Aquila Children's Magazine AQUILA Magazine Best Bits | Page 58

Sound can have amazing effects on the
human body. Think about it – how do you
feel when you hear nails being dragged
down a chalkboard? How do you react to
the sound of someone throwing up? Would
you jump at a sudden scream in a horror
movie? These types of sounds can all create
different sensations and emotions in your
body, but scientists believe we can go a
step further: listening to the sounds that
are generated on the inside of our own
bodies, as well as those on the outside.
Listen carefully, but
maybe not too
carefully...
Let’s examine the effects of external sounds
on our bodies. Some researchers think that
certain sounds can even make us poo
ourselves. Yes, the phenomenon is
commonly referred to as ‘the mythical brown
note’ – this is the theory that very low
frequency sounds can cause humans to lose
control of their bowels and well, leave a little
‘brown note’, as it were. (Gross,
but ok.
I’m interested. Tell me more.)
Such low frequencies are called infrasound.
At less than 20 Hz (Hertz) or cycles per
second, these types of sounds are too low for
the human ear to pick up, but some scientists
believe that infrasound vibrations can be
picked up in other parts of the human body
and can cause both physical and emotional
changes, resulting in us needing the toilet, or
feeling happiness, sadness or anxiety.
If external sounds can make weird things
happen to our bodies and our emotions,
how can listening to internal sounds
benefit us?
FUN FACT TRUMPET
Did you know that elephants can use
infrasound (known as elephant rumbles) to
communicate with one another over long
distances? Low frequency sounds travel
further than high frequency ones.