Embracing Neurodiversity: Leveraging Brainwave Entrainment to Cultivate Artistic Abilities in Kids with Attention Differences

This study aimed to investigate whether brainwave entrainment(BWE) could improve focus and sketching abilities in children with attention problems. Many children struggle to sustain focus during detailed tasks like art due to difficulties with attention. Brainwave entrainment using binaural beats has shown potential for increasing focus by driving brain waves into specific frequency ranges. This study involved 20 children ages 9-12 who had been diagnosed with attention issues, seven of them diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). They participated in a crossover design where they completed an art sketching task for 30 minutes. In condition one, they performed the task without BWE, and in another condition, they listened to theta frequency (8 Hz) binaural beats for 30 minutes daily during the sketching activity for 15 days. This activity was conducted under the observation of an expert art teacher to monitor efficiency. The study revealed promising outcomes regarding the effectiveness of BWE in enhancing focus and task performance. Participants diagnosed with ADHD exhibited a significant 75% improvement in task completion efficiency during the 15-20 minute phase when exposed to BWE, compared to only 15% improvement in the non-BWE control group. Notably, even participants without ADHD symptoms demonstrated a 50% efficiency increase with BWE. Furthermore, EEG analysis revealed a remarkable 7.65% reduction in the Theta/Beta Ratio (TBR) for the ADHD group after BWE, indicating improved attention and focus. The non-ADHD group also showed a 5.39% decrease in TBR, while the non-BWE control group exhibited minimal changes. These findings suggest that BWE techniques could benefit children with attention difficulties, aiding in focus, learning, and emotional regulation during academic and daily activities.