Vibroacoustic Sound and the Mind: New EEG Study Reveals How Sound Shapes Focus and Well-Being
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Can sound sharpen the mind while calming the body?
A new peer-reviewed study from the University of Southern Denmark suggests exactly that — and features an original composition by Hilo Sound co-founder Joachim Lorck-Schierning.
Published in Psychology International (2025), the research by Charlotte Fooks and Oliver Niebuhr explored how vibroacoustic stimulation compares with guided mindfulness meditation in shaping cognitive states such as concentration, relaxation, and emotional balance.
Inside the experiment
Participants lay on a vibroacoustic sound module — a wooden platform equipped with low-frequency transducers — while listening through noise-cancelling headphones.
EEG sensors tracked brain activity before, during, and after each session, revealing how the body and brain respond to different kinds of sensory input.
A composition built for the body
The sound piece was composed specifically for the experiment by Joachim Lorck-Schierning, following insights from Fooks’ earlier 2024 study on vibroacoustic sound massage and relaxation.
The composition begins with a rhythmic and melodic introduction, gently guiding the listener into the experience. Midway through, rhythm dissolves into a slowly pulsating soundscape built from three bass frequencies — 80 Hz, 40 Hz, and 20 Hz.
Each tone fades into the next, shifting the body’s resonance gradually downward, while a minimalist synth pad creates harmonic warmth above binaural field recordings of running water.
An outro revisits the opening theme, closing the session like a slow return to waking consciousness.
What the EEG revealed
The results were clear: vibroacoustic stimulation increased both concentration and subjective well-being, while meditation primarily increased relaxation.
In other words, tactile sound activated focused yet positive engagement — a mental state often described as flow.
Participants’ words mirrored the data: “I felt it in my cells… a deep calmness spreading in my chest. Compared to meditation, it goes way deeper into the body.”
A growing research collaboration
This publication forms part of an ongoing project between Danish Sound Cluster and University of Southern Denmark, initiated in 2023.
The first study, Assessing Vibroacoustic Sound Massage Through the Biosignal of Human Speech (Fooks & Niebuhr, 2024), found that participants spoke more softly and deeply after vibroacoustic sessions — measurable acoustic signs of relaxation.
Together, these studies establish one of the most comprehensive scientific frameworks yet for understanding vibroacoustic music and its measurable effects on the nervous system.
Reference
Fooks, C., & Niebuhr, O. (2025). EEG Effects of Vibroacoustic Stimulation and Guided Mindfulness Meditation on Cognitive Well-Being, Concentration, and Relaxation. Psychology International, 7(4), 80.
Read the full open-access paper →
Experience vibroacoustic sound for yourself
Vibroacoustic therapy is no longer just theory — it’s a tangible, research-supported method for deep relaxation, focus, and emotional reset.
Whether you’re a therapist, a private individual, or an organisation seeking new ways to support employee well-being, Hilo Sound offers professional-grade vibroacoustic solutions designed for real-world use.
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