Sound and auditory stimulus used as a form of healthcare and wellness is a growing field. There is minimal research into this idea as it is relatively new, however, scientific discoveries are starting to illuminate many possible ways that resonance frequencies or sounds can benefit the lives of human-kind. Two different fields sound is being tested in are both physically and mentally. One article addresses the physical impact of stochastic resonance electrical stimulation or (altered-frequency sounds and vibrations) while the other focuses on how sound baths can be used to aid with anxiety and depression in many cases.
In the research study "Effects of Noise Electrical Stimulation on Proprioception, Force Control, and Corticomuscular Functional Connectivity" by Vincent Chen, Chen explores the impact of stochastic resonance electrical stimulation (vibrations) on the functional connectivity between the brain's cortex and body muscles. This study involved two experiments: one measuring a control group for force control, and the other examining the effects of noise stimulation at different frequencies on corticomuscular connectivity. These findings revealed a correlation between peripheral noise stimulation and enhanced neural responses in the cortex leading to improved movement and force application. This study helps illuminate the idea that frequencies of sound can be used to increase the amount of force and movement someone is capable of using. Additionally, stimulation applied to peripheral nerves, such as those in the fingertips, improved light touch sensation from 40% to 80% of the sensory threshold. These results demonstrate that noise stimulation can enhance proprioception and force control, potentially improving attention in movement-related tasks. In this movement related tasks, studies like this can help to further the idea of improvements in patients with aggressive cases of arthritis and maybe even certain nerve disorders using sound to help create new neurotransmitters to replace those that are damaged or not present.
The news article “Can a Sound Bath Wash Away Your Worries?” written Nicole Stock, explores modern health and wellness concepts as they relate to sound baths. Sound baths are now used in the wellness world as a meditative technique that uses resonant sound to aim to help people relax and heal internally. Though this is a relatively new idea with its increase in popularity rising in the past 5 years, it addresses the ideas of using noise stimulation to reduce stress and body tensions. This article specifically references an observational study of 62 participants that showed lower levels of anxiety and depressed mood after one sound bath meditation session. Some participants were recorded as having lower signs of tension in their body both physically and mentally. Though these sound baths are a new and many of these benefits are not yet known or proven by scientific methods, many health practitioners are starting to open their minds to the idea of sound baths suggesting they could lead to lower blood pressures, aid depression, and even repair DNA.
Both of these articles focus on how noise stimulation of different frequencies can affect the human body. These articles contrast what the sound is affecting such as how sound can improve force proprioception and the other effects how sound can improve mood or anxiety levels. However, both articles discuss using sound to improve the lives of people. Sound is now being used to improve both physical and mental ailments, and with more research and scientific data I believe these sound frequency studies can be used to help repair things such as DNA and certain mental disorders prevalent around the world. This new advancement into the use of sound makes one question what more can it possibly be used for in the future?
Works Cited:
Chou, L. W., Hou, S. L., Lee, H. M., Fregni, F., Yen, A., Chen, V., Wei, S. H., & Kao, C. L. (2023). Effects of Noise Electrical Stimulation on Proprioception, Force Control, and Corticomuscular Functional Connectivity. IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 31, 2518–2524. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNSRE.2023.3277752
Stock, N. (2024, April 29). Can a sound Bath Wash Away Your Worries?. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/29/well/live/sound-bath-meditate-health-benefits.html?smid=url-share
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