Contents:
- Medical Video: Why Do Some Noises Make You Cringe?
- Why does the sound of scratching your nails make you sick?
- A shrill voice can make you irritated
Medical Video: Why Do Some Noises Make You Cringe?
Have you ever felt as if your ears, hands, or even your whole body ached after hearing a shrill sound? For example, if you hear the sound of a nail being scratched onto a rough surface such as a blackboard or wall, or when you hear the friction of the sound of a chair being dragged?
This pain sensation does usually appear immediately. However, what actually makes the sound of scratching these nails aching and uncomfortable? Come on, see the answer below.
Why does the sound of scratching your nails make you sick?
Even though you are not alone scratching your nails on a rough surface, just hearing the screaming makes you sore and goose bumps. This sensation of pain, goose bumps, or discomfort turns out to be the body's reaction to stress. Yes, hearing sharp shrill sounds can stress your body.
A study in Germany shows that the human ear is very sensitive to shrill sounds which are in the frequency range of 2,000 to 4,000 Hertz (Hz). While the human voice when speaking ranges from 85 to 255 Hz.
The human ear canal is unable to hold sound with a frequency that is too high. If the sound with a very high frequency enters your ear canal, the body will immediately experience a stress reaction. These reactions include heart palpitations, increased blood pressure, and increased electrical conductivity on the skin. The increase in electricity is what makes you shudder and ache.
A shrill voice can make you irritated
Other research published in the Journal of Neuroscience in 2012 proved something similar. The human ear does not hold hearing sounds in the frequency of 2,000 to 5,000 Hz. However, in this study it was also revealed that your reaction to shrill sounds might not only be physical reactions, but also emotional.
In this study, experts scanned the brains of the study participants. Apparently when you hear a shrill voice, there are two parts of the brain that become more active. The first part is the auditory cortex. This part of the brain is indeed responsible for receiving and responding to sounds that are heard. While the second part is the amygdala. This part of the brain called the amygdala is responsible for processing emotions.
This means sharp shrill sounds when scratching your nails or dragging something above the surface can create negative emotions. However, it is not known exactly how the voice can make someone annoyed.
Experts from Newcastle University conclude that shrill sounds in everyday life are usually related to things that make you panic, fearful, or upset. For example, someone's screaming or baby crying. The brain records this pattern and generalizes every shrill sound as a sound that triggers negative emotions. So, the sound of scratching your nails on the board can make you annoyed to death.
