Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Things to ponder....

Over the years I have researched a lot of stuff about the human brain, how it reacts and responds to different things, lots of interesting studies on human behavior and such. Another thing I have researched and have become quite passionate about is knowing and understanding the chemicals you consume, put on your body, and expose yourself to, that involve our everyday. I would like to use this blog to share with you what I do know about the things that I have researched. Just as a point of interest and something to ponder... So, just a starter, here is something I just picked up on the net that I found interesting.




"We subject ourselves to *'acoustic startle response' each morning we're roused by the unpleasant sounds from an alarm clock. This abuse can, in the long run, induce cardiovascular and digestive distress.

We also become mentally combative when we're pummeled with noise, such that the World Health Organization notes aggressiveness as a health risk of noise. Additionally, other cognitive functions are sacrificed in the presence of noise-induced anger.

Psychologist Arline Bronzaft's research has shown that, in the case of a school located next to a train track, students' performance is hampered by noise. On the quieter side of the school, students performed at a reading level higher than the students on the train side. When measures were taken to insulate the noise-affected students, their performance evened out.

Beyond this, stroke victims have also been reported to have increased visual awareness when listening to preferred music, and surgery patients have reported less pain while listening to nature sounds.

The takeaway? Take measures to calm your mind and body by using more soothing sounds to wake you up in the morning. And whenever possible, try drowning out noise by listening to something pleasant. Your brain will thank you!"

*The mental state of suddenly aroused awareness; manifested by a flight or fight or submit pattern of behavior and posture.

Taken from Luminosity.com


I myself have always found this to be true, very sensitive to noise. I have seen how a person with non aggressive tendencies can turn to feeling aggressive from the agitation from certain noise. I have to work with music (music I like) when I'm doing just about anything. And I ditched the alarm clock way back in junior high!! I found when I woke to it I suffered from very high anxiety (while waking up to it) and that stopped when I got rid of the alarm. While attending school my mom always woke me up. Now, I traded in the obnoxious BEEP BEEP BEEP for my song of choice on my cell phone alarm!

1 comment:

Hope Walls said...

Very cool, Amber. I'm a huge believer in having a daily soundtrack. Instead of listening to the radio or even putting the iPod on shuffle, my preferred music these days is Iceberg Radio's world music channel, unless I'm feeling up for a youtube day of bollywood.... lol