The idea of using noise to help you fall asleep might sound absurd, but the concept has already gained millions of followers on social networks, and has even been proven by experts.
Some people need complete silence to fall asleep peacefully; others, meanwhile, need certain background noises to help them doze off. Findings have shown that sound from a television, fan, vacuum cleaner, or rain could not only make it easier to fall asleep but also make bedtime more restful.
Although not fully validated by scientific studies, the merits of these noises are constantly being praised on social networks, with some sources now becoming viral.
In conjunction with World Sleep Day tomorrow, here are some of the sounds that could help you reach dreamland more quickly.
Colours of noise
Not content with music, news and podcasts, streaming services are now turning to “sound therapy”. This practice is very much vogue among younger generations who share hundreds of videos and audio tracks of noises intended to promote memorisation, concentration, and even sleep.
Most people have heard of white noise, which has been the subject of numerous studies, albeit on very limited samples, and which takes the form of pleasant background noises intended to mask more unpleasant ones. But fewer people have heard of pink or brown noise, currently all the rage on TikTok and YouTube.
Each noise has characteristic properties, such as duration, intensity, frequency, or what is called power spectral density.
Without getting too technical, this last property can be used to differentiate certain types of noise, as well as to classify them by colour. This is often correlated with light wave spectra, which explains why noise is associated with different shades.
For example, using the analogy of white light – itself composed of all colours – white noise is made up of all the frequencies of the sound spectrum, giving rise to monotonous, constant sound that resembles humming.
The idea is the same for pink noise and brown noise, each with its own characteristic spectra. These two colours are popular on social networks, with countless videos of users proposing this type of noise to relax, meditate, or even fall asleep live (or almost live) on camera.
On TikTok, the #pinknoise hashtag has already generated some 29 million views, while #brownnoise has nearly 120 million.
Pink noise, ideal for sleep?
According to TikTokers, pink noise seems to be the top choice for helping you fall asleep. Just like white noise, it is similar to a regular humming sound but with much deeper tones that supposedly make it feel more relaxing.
Most examples of pink noise are associated with nature, such as the rustling of leaves, rain falling in the distance, or the movement of waves – noises said to promote deep sleep. This is a finding that has been confirmed by a scientific study, although conducted on a relatively small number of participants.
Also popular on social media for its sleep benefits is brown noise, which some also call red noise. It’s apparently more likely to promote relaxation, meditation, and concentration.
Unlike the humming of pink noise, this is a kind of rumbling noise that’s more intense and deep in the low frequencies, which supposedly makes it the ideal noise to help you relax after a stressful day.
The sound of a waterfall or distant thunder could, therefore, constitute the perfect sounds for relaxation.