Can listening to birdsong reduce stress?

Yes, listening to birdsong can measurably reduce stress and improve wellbeing, according to a new study.

What physiological effects does birdsong have?

Participants in a study showed reduced blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels after engaging with birdsong.

Does paying attention to birdsong make a difference?

Researchers found that actively paying attention to birdsong yielded greater stress reduction compared to passive listening.

Home / Science / Birdsong Melodies Lower Stress, Study Finds

Birdsong Melodies Lower Stress, Study Finds

4 Feb

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Summary

Birdsong can measurably reduce stress and improve wellbeing.
Participants experienced lower blood pressure and cortisol levels.
Paying attention to birdsong yielded greater stress reduction.

Birdsong Melodies Lower Stress, Study Finds

New scientific research indicates that engaging with birdsong can significantly reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing. A study conducted in Germany involved volunteers walking through a park equipped with loudspeakers playing bird melodies.

Researchers measured participants' physiological stress markers, including blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels. While all participants experienced some stress reduction simply from walking, those who were instructed to pay attention to the birdsong showed the most pronounced benefits.

This focused engagement with avian sounds proved more effective in lowering stress than passive exposure to natural birdsong or even an environment with rare bird songs. The study highlights the accessible and potent stress-relieving qualities of nature's soundscapes.