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Javeria Hashmi
3 min read

White noise: the science behind it and its connection to the brain

You may have heard that the use of white noise improves focus, sleep and calms the nerves. Many people use it to maintain a stage of deep focus and relaxation. Essentially, white noise is a high-pitched, consistent ambient sound that has an equal distribution of frequency. It manages to mask out different sounds allowing the brain to focus on just a consistent one. In this article, we will look at the science behind white noise and its connection to the human brain. 


The human brain is known as the control center of the body, it regulates emotions, memory, motor skills, vision and just about everything else. The brain is made up of 60% fat and 40% of water, salts, proteins and carbohydrates. In the brain, neurons form the baseline of the nervous system. They are nerve cells that send messages to the body to control all its functions. Neurons communicate by firing chemical and electrical signals to each other. Groups of neurons with similar electrical firing patterns generate oscillations of electrical activity, known as brain waves.


Brain waves determine the level of one's consciousness and can be categorized into different types based on their frequency and amplitudes. Beta waves have a high frequency of 14-30Hz, low amplitude, and are present in times of alertness and thought processing. Alpha waves have a frequency of 8-12Hz, and are mostly seen when the eyes are closed and in times of winding down. These waves have a high altitude. Theta waves on the other hand have a slow frequency of 4-7Hz, a high amplitude, and are present in times of daydreaming/ meditation and light sleep. Lastly, delta waves have an even slower frequency of 0.5-3Hz, a high amplitude, and are found in a state of deep sleep. 


White noise is associated with increasing the delta and alpha brain waves. It has been shown to mask the activity of A1 neurons, which are types of neurons that control the balance of energy. When the vibrating sound wave enters the ear, it first hits the eardrum. It then passes through the inner ear. The inner ear has cells called hair cells, which change the vibrations into electrical signals, and these signals then proceed to the brain. When you hear a random sound while sleeping, it may catch your attention and cause you to wake up. Since the white noise frequency spectrum is flat depending on how loud it is played, it allows all other changes in frequencies to cancel out, or, in simpler terms, white noise allows any attention-shifting sounds to not be heard as intensively. 


In conclusion white noise plays a fascinating role in influencing brain waves by masking any disruptive sounds. The connection between white noise and brain waves, specifically the alpha and delta waves, demonstrates how a simple background noise can provide us with a calming and deep state of mind, allowing us to be more restful and productive throughout the day. It also allows us to have more control over our emotions and mental health. Embracing white noise into your daily routine can be a simple yet impactful way to improve your overall well-being.  


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