Some noises suck. You know the ones: sharp objects scratching glass, screeching kids, and the classic nails on a chalkboard. Recently, researchers at Newcastle University discovered that our brains are hard-wired to react this way.
A group of brave volunteers agreed to have their brains scanned while listening to different sounds. These ranged from a babbling brook, to a knife being scraped across a bottle. What researchers discovered was that irritating noises activate our brain’s amygdala – the part that controls negative emotions. This, in turn instructs our auditory cortex, the part that processes sound, to listen more closely. Essentially, we’re programmed to pay closer attention to annoying rackets, making them worse. Nice, eh?
Researchers suspect that there is an intrinsic reason for this response. For one, it makes us pay closer attention to the needs of a crying baby. Hopefully, this discovery will lead to a better understanding of conditions, such as migraines, where patients suffer an increased sensitivity to noise.
So, next time you think your mother-in-law is screaming at you, it might be helpful to remind yourself that it’s not as bad as it sounds.
To hear the Top 5 Most Annoying Sounds rated in the study, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.
