By Sukriti Wahi Wellness 17.04.2025

Is TikTok’s ‘Brain Flossing’ the Hack You’ve Been Looking For to Find Inner Calm?

Don’t worry — there’s no actual floss involved.

While it’s safe to say many of us don’t enjoy the act of flossing — hello, dentist’s disapproving head tilt — there’s something to be said for that ultra-clean feeling that comes from really getting in there with that minty little thread.

So, what if you could achieve a similar feeling with your brain (no actual floss involved)? Hear us — or rather, TikTok — out.

Said to cultivate a deep sense of calm, ‘brain flossing’ is a trend that’s captivated users on the social media app for its supposed ability to ‘clean out’ the clutter in one’s mind.

Curious? From how it works to the reported benefits, read on for a breakdown on all things brain flossing.

What is brain flossing?

Brain flossing or ‘brain massage’ are essentially the TikTok names for a phenomenon created by listening to bilateral stimulation music or 8D audio (music that’s been engineered to trick the brain into thinking you’re in a bigger space with the sound panning around you).

In binaural stimulation music, which can incorporate 8D audio, the sound moves rapidly between your left and right ears, resulting in a back-and-forth ‘floss’-like feeling that some may find induces calm, emotional release, and even a tingling sensation in the brain.

“The rhythmic left-right stimulation helps calm the nervous system, similar to how bilateral stimulation is used in therapies like EMDR [eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing],” therapist Dr. Caroline Fenkel told Bustle.

“It supports emotional processing [...] making it easier to work through feelings without being overwhelmed.”

What are the benefits of listening to bilateral stimulation music?

At this stage, research on the benefits of listening to 8D audio or bilateral stimulation music is limited, however, many people — especially those in the neurodivergent community — have cited their anecdotal experiences of ‘brain flossing’ online.

Under a brain flossing video by TikTok creator @flaircontentbyamber, users left a range of positive comments, with one saying, “it quiets my ADHD and lets me focus”, another describing it as “pure relief”, and one claiming it helped them fall asleep and wake up relaxed.

Similarly, TikTok creator @livingwith.adhd shared a bilateral music video that accumulated almost 4,000 comments, where people described it as a “warmth in their ears” and said that it felt like their “eardrums were getting a massage”.

Board-certified music therapist Abby Klemm elaborated on the perceived benefits in an interview with Popsugar, stating that in the same way that floss “gets rid of unwanted particles between teeth, 8D audio can provide a sense of ‘brain flossing’ by removing unwanted stimuli.”

"With this technique, your brain can focus on the here-and-now sensory experience, allowing you to refocus, reconnect, and clear out any 'brain gunk’," she added.

As for it being particularly popular with neurodivergent folks? Klemm noted that it could be because neurodivergent brains are thought to be more sensory sensitive and possibly more attuned to the difference between the left and right hemispheres, and thus 8D audio.

"For those who are not neurodivergent, the effect could still be relaxing and pleasure-inducing," she told Popsugar. "However, since neurotypical brains typically filter out a greater percentage of sensory input, the effect would likely not be as strong."

Lastly, it should be noted that many people — neurotypical and neurodivergent alike — find brain flossing’s fast switch between ears to be the exact opposite of calming, so if it’s not your cup of tea, you’re not alone!

How do I listen to bilateral stimulation music?

Similar to binaural beats, bilateral stimulation music is best enjoyed via headphones to maximise the feeling of the sound switching from ear to ear. If that option is not available to you, you can also hold your phone horizontally in front of you to create a similar effect as the music moves one side’s speaker to the other.

This article is not intended to serve as individualised health advice. If you are concerned about your mental health or well-being, please speak to your GP, who will advise a correct treatment plan.