Silence today is a valuable commodity. And for the residents of megalopolises, it is a luxury at all. But such a desirable ideal silence does not please, but stuns. The absence of any sounds does not allow to relax in the same way as the buzz of the high road outside the window. That is why the idea arose to replace one noise with another, white. How does he act? Why one helps to relax, and others annoying? And why does white noise help meditation, but harm relationships? Knowledge of the brain and attention to your body will help get rid of one stress factor - continuous, all-consuming noise.
What is white noise?
White noise is an artificial noise in which sound waves of different frequencies are evenly distributed and sound at the same volume. For example, you can hear it if you turn on the TV without an antenna. A gray-white blizzard on the screen will be accompanied by classic white noise.
White noise refers to the most non-traumatic. Here are 3 reasons that make it comfortable for the human ear:
- All frequencies that a person can distinguish evenly distributed. So, that ear does not irritate.
- It has the property absorb all other sound waves. Therefore, the snoring of a spouse or conversations of colleagues at work seem not so loud.
- The overall effect is that, against the background of a general sound cacophony, the monotonous "sh-sh-sh-sh" seems nicesoothing.
There are white noise man-made and natural origin. Man-made - These are the classic sounds of a working vacuum cleaner, air conditioner, hair dryer. In order not to constantly drive electrical appliances, there are artificial white noise generators. In nature no such sources exist. The sound of a waterfall, the rustle of leaves, the rustle of rain - these monotonous sounds can only be called "white".
White noise confers a therapeutic effect, it is recommended to include with migraines. To many, it helps to relax and concentrate at the same time. And lovers of mystics use this sound to communicate with the other world. There is no scientific evidence of such effects. Research is conducted by physicists and mathematicians, but they have nothing to do with relaxation.
The effect of white noise on humans
Torture sound, which was used in ancient China, was considered the most brutal. A stay in the chamber called "music box", splitting the most resistant scouts. It's not the sound, but its volume, frequency and discontinuity.
- The volume or power of sound in densely populated cities sometimes exceeds the rumble of production. And often causes chronic fatigue and stress.
- High-frequency sounds are very poorly perceived by our brain, cause mental and mental disorder.
- Intermittent, but not rhythmic noises constantly keep the brain in suspense: when will the next note be heard.
Classic white noise perceived as a cross between annoying sounds and absolute silence. But it acts differently on different people. Someone reassures, annoys someone. It is not the noise itself, but our psyche, the work of the internal organs, the electrophysiological signals of the skeletal muscles, the interaction of neurons (transmitters of sound stimulation). When external and internal oscillations do not coincide too much, the balance is lost and irritation replaces the desired relaxation.
The use of white noise in life
Many people use special noise generators, and pediatricians recommend including hissing melodies for quiet sleeping babies. For better concentration, monotonous sound is advised to listen to students during preparation for exams. To understand this effect, each case should be considered separately.
White noise for kids
Surprisingly, sounds of technogenic origin have a better effect on babies. Moms on the forums actively share stories about how the child calms down to the buzz of a working hair dryer or vacuum cleaner. The Internet is full of videos of monotonous hissing, and Machines for Sleeping Babies has long been on sale. The calming effect of the "noisy" is explained simply: the child gets used to the monotonous sounds in the womb, so they calm the baby after birth.
But pediatricians are not as optimistic as the sellers of miraculous sleep apparatuses. Parents often try to drown out noisy sounds with a loud noise and set it to high volume. This may affect the hearing of the baby. In addition, infancy - the period of formation of auditory images. Constant impact of monotonous sound can change the work of the brain.. Therefore, my mother's lullaby is recognized in a much more efficient way.
White noise for meditation
The goal of meditation is not just complete relaxation, but the achievement of real mental silence. But after staying in a roaring city, it is very difficult to move on to slow thoughts. And for many, the need to sit and focus on breathing is an impossible task. Experienced yoga is not for nothing called a low monotonous sound secret ingredient of self-knowledge. Special white noise for meditation helps to relax, keep the focus of consciousness on one thought.
For meditation often use natural sounds.: the murmur of the stream, the rustle of the waves, the whistle of the wind. Or choose music that imitates binaural beats. A slow and quiet melody of a special type imperceptible to the ear takes the brain to the frequency of meditation. The purpose of musical accompaniment is not just to relax or shield from annoying sounds, but to cause pleasant associations. Therefore, there are no clear recommendations for selection.
"White noise" TV
The buzz of big cities is both annoying and addictive. Perhaps that is why many of us turn on the TV as soon as we cross the threshold. They work, communicate, eat with a permanent television background. If we ignore the constant "beating", it does not mean that our organs and our brain do not notice it. It is proved that such stimuli take away part of the mental energy and concentration, add fatigue and absent-mindedness.
Our ears work even during sleep.. Any sound causes pressure on the eardrum, the movement of the auditory nerve, and the transmission of impulses to the brain through neural channels. During sleep with the TV on, the human hearing aid works continuously, but the brain does not rest. Constant fatigue affects the work of the prefrontal cortex. This in turn has a bad effect on the psycho-emotional state.
No matter how calming the white noise is, you shouldn’t listen to it endlessly.. Modern scientists compare noise to a drug for nothing. After all, sound signals are addictive, change the brain chemically, structurally and functionally. For the rest of the brain, doctors advise you to arrange days (or at least hours) of silence - a kind of detox program for noise-makers. For this it is worthwhile to find for yourself an acoustic comfort zone. The simplest thing is not to include any unnecessary sources of noise at home. Even whites.
Why is white noise in a relationship dangerous?
Everything new, bright, fascinating once becomes familiar. When the peak of passion subsides, people begin to get used to each other, cease to amaze and be surprised, admire, delight and inspire. Requests and desires of the partner become a background that does not inspire, does not invigorate, but is perceived as something ordinary. For such cases, psychologists use the definition "white noise in the relationship"and warned: love cannot be taken for granted, otherwise you stop noticing it.
If disappointment does come, do not give up and give up. You can start to get rid of monotony with simple steps:
- Set priorities. If a loved one comes first in the list of priorities, tell him about it. Perhaps he does not know about it.
- Fall in love again. This may be the usual walk, watch movies or a joint extreme. This will trigger the release of "new hormones".
- Look at the relationship with a fresh look. If a partner is not set to work together, it is impossible to revive love unilaterally.
- Start doing your own happiness. Caring for yourself, reading, traveling, going to the theater - do whatever you like. You should not wait until you are blessed by.
- Avoid criticism, drama, contempt and opposition. These destructive behaviors provoke a break. But love just can not be restored.
- Get rid of illusions. If you critically examine your ideals, it becomes clear - they are unattainable. There are always periods of frustration and quarrels in life.
- Do not be lazy. Relationships are not a gift of fate, but work 24/7.
findings
- White noise is everyday noise that is most comfortable for the human ear.
- For every argument about its benefits, there is the same plausible counter-argument.
- Before you install a “machine for falling asleep” in a newborn’s crib, you should learn more about its characteristics and make sure that it is safe for the child.
- The ideal music for meditation is that which resonates with your feelings.
- White noise in the relationship leads to rupture. If a person is dear to you, you should quickly get rid of monotony.
