Environment & Climate
Low levels of traffic noise negate wellbeing benefits of birdsong, study finds
A study of over 1,500 participants suggests that even minor urban road noise can disrupt the psychological and physiological benefits of natural soundscapes.
The short version
- A new study published in People and Nature found that traffic noise can cancel out the stress-reducing and mood-boosting psychological benefits typically offered by birdsong.
- Heart rate measurements on a subset of participants revealed lower heart rate variability when traffic noise was present, indicating an increased physiological stress response.
- Researchers suggest urban planning solutions, such as reducing speed limits and planting dense ground-level vegetation near parks, to preserve natural acoustics in green spaces.
Key facts
- A study published in the journal People and Nature surveyed more than 1,500 participants who listened to nine simulated soundscapes combining birdsong and traffic noise.[The Guardian]
- Researchers found that even low levels of traffic noise negatively impacted the psychological benefits and stress recovery otherwise derived from listening to nature sounds.[The Guardian]
- Heart rate measurements taken on a subset of participants showed lower heart rate variability when listening to soundscapes containing traffic noise, which indicates a greater physiological stress response.[The Guardian]
- The study found that younger participants reported greater feelings of wellbeing than older participants, and that individuals reported higher wellbeing when they perceived a wider variety of bird species.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- Researchers hypothesized that the higher feelings of wellbeing reported by younger participants might be due to better hearing and an enhanced acoustic experience, though this was not definitively proven.[The Guardian]
Sources
- Mood-boosting benefits of birdsong drowned out by traffic noise, study findsThe Guardian - Environment