Pink, White & Brown: The different kind of sounds
Labelling sound in the colors of the rainbow sounds like a strange exercise.
So why do we call sound pink, white or brown, and why does it matter?
It turns out that sound has a spectrum, just like light. The spectrum of sound most similar to the spectrum of pink light is labelled pink noise.
Pink noise is the sound of rain falling, leaves rustling, or waves on a beach.
White noise is the sound of radio static, the hum of an air conditioner or vacuum cleaner.
Brown noise is a deeper rumbling sound, the sound of an airplane, while you are sitting in it, the sound of a car or the hum of a washing machine.
As you can probably already tell, we respond to these sounds differently.
So how can you use it for your benefit?
We live in a world full of sound. While I am writing this at 4 am, the world should be quiet. Yet, I can hear the refrigerator, the sound of a fan. An occasional car in the distance.
Gradually, our mind cuts out the sound as it tunes out the possibility of threat. The sounds do not go away, they just recede in the distance.
Sound affects the way our brain processes information and thinks.
Imagine the loud clanging of a steel vessel falling in your kitchen. Merely visualizing such an occurrence creates reactions in your brain and body.
Now visualize the gentle rustling of the wind as it blows through the trees, the lovely winter sun shining.
You see how your brain responds to different stimuli?
Which is why you can use sound to your advantage.
Sound affects cognitive performance, emotional responses, memory and learning, cardiovascular health and the depletion of neurotransmitters as your body responds.
So, depending on what you are trying to accomplish, use sound to your advantage by leaving it on in the background.
Here is a twist. Also, train your brain to respond to unwanted stimuli, such as loud sounds, and remain calm while doing so.
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