Researchers at North Carolina State University tested how places and sounds change feelings. People sat with noise-cancelling headphones in either a reclaimed nature trail or a busy urban area. The headphones played either traffic noise or birdsong.
The researchers changed the location and the soundtrack for each person so they could see the effects of place and sound. After the test, participants said how much stress they felt and how refreshed they were. Being in green space and hearing birds led to more positive emotions and more feeling of restoration, while city places with traffic sounds led to worse feelings. Results were mixed when sounds and places did not match.
Difficult words
- researcher — person who studies and tests ideasResearchers
- reclaim — make land natural again after previous usereclaimed
- noise-cancelling headphones — headphones that reduce background sound
- restoration — return to feeling relaxed and healthy
- birdsong — sound made by birds in nature
- urban — related to a city or town
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Which place (green space or city) makes you feel more relaxed? Why?
- Do you prefer natural sounds like birdsong or city sounds? How do they affect you?
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