If you’ve ever wondered why silence is loud, it’s probably because it has a sound. In this article, we’ll discuss the effect it has on our memory and auditory cortex. You’ll also discover how this sensation affects our behavior. You might be surprised! After all, we don’t actually hear silence; we just hear it as a sound.
It has a sound
Paul Simon wrote “Silence has a sound” in 1963, and it was the greatest hit of the rock band Simon & Garfunkel. The song describes the phenomenon of sound, which occurs when an agent emits energy in the form of vibration. This energy causes a medium to vibrate, and the emitted energy carries that energy along with it in all directions. Air vibrates because it contains atoms that squish together in some areas, and stretch out in others.
When you experience sound, you interpret the sound with your brain. While space itself contains no sound, you would still hear an internal hum, or tinnitus, if you hold your breath. This is because our brains demand stimulus, and when we are deprived of it, our brains will make their own.
It stimulates the auditory cortex
The auditory cortex is an area of the brain where sound is processed. There is a connection between the auditory cortex and the cochlea, the organ where sound is first processed. The auditory cortex is organized tonotopically, with each strip of cells corresponding to a point on the cochlea.
The auditory system responds to predictable auditory patterns, such as spectral information, as well as the periodicity of sound sequences. Studies have shown that the auditory cortex can be adapted through repeated exposure to the same sounds. For example, a study conducted in a controlled environment showed that participants could implicitly predict when a TS would come. This finding confirms previous findings that participants could reduce the N1m amplitude and shorten the latency of their responses when they knew when a sound would come.
Silence may also affect the auditory cortex. This area of the brain is located in the temporal lobe and extends to the superior temporal gyrus. There are several regions of the auditory cortex, including the primary and secondary auditory cortex. Some researchers use functional magnetic resonance imaging to study this area.
It induces annoyance
Studies have found that the smallest amounts of noise can increase the feelings of annoyance and depression. Noise can interfere with sleep and rest, disrupting daily activities and emotions. It can also reduce our overall health and contribute to the burden of disease. To date, no one has been able to determine whether silence reduces these negative emotional responses.
The relationship between noise and annoyance is complicated and may depend on many factors. One factor is noise sensitivity, which varies from individual to individual. Individual differences in noise sensitivity can be influenced by genetics, life style, and physiological changes.
It affects memory
The relationship between silence and memory is complex. It’s important to recognize that the influence of silence on memory depends on both the speaker and the listener. Researchers have examined this relationship with recent empirical studies. In one such study, Imke Kirste, a regenerative biologist from Duke University, found that two hours of silence per day prompted the development of new cells in the hippocampus, a region of the brain related to memory formation.
When a person suffers a traumatic event, they often do not discuss it. But this does not necessarily mean that they have forgotten. Over time, most people gradually forget about the experience. However, a study conducted on mice showed that merely not talking about an experience did not cause it to be forgotten. Rather, it led to a more vivid image of the event. This finding has prompted psychological researchers to investigate how silence affects memory.
It affects blood pressure
Studies have shown that two minutes of silence can lower your blood pressure. This simple, yet profound, fact has implications for both prevention and treatment of high blood pressure. Although high blood pressure rarely presents symptoms, if left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications. About a third of adults in the UK are affected by high blood pressure. You can check your blood pressure with a blood pressure monitor.
The authors of a study conducted in the UK found that when participants were silent, systolic blood pressure decreased by seven millimeters Hg. However, when people started talking, their systolic BP increased abruptly. Furthermore, the duration of silence did not affect the diastolic pressure, which was essentially unchanged.
