Wind-down timers and binaural beats: options and evidence
Kavana’s Rest → Sleep mode plays your selected sound for 15, 30 or 60 minutes with a fade-out, or until you stop it. Binaural tones are a separate optional sound setting, off by default. Neither feature promises sleep or a particular brain state.
Choose a stop time
Open Rest, choose Sleep and select a sound. Pick a time or “Until I stop it,” then press Start sleep sounds. Starting Sleep pauses a running focus timer. The finite options fade without an alarm; you can stop playback sooner.
For a quiet self-directed meditation with a visible countdown, use a custom Focus session instead. Rest’s breathing, singing bowl and sand drawing are also available without earning coins.
What binaural tones do in the app
Settings → Sound includes optional delta, theta, alpha and beta tone patterns with a separate volume. Stereo headphones are needed for the binaural effect. Selecting a pattern does not automatically start paused audio. It follows the sound playback controls and can be included in a saved mix.
The labels describe a difference between two tones. They do not mean that Kavana measures your brain activity or produces the named brain state. Leave the setting off if you prefer ordinary sound or silence.
What the research says
A 2023 systematic review examined 14 EEG studies and found inconsistent evidence for brainwave entrainment. Methods varied substantially. This does not establish Kavana’s presets as a way to improve focus, induce sleep or treat a condition.
Understand the browser limits
Phones and browsers may suspend audio when locked or put a tab to sleep. Reopen Kavana and press Play if playback stops. A selected stop time is not a guarantee of uninterrupted overnight audio. Choose sound because you enjoy it and stop if it is unpleasant.