Ever wonder why sometimes you sleep better with a fan as opposed to total silence? Or find that you feel calmer listening to the low hum of rain? It all has to do with the phenomena of colored noise.
Colored noises — white, brown, pink and green — are low-frequency sounds found to have certain effects on the psyche ranging from better concentration to breaking up brain fog. The colors are heard, not seen.
“In general, your ear can only register sounds that fall within a range of frequencies, and these frequencies exist on a color spectrum (like a rainbow),” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
In the same way that listening to your favorite song can instantly change your mood, colored noises have a unique auditory profile that has been reported to help the way our brains process external elements. And even if you think they all sound the same, every color has its own set of unique benefits:
White Noise: Best for Blocking Out Sound
White noise is often used as an umbrella term for most color noises, and there’s a good reason for that: White noise is all noise. Or, at least, it encompasses the entire range of audible frequencies. It gets its name from white light, which contains all visible wavelengths at equal intensity.
White noise’s consistent decibels are best put to use when trying to block out unwanted ambient noises, like talking or traffic, as it effectively masks distracting sounds. Types of white noise include the sound of a waterfall or TV static.
Listen to white noise:
Brown Noise: Best for Concentration
Brown noise, named after botanist Robert Brown, emphasizes lower frequencies. This means that it’s more likely to have a soothing, grounding effect for some listeners. For folks who typically find high-frequency sounds distracting, brown noise works to improve focus. In fact, a study found that workers in an open floorplan office were able to better focus on their tasks when listening to brown noise through headphones during the day.
Examples of brown noise include a rushing river, thunder and wind blowing through trees.
Listen to brown noise:
Pink Noise: Best for Improving Sleep and Memory
Softer and more pleasant than white noise, pink noise is a deeper and more balanced sound. Each octave carries the same amount of energy, which aligns more closely with how human ears perceive loudness. This specific frequency creates an environment more favorable to cognitive processing, making it an ideal sound to use for sleeping and improving memory.
The sound of rainfall is one of nature’s pink noises, as well as rustling leaves or steady ocean waves.
Listen to pink noise:
Green Noise: Best for Feeling Calm
Think of green noise as the middle ground. Its frequencies (about 500 hertz) are concentrated in the midrange of the human hearing spectrum, emulating balanced, nature-inspired environments. Its resemblance to natural soundscapes can induce a sense of calm and mindfulness while also reducing stress and lowering anxiety.
Listen to green noise:
While the purported effects of colored noise are well-documented by individual accounts, more research needs to be done to determine its effectiveness using evidence-based science. That being said, there’s no harm in trying it out for yourself.
Do you listen to colored noise to sleep or concentrate? Let us know in the comments!
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