At a Glance:
Brown Noise Vs. White Noise Vs. Other Noise Types
6 Mattresses to Slumber on While Listening to Brown Noise
What Are the Benefits of Brown Noise?
Where Can You Find Brown Noise?
Why Would Noise Help You Concentrate?
Since the dawn of time, white noise sounds have been the go-to remedy for tinnitus patients, light sleepers, and new parents everywhere. In fact, the first white-noise machine was created in the 17th century by renowned sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
But as of late, it appears that brown noise is the replacement for white noise—at least on websites like YouTube, Spotify, and TikTok.
Millions of people have watched eight-, 10-, and 12-hour-long brown noise videos on YouTube. There are also curated Spotify playlists and specialized apps for playing sound.
"It's definitely a trend going on," said Dr. Shivnaveen Bains, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Cleveland Clinic Akron General who treats people with A.D.H.D. She added that many patients have come in asking about white noise vs. brown noise as of late, often pointing to posts they've seen on social media.
Over the past 20 years, researchers have found evidence that immersive noises, such as white, brown, and pink noise, may aid in improving brain function, particularly for those with A.D.H.D. However, according to specialists, the sound is difficult to define and categorize; therefore, the variations between the effects of the various hues are not always clearly defined. According to Daniel Berlau, a professor at the Regis University School of Pharmacy who has investigated the effect of white noise on A.D.H.D., many sounds are similar to or blend into one another. He declared, "It's not as scientific as people would think.”
Let's turn up the volume and hear how our ears and brain respond. Learn more about brown noise and how it may affect our ability to concentrate, sleep, and relax by reading on.
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Listen to brown noise on a new mattress from top brands like Sealy, Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, and more from SleepBetter Mattress Store, today!
Shop MattressesBrown Noise Vs. White Noise Vs. Other Noise Types
It may seem unusual to think of noises as having different colors, yet the frequency of noise determines its color.
In actuality, their names were derived from the arrangement of a rainbow's colors. The lowest frequencies of sound are red, exactly like the lowest frequencies of visible light; they are simply referred to as brown because of how much they mimic Brownian motion. Violet is the highest frequency of sound.
White noise is in the middle and has equal amounts of all frequencies, but it is not a sound that is present in the natural world. The majority of white noises are artificial and well-known, such as radio static, a fan spinning, or an air conditioner humming.
Brown noise contains all frequencies, similar to white noise for sleep. However, it emphasizes lower frequencies more, making low tones louder and higher-pitched sounds quieter.
According to Dr. Amy Sarow, a clinical audiologist at the Michigan Ear Institute, brown noise has rounder, more calming characteristics than white noise, which makes it sound a little less "sharp" than white noise.
Examples of brown noise sounds include:
- Thunder
- Crashing waves
- Heavy rain
- Strong waterfalls
- A shower
Other kinds of noise:
- When it comes to pink noise vs. white noise, pink noise falls between white and red (brown) noise. Compared to brown noise and white noise, it emphasizes high frequencies more. Pink noise sounds can be heard frequently in nature, such as when the wind blows through trees, low waves, or persistent rain.
- Blue noise has higher frequencies that are slightly louder than lower frequencies. It has a similar sound to a hissing water spray.
- Violet, or purple noise, is the polar opposite of brown noise, with higher frequencies being louder than lower frequencies. Violet noise has a high-pitched T.V. static-like sound.
Credit: Daily Reset
6 Mattresses to Slumber on While Listening to Brown Noise
Our Sleep Better mattress experts have weighed in on the brown noise vs. white noise argument; of course, we're on team brown noise! Look at these three mattresses before drifting off to the sounds of thunder, lightning, and waterfalls so that you can relax.
Tempur-Pedic® TEMPUR-Adapt® Hybrid Medium Smooth Top Queen Mattress
This Tempur-Pedic® mattress is the epitome of sleep innovation. Merging the traditional support of innerspring coils with the contouring comfort of TEMPUR memory foam, this hybrid mattress promises a sleep experience that adapts seamlessly to your body. Its medium firmness level is perfect for a wide range of sleepers, ensuring a delicate balance of plush comfort and proper support. The smooth top surface adds an extra touch of luxury, emphasizing the mattress's dedication to superior craftsmanship. Experience rejuvenating sleep like never before with this state-of-the-art Tempur-Pedic creation.
Stearns & Foster® Lux Estate Wrapped Coil Ultra Firm Tight Top Queen Mattress
This Stearns & Foster® mattress exemplifies luxury and meticulous craftsmanship. Designed for those who crave a firm sleep surface, this mattress offers unparalleled support via its intricately wrapped coils. The tight top enhances its ultra-firm feel, providing a sleep surface that is both supportive and resilient. Each layer is constructed with precision, reflecting the brand's commitment to quality. Crafted for longevity and delivering a refined sleeping experience, the Lux Estate is a testament to Stearns & Foster's enduring legacy in the world of premium bedding.
Sealy® Posturepedic® Foam Lacey Firm Tight Top Queen Mattress in a Box
This Sealy® mattress redefines convenience and comfort. This mattress-in-a-box innovation combines Sealy's renowned Posturepedic® technology with the ease of direct-to-door delivery. The Lacey Firm Tight Top design ensures robust support and alignment for the spine, while its advanced foam construction adapts to body contours, alleviating pressure points. Additionally, its compressed packaging doesn't compromise the integrity of the mattress, which effortlessly regains its shape upon unboxing. With Sealy's legacy of craftsmanship, this product offers a hassle-free, comfortable sleep solution for modern homes.
Best Innerspring Mattress: Beautyrest® Harmony Lux™ Carbon Series Pocketed Coil Plush Pillow Top Queen Mattress
If you're looking for a mid- to high-end mattress to listen to the ocean waves on, the Beautyrest Harmony Lux Carbon Plush Pillow Top is the best option. It is loaded with the most recent developments in Beautyrest technology and is soft and comfortable. The dynamic response memory foam conforms to your body's unique contours, eliminating pressure points that contribute to tossing and turning while promoting healthy blood flow for deeper R.E.M. sleep. The newest comfort innovation, RightTemp wave foam, which employs carbon fiber to channel heat away from the body and is designed to help promote good airflow through the mattress, is also featured. Overheated sleepers will experience a cooler night's sleep with more comfort and less heat as a result.
Best Hybrid Mattress: Serta® iComfort® Hybrid CF2000 Hybrid Firm Queen Mattress
If you are a hot sleeper who prefers to fall asleep to the sounds of waterfalls, this Serta iComfort mattress will keep you from waking up damp. This hybrid mattress's carbon fiber memory foam and Gel Active Max memory foam team up to soak away body heat and promote ventilation on those steamy, muggy summer evenings. The BestEdge foam encasement adapts to your and your partner's bodies for optimum shoulder, lumbar, and neck support whether you sleep on your stomach or your back, ensuring that you awaken feeling rested rather than sore.
Best Memory Foam Mattress: HomeTown Pine Valley Memory Foam Queen Mattress
If you want a mattress that offers a 12-inch ultra-plush and cozy surface to unwind on during thunderstorms, this HomeTown Pine Valley Queen mattress is the best choice. Because of how well its substantial layer of memory foam molds to your body, it offers outstanding support, pressure alleviation, and relaxation. In order to ensure that you and your companion can sleep peacefully, the memory foam layer is partnered with a very thick layer of firm support foam. This combination helps to lessen motion transmission.
What Are the Benefits of Brown Noise?
Although brown noise may have a rougher sound than other noises, it can still be comforting.
- It could help lull you to sleep: Your heart rate and breathing can be lowered and calmed by rhythmic brown noises like the sound of breaking waves and heavy rain, which will make falling asleep easier.
- It can aid your concentration and focus. Due to the fact that brown noise causes more neurons in your brain to fire, it may improve working memory. According to Sarow, this encourages speedier access to stored information. Theoretically, it might enhance attention span, which might be advantageous for those who have A.D.H.D.
- It can help cut down on distractions. According to Andrew Kahn, Senior Subject Matter Expert at Understood.org and a licensed psychologist, using a brown noise machine is an excellent way to block out distracting noises so you can concentrate while working.
- It can help promote relaxation. For instance, ocean waves sounds can help calm people down and lessen their stress. Your brain may also feel more relaxed due to the rain's rhythmic sound.
- It may help mask tinnitus. According to Sarow, many people who experience tinnitus, a condition that causes a persistent ringing in the ears, prefer the softer tones of brown noise to the sharper tones of white noise. The brown noise may lessen or even stop the ringing, depending on your tinnitus.
Where Can You Find Brown Noise?
No longer is it necessary to buy a CD or sound machine to play relaxing brown noise while you sleep at night, though you can if you'd like. There are a ton of free playlists available on YouTube and other websites. Sound apps can also be downloaded using a phone or other device.
Why Would Noise Help You Concentrate?
According to a widely accepted theory known as stochastic resonance, the presence of white noise enables the brain to tune into difficult-to-hear tones that would otherwise go unnoticed, such as those in music, people's voices, or ambient sounds, said Göran Söderlund, a special education professor in Sweden who also studies neuroscience and cognition. In other words, the hypothesis holds that you can hear and concentrate on other things more clearly by just playing white noise.
According to Dr. Diaz, the brain can be diverted by internal and external inputs. "Thoughts like, 'Did I turn off the curling iron?' may be utterly overwhelming in your own thinking," she remarked. She claimed that background noise could be concealed, and some of the internal chatter can be drowned out by noise that is just exciting enough to excite the brain but is not overpowering.
Although brown noise research is still in its infancy, little is known about it shows that it may enhance focus, concentration, and sleep.
Just a few examples of relaxing brown noise noises are ocean waves, waterfalls, and thunder, but if those aren't your thing, you may instead try listening to plain old static frequencies.
You can even combine various sounds and frequency strengths in many apps and online playlists to create a customized sound that suits your needs. So, as you rest on your ideal mattress from our Sleep Better, you can drift off to sleep while listening to the sounds of thunderstorms, blizzards, or crashing waves. Stop by Sleep Better in the Santa Clara region for the best mattresses and customer service right away!
FAQ
Is brown noise better for you than white noise?
Brown noise has deeper, lower-frequency tones than white noise, and some people find it more soothing, but whether it's "better" is subjective and varies by individual preference.
Which color noise is best for sleep?
The best color noise for sleep varies among individuals; however, many people find brown or pink noise most relaxing due to their lower frequencies.
Should you listen to brown noise all night?
Listening to brown noise all night can be beneficial for some as it may mask disruptive noises, but it's essential to ensure the volume is at a safe and comfortable level.
What is brown noise best for?
Brown noise is best for creating a consistent ambient sound to mask external noises, aid in relaxation, and promote sleep.
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