Sound is fundamental to the universe, and Earth is not an exception; neither are the living creatures on it.

Sounds were the base of the Earth’s living creatures, more than light because as the light goes down with the sun, the sound will be the only god for the animals. Sound plays a crucial role in animals and the case of humans, specifically during the evolution of every living creature. From hunting to defense, animals depend on sound for everything. Perhaps this is the reason why every animal has a unique ability when it comes to sound.

Today, most of the sound in our ecosystem is not something nature produces. Rather we humans have it. In our civilization, we make an enormous amount of sounds, yet the uses of sound are limited in our society. Because most sounds are just by-products of something else, these sounds are the major problem for human civilizations.

If you cannot recognize it, then the term noise pollution will be a help.

The sound produced with industrial production, wars, and other resources is now a major problem in human society. Because sound is not only a sensation that is felt in the ear; rather, it is an energy, and not wisely channelized energy is always a cause of concern.

We get a glimpse of the effects of the sound apart from the hearing sensation. Much research has shown and confirmed by individuals that the sound or the vibration of the air molecules will affect the rate of our breathing, our well-being, and even our mood can be hijacked with this movement of molecules.

It might appear too strange for reality, but reality often is stranger than fiction. However, how the sound reaches our brain is also an interesting story. But why be interested in that story and what lies in it?

In recent years the effects of sound on the human body have been covered in various research papers published in renowned journals. The science of the impact and the claims might be controversial, but the process of the effect is scientifically proven. The miracle of the sound lies in the working itself.

How Sound Gets to the Human Brain

Most of us already know how sound reaches our brain through our ears; however, few of us will also know that sound goes through the brain through our skin. The transmission of sound through the ear is well known, but the through the skin is not. 

The sound travels to air (vibration) and reaches the ear; inside the ear, it is sensed by the hair cells in the cochlea. The sensation is transmitted to the auditory nerves through electrical signals, then reaches brain cells. The electrical signals reach brain cells, causing stimulation in brain neurons. 

Then coming to the unpopular one, the sound reaches the skin, and the vibration on the skin through the vibrations grabbed by the mechano receptors. The mechano receptors transmit the message in the form of electrical signals through the spinal cords, and then after, it reaches the brain cells, causing simulation in the neurons. At the same time, this is a general process and remains the same for every sound. 

However, our brain prefers some sounds more than another one because there are some frequencies of sound that the brain gets synchronized and gets relaxed by. There are some frequencies too, where the brain receives as much stress as in a situation of 3F (fight, flight, fright); most of it is true for the noises (a sound, especially one that is loud or unpleasant or that causes disturbance).

If our body is in the atmosphere where it is actually in the exposure to loud sounds, it will affect our body and release adrenaline and cortisol. 

In addition, we have already seen how sound reaches our brain through the ears and the skin. If we think about it, sound is more or less affecting everyone’s brain universally, whether enabled or disabled, humans or animals. Therefore, even dumb people realize and even suffer from noise. 

Sound in Human Brain

The sound may be widespread. However, it is not limited to nature or our non-nervous system; sound plays a crucial role in thinking and the process in our brain. But how?

The answer lies in an interesting part about the simulation of neurons in our brain, and sound is related to our thoughts. Our thoughts are generally electrical signals; however, they are very much like the sounds measured in the heart. Brain waves are categorized for the different frequencies in different brain states.

The focussed state of the brain has a frequency of 12-30hz called beta brain waves. The relaxed state or the light meditation state has brain waves synchronized 8-12 Hz, and theta brain waves are 4-8 Hz, and it arises when the brain is in light sleep or deep meditation. The brain frequency of the delta category consists of 4- 8 Hz.

This frequency arises when our brain is in a deep sleep. Dr. Lee Bartel, Professor Emeritus of Music, Health & Music Education at the University of Toronto, explains how 40 Hz synchronizes with our brain and relaxes the brain.

The sound with the frequency of 40 Hz is the frequency to which our brain responds most easily. But how is this helpful, the synchronization and even the relation, and how is the sound currently utilized? Isn’t it a by-product of many other things? Well, you may be partially right, but not fully. Furthermore, diseases related to the brain’s functioning are also related and can be cured with sound.  

The same professor Dr. Lee Bartel also discovers that simulating cells with sound can reduce the risk and impact of common health problems.  

Sound In Present

In the video given, Dr. Lee Bartel explains how the daily regular 3-4 times per week stimulation of the brain with Physio Acoustic Chair from 40 Hz of music/sound is curing or at least reducing the impact of the brain diseases such as Dyskinesia, Dementia, Alzeheimer.

Furthermore, the sound and, specifically, the music can always come in handy while dealing with anxiety, depression, and other issues with focus. Because our brain releases adrenaline in the noise, causing us stress; however, the reverse is also true.

Sound can be used to relax the brain, as in the presence of sound, particularly calm music, the brain initiates a relaxation response that causes the brain to relax. This phenomenon is the base for sound therapy, which has recently gained popularity among psychiatrists and psychologists.

In the given video below, Jonathan Adams and Montana Skies explain and also demonstrate in ted talks how and what kind of music heals and prevents anxiety.

While in the current world, the utility of sound is more often untapped and restricted to the human body and medical purposes only in the form of sound therapy, which is also controversial. The reason behind it would be the limited technology for handling sound & its application.

If we arrange to handle the sound and the vibration, it will be very much in the use of our daily world in a non-controversial and more scientific way. An example of it would be ultrasound; no matter how insane it is in principle, we are using it constantly because we have the technology to handle the ultrasound and make the application from it.

Suppose technology allows (which will allow in the future ). In that case, the day is not so far when sound will become one of the crucial and integral parts of nearly every sector in the world, while today, the thing limiting sound usage is actually the, but it will surely be ever expanding in future.

Sound in Future

The possible usage of sound is near to the infinite and based on the current development; certain possibilities will be a reality in the future; it is just a matter of time. 

With enough control of sound and vibration through technology in the future, the cure for cancer can be done. But how? Nanotechnology can operate inside the human body and perform major operations without even really piercing the body. 

The video below demonstrates how an ice break can be shattered without even direct interference on the ice. Instead, it resulted from operating a completely different commodity on the other side.

Because of the resonance in the sound, the wine glass starts vibrating with the sounds, and when the vibration exceeds the stable structure of the wine glass, the wine glass breaks.

Similarly, suppose nanotechnology produces a specific frequency sound, which will destroy the cancer cells. In that case, it will not only be safer as currently, we rely on isotopes of cobalt to eliminate cancer cells, but it will make cancer treatment more accessible and affordable as the nanotechnology constituent parts are much in availability in comparison to the cobalt isotope.

Furthermore, the situation will also give rise to new opportunities, the sound-related studies will be much of an influence and will play a major role compared to today. While it is difficult to guess the system of education regarding sound exactly, based on the current prediction, we can conclude that there will be a separate branch solely focused on studying sound and its relation to medical science for humans and animals.

There is also the possibility of a new kind of major where people are only educated in sound, which will further go for specialization in different fields, say engineering, psychology, military, or anything else.

The sound will go in the military section as well; there will be various weapons whose sole aim is to weaponize the vibration in the air caused by the sound. If we go again into the section on how the sound effect reaches the brain, we know the skin should suffice for the sound to get the human brain. This is the base for many scientists to invent a gun whose ammo is sound, not some metal bullet.

The sound gun will emit the sound with a specific frequency because of the nature of sound to move like waves in 360 degrees; there will be a particular modification in the guns so that only the target will be affected, not anyone else. The sound will hit the mark and cause a vibration in the human body, and the nature of that vibration will affect the human body such that the cells will malfunction under the influence of the vibrations.

Where there is something in offense, something might also be in defense. Likewise, there should be something in the reason, which might be the specialized skin, that will prevent the skin’s mechano receptors from getting targeted by the special sound vibration. The common skin material will be necessary for the war soldiers’ uniform, assuming that sound and vibration guns will become common among the different armies worldwide.

The usage of sounds in the military will not be limited to sound guns only. The same working principle will be applied to high-level weapons such as tanks and missile systems. In the future, there will be specialized weapons whose main objective will be to disrupt internal communications with the help of specific vibration frequencies.

Using these weapons will be ideal for a world where no one wants war but is willing to sacrifice. These kinds of weapons where sound is used as a spy agent and for disruptions rather than destructions are ideal.

The economy revolving around sound will be going to increase. However, it will not appear explicitly in future economic reports or even current economic bloom predictions because it is currently anticipated under the umbrella of technological advancement. Furthermore, even in the future, the economy revolving around sound will be categorized under various categories, such as health, education, and defense, rather than just one big sound banner. Therefore, the economy revolving around sound will not be that big of a deal on the surface but a real deal in the nuance. 

Conclusion

Suppose sound becomes crucial to human health, the education system, and a country’s defense. How can it remain distant from the national economy, global economy, and international geopolitics? 

The future of sound certainly looks good.

Last Updated on August 26, 2023 by ayeshayusuf