Sound is produced when objects vibrate. We can’t always see the source of the sound, yet the vibrations still travel, enter our ears and are processed in the brain.
Artificial and natural sounds, and how they make us feel
Sound is very powerful. Different types of sounds can have different effects on us. Researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School discovered our brains respond differently to natural sounds, as opposed to artificial sounds.[1] For example, for some, the sound of an alarm might alert danger and incite feelings of trepidation, whereas the sound of the sea might create a wonderful calm state of mind.
Sounds and emotions are interconnected; if we hear a sound when doing something exciting, joyful or sad we might experience that feeling when we hear the sound again.[2] So, everyone has their own reactions to sounds; our life experiences are diverse and what may comfort one person, may distress another.
What’s your baby hearing?
Think about the sounds your baby is hearing around them – different voices, the washing machine, birds outside of their window or the doorbell. You might see that your baby is starting to demonstrate a response to sound; and perhaps a sound you hadn’t even noticed in your home is something that makes your baby feel a particular way.
References:
[1] University of Sussex. (2017). It's true: The sound of nature helps us relax. ScienceDaily. Accessed online August 25, 2022, from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170330132354.htm
[2] R. Rettner. (2010) Brain's Link Between Sounds, Smells and Memory Revealed. Accessed online August 25, 2022, from Brain's Link Between Sounds, Smells and Memory Revealed | Live Science