Surely you have often heard of white noises and their relaxing properties, especially when falling asleep.
But why are they called "white" noises and what causes their calming effect?
In technical terms, white noise is a sound of constant amplitude throughout its range of audible frequencies, i.e. the sum of all sounds, for this reason in analogy with white, which is the sum of all the others, it is defined white sound.
The power of white noise is to cancel all other noises, the so-called sound masking effect: the frequencies of "inconstant" noises such as those of traffic or a slammed door are then "masked" by white noises and our brain does not note more.
Thanks to the frequencies reproduced and its typical repetitiveness, white noise is able to stretch the muscles, induce a state of relaxation and contain the anxieties and tensions typical of the final part of the day, when we are loaded with the stress accumulated in the previous hours.
White noises are continuous sounds, which are repeated regularly without interruptions and which, for this reason, have a relaxing effect on the mind and on the whole body. Their name derives from the fact that they contain the entire spectrum of audible frequencies, just as white light contains the entire spectrum of colors. In English we speak of white noise, or you can use the expression sounds of nature.
In fact, nature offers many examples of continuous sounds that are considered white noises. The most common are:
- rustle of the wind
- noise of the waves
- roar of rain
This property of white sounds is used to reduce stress, to help sleep and also to relieve tinnitus, the annoying and constant ringing in the ears that afflicts many more people than you think. As we have said, their rhythmicity has a calming effect and therefore helps to fall asleep.
In some cases, these sounds are much more relaxing than the silence that is usually heard at night in the house. In others, they help cover up the annoying noises coming from outside. The situation is somewhat different for newborns, who also derive great benefits from white noise. White noises closely resemble the sounds heard inside the mother's belly. Consequently, for newborn babies they represent an ideal return to the womb, the safest and most protected environment of all, in which it is very easy to fall asleep.
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