What we actually cite.

The Focus Station and the breath games are grounded in real research. The literature on noise-induced cognitive enhancement, binaural beats, and breath pacing is honestly mixed. We cite the papers, we don’t overclaim.

Noise-induced cognitive enhancement (NICE) in ADHD

Söderlund, Sikström, Loftesnes & Sonuga-Barke (2010) The effects of background white noise on memory performance in inattentive school children. Behavioral and Brain Functions 6:55.

Moderate stochastic white noise improved verbal memory in inattentive children; same noise impaired attentive controls. Stochastic resonance hypothesis. open access →

Helps, Bamford, Sonuga-Barke & Söderlund (2014) Different effects of adding white noise on cognitive performance of sub-, normal and super-attentive school children. Frontiers in Psychology.

U-shaped effect across attention profiles. open access →

Honest framing: these studies are on children. Adult ADHD evidence is mechanistically plausible, smaller, and ongoing.

Brown noise specifically

Brown noise is currently the most-requested ADHD soundscape on Reddit and TikTok. Controlled trials specifically on brown noise (vs white or pink) are still small. Subjective self-report is wide and consistent. We default to brown noise on the Focus Station because of that signal, not because we’ve proven it superior.

Binaural beats (40 Hz, gamma)

Lane, Kasian, Owens & Marsh (1998) Binaural auditory beats affect vigilance performance and mood. Physiology & Behavior 63(2):249-52.

40Hz gamma beats improved vigilance in lab settings. Subsequent replications mixed. PubMed →

Effect is individual and headphones-dependent. We show the option; we don’t default to it.

Breath pacing + HRV coherence

Lehrer & Gevirtz (2014) Heart rate variability biofeedback: how and why does it work? Frontiers in Psychology.

Slow breathing (~6 breaths/min) raises HRV, the strongest single biomarker of autonomic balance. open access →

Nature sounds + stress recovery

Alvarsson, Wiens & Nilsson (2010) Stress recovery during exposure to nature sound and environmental noise. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 7(3):1036-46. open access →

What we don’t claim

We don’t claim soundscapes cure ADHD or replace medication / therapy. We don’t claim binaural beats reliably enhance gamma activity at the EEG level. We don’t claim brown noise is superior to white or pink. We don’t claim Pomodoro works for everyone. The Focus Station is a tool. The research is the honest read. The user decides.

Back to the Focus Station → · Try The Breath → · Open the kit →