While noise is usually considered a sleep disruptor, it may help people fall asleep. This is particularly true of "white noise". But what exactly is it about? How does it work? Explanations...
What is white noise?
In the same way that light is a mixture of all colors, white noise is a sound that includes all frequencies. These are for example permanent background noises, such as rain running on the windows, the lapping of the waves, the vacuum cleaner, the hairdryer or the heartbeat... which have the particularity of covering all the other noises, in particular those emerging like a motorcycle which starts in a hurry, the barking of a dog or the neighbors who make the party... These continuous sounds have the particularity of creating a sleep-friendly environment.
White noise creates a state of relaxation that allows you to put your mind in a state of rest. In addition, some sounds produce a reassuring atmosphere, bringing back pleasant memories or a sense of security.
While the role of classical music in causing drowsiness was already known, researchers have highlighted the effectiveness of this type of sound in mitigating sleep disorders, a discovery that has not been ignored for a long time by young mothers whose babies spend restless nights... In fact, there are now several soft toys that emit white noises to put baby to sleep (with a system of sensors that are activated as soon as the little one wakes up in the middle of the night).
White noise can help the body and brain relax in several ways:
- It's a good idea to establish a routine before bedtime (for both children and adults).
- If you sometimes have trouble falling asleep because you are plagued by thoughts or personal worries, white noise can help you clear your head.
- Some people use it to meditate!
Where to find them?
New technologies bring us new tools: for example, many applications exist on smartphones. Sleep Time, for example, puts its users to sleep to the sound of waves washing up on the shore or rain falling on the leaves of a forest, while presenting a sleep analysis. While White Noise HQ, on iTunes, offers a collection of high-resolution stereo recordings selected for their noise-reducing quality. A bunch of specific white noise (concentration, meditation, tinnitus, anxiety, meditation, ...) are also available for free on Youtube. In short, a good night's sleep is sometimes just a click away...