"Pink Noise": Some Use It for Deeper Sleep

Pink Noise

Scientific Warning.. "Pink Noise" Is a Danger to Your Health

A recent study revealed that "pink noise" devices, used by some to achieve deeper sleep, may negatively impact physical and brain health.

These devices are electronic devices that emit sound frequencies covering all ranges of human hearing, similar to the sounds of flowing water, rain, or rustling leaves. These sounds are primarily intended to enhance sleep quality and promote relaxation.

In the study, conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 25 adults spent seven nights in a sleep lab. The researchers exposed them to various external stimuli, such as airplane noise or pink noise, and asked them to wear earplugs. Their sleep duration and concentration levels upon waking were then measured.

A study published in the scientific journal Sleep, which specializes in sleep research, revealed that exposure to airplane noise deprives individuals of 23 minutes of deep sleep each night. This is the period during which the brain clears the waste products of the physiological processes it performs throughout the day. Wearing earplugs, on the other hand, prevents this loss of deep sleep.

The study also found that pink noise deprives the body of 19 minutes of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. This vital stage is characterized by intense brain activity and is the site of emotionally charged dreams, motor skill development, and overall brain growth. It is named for the rapid eye movements that occur under closed eyelids during sleep.

When volunteers in the experiment were exposed to both airplane noise and pink noise simultaneously, their sleep quality deteriorated even further. Their periods of deep sleep and REM sleep were reduced, and they remained awake for longer periods before finally falling asleep.

The medical research website HealthDay quoted the head of the study team as saying that "the research results indicate that listening to pink noise or other sounds with wide audible ranges may be harmful to health, especially for children whose brains are still developing and who spend more time in REM sleep than adults."