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Inaudible Sound Makes You Irritable?
27 Apr
Summary
- Inaudible infrasound can increase irritability and stress hormone levels.
- Low-frequency noise may explain feelings of unease in old buildings.
- Scientists are studying the psychological impact of sounds below 20Hz.
Scientists have explored the impact of infrasound, sound waves below 20Hz, on human emotions. Even though this frequency is inaudible, it was found to significantly affect volunteers in recent studies. Participants experienced heightened irritability and elevated cortisol levels, the body's primary stress hormone.
These low-frequency sounds, often generated by older building infrastructure like pipes and ventilation systems, can alter mood and stress responses. While not strong enough to convince skeptics of paranormal activity, infrasound might contribute to feelings of discomfort that can be attributed to supernatural causes by those already inclined to believe.
Previous experiments at a haunted house attraction yielded inconclusive results, prompting further investigation. The latest study, involving 36 volunteers, demonstrated that infrasound negatively shifted participants' moods and stress responses, regardless of the accompanying music. Researchers suggest this may explain the vague discomfort some people report in supposedly haunted locations.
