Research Design Connections: Benefits of Natural Soundscapes

New research confirms the value of listening to natural soundscapes.  In a recent study “EEG and Heart Rate data were recorded from 10 participants within an [real-world] office in London.  Each participant listened to a Moodsonic Soundscape (lapping lake waves) . . . and typical office sounds while they performed a series of tasks; Stroop Test (cognition), Alternative Uses Test (creativity).  . . . Comparative measures were taken from the typical office sounds and Moodsonic soundscape conditions to compare states of relaxation, engagement, creativity and speed of correct completion. The Moodsonic soundscape increased the relaxation response in individuals compared to typical office sounds.  . . . Participants were able to focus better, with greater attention, as reflected by the increased speed of correct completion of the cognitive tasks when listening to the Moodsonic soundscape. . . . Participants scored higher in creativity, as measured by the number of answers provided in the Divergent Thinking Task [when listening to the lapping waves].”

Moodsonic.  2022. “Nature-Based Immersion in the Workplace.” https://moodsonic-soundscapes.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/Web+assets/Nature-based+immersion+in+the+workplace.pdf?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=Newsletter%20Aug%202022&utm_medium=email

Sally Augustin, PhD, a cognitive scientist, is the editor of Research Design Connections (www.researchdesignconnections.com), a monthly subscription newsletter and free daily blog, where recent and classic research in the social, design, and physical sciences that can inform designers’ work are presented in straightforward language. Readers learn about the latest research findings immediately, before they’re available elsewhere. Sally, who is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, is also the author of Place Advantage: Applied Psychology for Interior Architecture (Wiley, 2009) and, with Cindy Coleman, The Designer’s Guide to Doing Research: Applying Knowledge to Inform Design (Wiley, 2012). She is a principal at Design With Science (www.designwithscience.com) and can be reached at sallyaugustin@designwithscience.com.