We’ve mentioned binaural beats previously - the illusory “beats” that you can hear when pure tones of slightly different frequency are separately and simultaneously presented to each ear. It’s an interesting psychoacoustic effect - one that some people think can help you do things ranging from concentrating to opening your chakras.

Mainstream media has picked up on this so-called “digital drug”, though, and is offering hysterical coverage that recalls the days of Reefer Madness. USA Today recently warned about binaural beats, saying that these “digital drugs promote drug use”.

Now Mediahead has is bringing binaural beats to the iPhone. mindFreek (App Store link) is a unique application designed to put you to a certain state of mind.

According to creator Jakub Koter:

The binaural tones i’ve included in mindFreek are unique and may produce some interesting effects.

This application focuses the following sessions:

• Astral Projection
• Crazy High
• Out-of-Body Experience
• 3rd Eye Float
• Weightless

You may start feeling heavy, or like your arms are really heavy, like your floating or even may see things that aren’t there.

mindFreek retails for $1.99.

I’ve been checking out Crazy High while writing this post and, somehow, I remained fairly lucid. If there are any other iPhone Mind Freeks out there, let me know what you think of this app in the comments!

Background (from Jakub Koter):

Let me give you an example of a binaural beat/tone. Right ear is given a steady tone of 400Hz and the left one is given 410Hz, these tones combine in your brain to achieve a 10hz difference. This 10Hz tone is formed by your brain. This can only be achieved when using stereo headphones since the right and left channels do not mix until in your brain.

There are four frequency stages: Delta (0.5Hz-5hz), Theta (4Hz-8Hz), Alpha (8Hz-14Hz), Beta (14Hz-30Hz

For example: Theta stage (4hz-7Hz) has been found to increase learning abilities. Children spend more time in theta stage than adults, which could explain their accelerated learning capabilities.

NOTE: You must wear stereo headphones in order for this application to have any affect. Although binaural waves are considered safe, Koter says to “use at your own risk.” That probably got him an extra thousand downloads!