Ambient noise is gaining more and more popularity as Help focusReduce stress and save The best nights sleep🇧🇷 These sounds are usually classified as white, brown and pink. But what is its effect on the brain?
in Interview with the Daily MailPsychologist Nellie Lavie, a professor at University College London, UK, explains the different effects of noise. in brain functions🇧🇷
white noise
White noise is the most famous of all ambient sounds, and it gets its name from the white spectrum of light when all frequencies are in a single beam. The noise provides a familiar sound similar to that of a hair dryer.
Professor Neely explains that some studies show improved attention with this type of sound, especially in people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Because white noise contains all the frequencies of sound mixed together, it helps to camouflage surrounding sounds well. Attention is better when there is no distraction that draws attention, and noise helps stop it,” he explains.
Pink noise
Like white, pink noise contains all frequencies that can be detected by the human ear. The difference is that higher frequencies are attenuated, masking higher frequency noises such as car alarms.
“This type of noise changes the amount of sound energy — simply put, loudness — inversely with frequency. Therefore, it makes higher-frequency sounds sound quieter,” the teacher teaches.
To an expert, pink noise is interesting, although there isn’t a lot of solid research compared to white.
“It may sound more pleasant to some people than white noise because of the damping of the higher frequencies. And it might be worth a try if you know you specifically want to mask higher-pitched sounds,” recommends Nillie.
brown noise
The popularity of the brown noise is more recent than the others and is “named” after Robert Brown (brown, in English), the Scottish botanist. In 1827, he was the first to observe with a microscope the random movement made by pollen grains suspended in water.
The brown noise mimics this oscillation, with audio signals that change randomly and produce an overall impression of stillness, similar to the sound of an old TV without a signal.
“Brown noise is like excessive pink. So while pink reduces the intensity of the high frequencies to make them quieter, brown does it in a more extreme way. The impression left is that we only hear low frequencies, such as heavy bass notes,” says the teacher. “.
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Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.