural beat.

That sound has a frequency equal to the difference between the two sine waves. For example, if you listen to 100 Hz in the left ear and 98 Hz in the right ear, it will induce 2 Hz brain waves. All of this was discovered way back in 1839 by a Prussian physicist and meteorologist named Heinrich Wilhelm Dove.

It is believed that listening to binaural beats can effect brainwave states. But it all depends on the range you are listening:

• Gamma waves (30-100 Hz) are thought to cause higher levels of consciousness, alertness, and focus. They are utilised to improve concentration and achieve high levels of problem-solving.
• Beta waves (12-30 Hz) are typical of normal waking consciousness and a heightened state of alertness, logical thinking, and decision making.
• Alpha waves (8-12 Hz) are associated with relaxation and a calm, tranquil state of mind. Good for light meditation and creative inspiration.
• Theta waves (4-8 Hz) are linked to deep relaxation, meditation, and a dreamy, hypnotic state of consciousness. This is the state your brain is in during REM sleep and deep meditation.
• Delta waves (0.5-4 Hz) are the lowest frequency. They are often associated with deep, dreamless sleep and a state of unconsciousness.

How does Breeze work?

Breeze have been developed by SleepWave and launched by CIC (Company in Company) – a subsidiary of LG. They are meant to be worn while sleeping, just like you would any other headphones.

But this is about more than just playing different frequencies in each ear. Breeze uses an EEG sensor to detect in real-time the user’s sleep state. It can monitor the “hypnosis phase”, a state immediately before falling asleep, along with the REM or Rapid Eye Movement Phase, Light and Deep sleep.

Sounds are tailored to your brain activity

Breeze will then play sounds tailored to the user’s current brainwave activity. The goal is to help the person fall asleep more easily and improve sleep quality. More specifically, Breeze promotes deep sleep by inducing Delta brainwaves in the 0.5-3 Hertz range.

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The headphones can play static and dynamic binaural beats. They come with 80 built-in brainwave-tuned sounds, lullabies, and nature sounds that trigger ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response). You can also sync Breeze to your favourite music or videos from YouTube.

As far a design, the headphones are very lightweight (6 grams each). Their shape is ergonomic so should not impede with sleep. The buds come with a case that has UV nanotechnology to keep it clean and germ free.

There’s also a smartphone element to all of this. The accompanying app allows you to view sleep data (phases, sleep/wake times, sleep position, tossing, steps) and trends and read insights on improving your sleep routine.

Breeze certainly sounds like an interesting sleep aid solution. One could imagine using such a device for meditation, as well.

No word yet on price or a potential release date. But LG Breeze will be unveiled at CES 2023 when this type of information should become available.

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