INSOMNIACS and parents with young children will have heard of white noise, which is the background static sounds which are meant to lull you into sleep. But it seems there’s a more powerful version out there if you can’t drop off – pink noise. The sounds are given colours based on how their frequency would […]
INSOMNIACS and parents with young children will have heard of white noise, which is the background static sounds which are meant to lull you into sleep.
But it seems there’s a more powerful version out there if you can’t drop off – pink noise.
The sounds are given colours based on how their frequency would appear as light – and there’s even a brown noise too.
Pink is similar to white noise – which is all the frequencies combined – while the former only contains a fraction of them.
Explaining why it’s superior for sleeping, Nelly Papalambros, from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told Refinery29: “There’s more power in the lower frequency bands, so there’s a lot of bass added to it.”
The pink frequency is meant to mimic sounds found in nature, such as a heartbeat or a waterfall, which has a calming quality.
As a result it’s meant to be more soothing when compared to its cousin white noise, with pink gentler on the ear.
Dr Nelly explains why the natural sounds found in pink noise are great for sleep, saying it creates a “rhythmic response in the electrical activity of the neurons.”
She added: “Even though you’re asleep, and you’re not necessarily consciously aware of what’s going on, your brain is still processing external information, and that’s to protect you.”
And it seems to be working a treat with insomniacs – and new mums – alike, with numerous YouTube videos littered with positive comments.
Commenting on one of the many eight to ten-hour long videos, one person said: “I find this great for studying. Music is far too distracting – and silence is worse.
“White noise is tinny and awful. Pink noise is forever.”
Another person added: “Haven’t heard of pink noise, only white noise, I’m 34 and this worked so well, thank you.”
While this person raved: “I’d been listening to white noise for about a year now for staying asleep.
“When I tried the PINK Noise a few days ago, I was surprised I could FEEL a difference around my whole body almost immediately after I turned it on!
“When I woke up, I did feel like I had a better & deeper sleep!”
This grateful mum posted: “I have tried…. maybe 50…. (literally!) different “white noise/calming baby sounds” tracks before I clicked on this one.
“NO JOKE….he has INSTANTLY stopped crying and fussing.”
If nothing else is working, sleep experts also recommend hugging yourself for one minute.
So next time you’re wide-awake late at night it might well be worth giving them a go.
And drinking more water before bed can help you beat insomnia, as it means you are less dehydrated.
