SMRITI NARAYANAN is a high school senior from Austin, Texas, who enjoys researching the various impacts music, the environment, and interactions have on the human brain. Here she explores the soothing effect of the sounds of nature.

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Smriti Narayanan

<h4
    id="h-smriti-narayanan-is-a-high-school-senior-from-austin-texas-who-enjoys-researching-the-various-impacts-music-the-environment-and-interactions-have-on-the-human-brain-here-she-explores-the-soothing-effect-of-the-sounds-of-nature">
    <strong><mark style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #75aa3b">SMRITI
            NARAYANAN</mark>
        is a high school senior from Austin, Texas, who enjoys researching the
        various impacts music, the environment, and interactions have on the human
        brain. Here she explores the soothing effect of the sounds of
        nature.</strong>
</h4>

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<p>
    Think of the soft pitter-patter of raindrops and the gentle tumbles of a
    stream nearby. Think of the shrill chirps in a birdsong and the whoosh of the
    leaves blowing in the wind. What do you associate these sounds with? How do
    they make you feel? These sounds of nature invoke a sense of comfort and ease.
    This is something common to all people, but why is it so? Actually, there’s a
    science behind why these sounds make us feel relaxed.
</p>

<p>
    A study conducted by Buxton, Pearson, Allou, Fristrup, and Wittemeyer (2021),
    published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences furthered the
    theory that natural sounds relayed a positive correlation to quantitative and
    measurable health benefits. The study identified 36 publications in which
    “decreased pain, lower stress, improved mood, and enhanced cognitive
    performance”<sup>1</sup> correlated with listening to natural sounds.
</p>

<p>
    From this, they identified an environment in which there was decreased human
    disturbance – parks. Environments with reduced noise pollution allowed people
    to perceive animal, water, and wind sounds. As the researchers looked more
    deeply into various sounds, they found that water sounds had the largest mean
    health benefits and positive outcomes. When they compared natural sounds to
    human noise, they found a similar outcome. Their results demonstrated the
    calmness and joy brought to those who experienced and perceived the sounds of
    nature.
</p>

<p>
    Having more calmness and joy in one’s life can lead to reduced stress,
    anxiety, and brain fog.<br />In environments with increased human noise
    pollution, such as cities, towns, and suburbs, we don’t perceive sounds in our
    environment because our attention is focused on other singular sounds or
    sights, like a voice or a person. Human-made sound is referred to as noise
    whereas environmental sound is simply natural sound. When we do get the chance
    to listen to the sounds of nature, it’s almost as if we’ve taken a pause from
    the world around us.
</p>

<p>
    One reason why humans find the sounds of nature soothing is because of their
    connection to music.
</p>

<p>
    The basic elements of music are derived from sound and rhythm, which are found
    in nature. Take, for instance, a bird song. The sounds of the bird create a
    song, just as notes connect to make a song on an instrument. Rhythm is seen in
    nature through drops of rain hitting the ground. If you listen to the peck of
    the woodpecker, you will find a rhythm. Many renowned musicians like Vivaldi,
    Beethoven, Handel, and Debussy were inspired by nature. If you’ve ever
    listened to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, you can distinguish the different moods of
    music used to portray the change in nature. Essentially, we’ve discovered that
    music and nature are one. The music we find soothing today wouldn’t exist
    without nature-derived sounds and rhythms.
</p>

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<div>
    <figure>
        <img decoding="async" width="700" height="466" alt="" class="lazyload mx-auto d-block has-img-center"
            src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/power_of_sounds_of_nature3_700x466_b2c1200ed0.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T05:44:33.386Z" />
    </figure>
</div>

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<p>
    In addition, the way humans interpret the soundscape can have an effect on
    emotions.
</p>

<p>
    Studies have shown that nature can affect the psychological development of an
    individual. Though it is important to note that not all sounds affect humans
    in the same way. Due to various experiences and memories, different sounds can
    evoke different emotions. Various sounds can evoke certain recalls in the
    human mind, correlating to positive (and sometimes negative) feelings. The way
    in which our mind reacts to these auditory stimuli is what we show through
    emotion.
</p>

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<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
    <mark style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #75aa3b">Natural sounds have an
        overall positive effect <br />on human health. The
        long term benefits of stress relief <br />and reducing anxiety are numerous
        including sleep improvements, <br />reduced muscle tension, and an overall
        better quality of life.</mark>
</h4>

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<div>
    <figure>
        <img decoding="async" width="700" height="176" alt="" class="lazyload mx-auto d-block has-img-center"
            src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/power_of_sounds_of_nature2_700x176_1230b7df08.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T05:46:22.845Z" />
    </figure>
</div>

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<p>
    Kanha Shanti Vanam, an ashram in Hyderabad hosting the world headquarters for
    the Heartfulness Institute, is an ecological paradise where you can resonate
    with inner and outer nature. The Green Kanha Initiative aims to utilize this
    space to nurture biodiversity and this is accomplished through the
    conservation of hundreds of endangered and indigenous species of plants and
    animals. In addition to being a meditative space, Kanha Shanti Vanam has
    become a conservation site and home to these flora and fauna. Here people can
    experience the sounds of nature all around them whilst practicing meditation.
    If you’re looking to implement natural sounds into your meditation and
    mindfulness routine, you may consider visiting this ashram.
</p>

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<div>
    <figure>
        <img decoding="async" width="700" height="466" alt="" class="lazyload mx-auto d-block has-img-center"
            src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/power_of_sounds_of_nature4_700x466_95c584f423.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-13T05:48:29.997Z" />
    </figure>
</div>

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<p>
    For the most part, we’re able to say that natural sounds have an overall
    positive effect on human health. The long term benefits for stress relief and
    reducing anxiety are numerous, including sleep improvements, reduced muscle
    tension, and an overall better quality of life.
</p>

<p>
    Some strategies for accessing natural sounds on a daily or weekly basis are to
    take some time to step outside, be away from the bustling sounds of an urban
    environment, and connect with nature. Whether it’s in your own backyard, the
    local park, or a national park, the sounds of nature surround us. If you don’t
    have the luxury of stepping into nature, there are thousands of relaxing
    audios and natural sounds found on streaming platforms. By simply implementing
    any one of these strategies, you could take small steps towards daily stress
    and anxiety relief.
</p>

<p>
    1
    <a
        href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2013097118#%3A~%3Atext%3DThe%20results%20affirm%20that%20natural%2Csound%20and%20low%20anthropogenic%20sound">https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2013097118#%3A~%3Atext%3DThe%20results%20affirm%20that%20natural%2Csound%20and%20low%20anthropogenic%20sound</a>
</p>

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Smriti Narayanan

SMRITI NARAYANAN is a high school senior from Austin, Texas, who enjoys researching the various impacts music, the environment, and interactions have on the human brain. Here she explores the soothing effect of the sounds of nature.

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