We don't guess. Every recommendation Softly makes is grounded in peer-reviewed research from neuroscience, psychology, and sleep medicine. Here's what the science says.
faster sleep onset with white noise
Messineo et al., Sleep Medicine, 2017
better memory recall with pink noise
Papalambros et al., Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2017
optimal volume for creative thinking
Mehta, Zhu & Cheema, 2012
Mehta, Zhu & Cheema · Journal of Consumer Research (2012)
Moderate ambient noise (~70 dB) enhances performance on creative tasks by inducing processing disfluency, which activates abstract thinking.
DOI: 10.1086/665048 →Messineo et al. · Sleep Medicine (2017)
Broadband white noise reduced sleep onset latency by 38% in a controlled hospital environment.
DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2017.06.032 →Papalambros et al. · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (2017)
Pink noise timed to slow-wave sleep oscillations enhanced deep sleep and next-day memory recall by 26%.
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00109 →Gould van Praag et al. · Scientific Reports (2017)
Nature sounds trigger parasympathetic ("rest-and-digest") nervous system activity, reducing cortisol and heart rate.
DOI: 10.1038/srep45273 →Söderlund, Sikström & Smart · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (2007)
Low-frequency noise (brown noise spectrum) improved cognitive performance in individuals with attention difficulties by optimizing dopamine-mediated neural transmission.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01749.x →Try our science-backed sound recommendations. No account needed.