Can Brown Noise Turn Off Your Brain?

“Welcome to the cult of BROWN NOISE, a sometimes hazily-defined category of neutral, dense sound that contains every frequency our ears can detect. Brown noise is like white noise but has a lower, deeper quality. It gained a fervent following over the summer, picking up speed in online A.D.H.D. communities, where people made videos of their reactions to hearing it for the first time. Many said it allowed their brains to feel calm, freed from an internal monologue.

Over the last 20 years, scientists have uncovered evidence that immersive sounds like white, brown and PINK NOISE may help the brain to focus, sleep or relax — especially for people with A.D.H.D. But experts say it’s hard to delineate and categorize sound, so the differences in effect among the various colors are not always well established.

What is brown noise?

The human ear only detects sounds within a certain range of frequencies — those that stimulate the cochlea, a spiral-shaped cavity swirling in our inner ears. When we play brown noise, we hear every frequency that the ear is able to detect at once, said Dr. Berlau.

Why would noise help you concentrate?

Both internal and external cues can distract the brain, Dr. Diaz said. “You can be completely overwhelmed in your own brain by thoughts like, ‘Did I turn off the curling iron?’” she said. Noise that is just stimulating enough to activate the brain but is not overwhelming can help drown out some of that internal chatter, she said, as well as mask background noise.”

Read the complete full article on The New York Times

✨Takeaway: Various sound frequencies has been used to define a spectrum of sounds that have been named after colors. Some people believe that using a noise blanket, such as brown noise, to block out background noise can help reduce anxiety, help with stress and concentration.

✨Reflection: Have you ever tried listening to brown noise to help concentrate or reduce stress?

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