Why Natural Sounds Regulate the Mind and Body (Part 2)
The Science of the Brain and the Autonomic Nervous System
3. Listening Through Earphones Is Almost as Effective as Being in Nature
Many people assume that “it only works if you actually go out into nature.”
However, a 2019 study published in Frontiers in Psychology demonstrated that both:
- Exposure to real natural environments
- Exposure to recreated natural environments via virtual reality (including sound)
produced nearly equivalent effects, including:
- ✅ Reduction in stress hormone levels (cortisol)
- ✅ Decreased heart rate
- ✅ Lower subjective stress levels
In other words,
👉 even through earphones, the body can perceive natural sounds as if it were truly immersed in nature, and shift into recovery mode.
Practical Recovery Effects of Listening to Natural Sounds
Below are practical benefits that can be directly applied in daily life.
1. Improvement in Insomnia and Light Sleep
Listening to natural sounds before bedtime has been shown in multiple sleep studies to:
- Shorten sleep onset time
- Reduce nighttime awakenings
- Increase the proportion of deep (non-REM) sleep
In particular, rain sounds and ocean waves are known to facilitate delta brain wave activity, which is associated with deep sleep.
2. Recovery from Mental and Cognitive Fatigue
The brain fatigued by desk work, constant information input, and social media tends to recover more efficiently through:
- Information reduction
- Simple, repetitive rhythmic sounds
Natural sounds possess key characteristics that support this process:
- Predictable patterns
- Monotony
- Absence of threat
Because of these properties,
👉 natural sounds allow the brain’s working memory to rest.
As a result, people often experience:
- Improved concentration
- Fewer judgment errors
- Greater emotional stability
Note: These effects are supportive and regulatory in nature, not therapeutic interventions.
