What is Gamma Entrainment?

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to tap your foot when music is playing? You don’t plan to do it—your body just joins in. That instinctive response is a simple example of entrainment: the tendency of one system to synchronize with a steady, repeating rhythm. And it turns out, the brain can do this too.

Entrainment is a natural brain behavior

Entrainment isn’t something invented in a lab. It’s a fundamental property of biological systems. Breathing can sync with movement, heart rate responds to pacing, and brain activity can align with rhythmic sensory input—especially when that input is repeated and predictable.

When researchers talk about gamma entrainment, they’re referring to the idea that exposure to rhythmic stimulation—often light, sound, or movement—at or near 40 hertz (Hz) may encourage the brain’s activity to align with that same rhythm. It’s less about “forcing” the brain and more about offering a steady beat the nervous system can follow.

Why 40 Hz keeps showing up

“Gamma” refers to a range of faster brain rhythms (commonly discussed around ~30–90 Hz, depending on the study). 40 Hz has drawn particular attention because gamma activity is often linked to:

• Coordination and communication between groups of neurons across brain networks

• Cognitive processes like attention, perception, and memory

• Findings that gamma activity can be altered in aging and in some neurological or cognitive disorders

A simple way to picture this: gamma rhythms are like timing cues that help different sections of an orchestra play together. When timing drifts, coordination can suffer.

So what does gamma entrainment actually do?

Gamma entrainment doesn’t mean inserting thoughts, fixing memory, or “rewiring” the brain overnight. Instead, researchers are exploring whether repeated exposure to a consistent rhythm can support more organized timing in neural activity and, in some contexts, improve coordination across networks.

In Alzheimer’s-related research, for example, 40 Hz stimulation has shown intriguing results in animal studies, and early human work is ongoing—so it’s an active area of investigation, not a settled clinical conclusion.

Note: ReviveXR experiences are wellness and therapy-support tools. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Why repetition matters

One of the most important ideas behind entrainment is consistency. The brain rarely adapts because of a single exposure. It changes through repetition—doing something again and again in a predictable way. This is why rhythm-based practices show up across human history:

• Music

• Chanting

• Drumming

• Coordinated movement

Modern neuroscience is now studying these observations through measurable brain activity.

What gamma entrainment is not

It’s just as important to be clear about limitations. Gamma entrainment is:

• Not a cure

• Not a replacement for medical care

• Not guaranteed to work the same way for everyone

Research is ongoing, and outcomes depend on context, duration, individual differences, and how stimulation is delivered.

Why this idea resonates today

For people supporting loved ones through cognitive changes—or thinking proactively about brain health—gamma entrainment represents a shift in perspective: less about “fixing what’s broken,” and more about supporting how the brain naturally operates through rhythm, timing, and repetition.

At ReviveXR, this philosophy shapes how we think about technology—not as something that overwhelms the brain, but as something that gently guides it.

In the next articles, we’ll explore how gamma rhythms relate to neuroplasticity, and what that could mean for learning, recovery, and adaptation over time.

References (suggested updates): Fries (2005; 2015); Thut et al. (2011); Murty et al. (2020); Mably & Colgin (2018); Iaccarino et al. (2016); Manippa et al. (2022).