Source: Fox News
Summary
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine found that listening to pink noise at bedtime could disturb REM sleep and sleep recovery. The research, published in the journal Sleep, found that earplugs were significantly more effective at blocking out traffic noise during sleep. The study observed 25 healthy adults and found that exposure to aircraft noise was associated with a decline in deep sleep, while pink noise was associated with a decrease in REM sleep.
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The advice sounds familiar.
Pink noise, once thought to aid sleep, may actually be doing the opposite. This new study suggests that it could be harming our sleep, particularly for children. The researchers found that earplugs were more effective at blocking out noise than pink noise. It’s a reminder that what’s considered helpful for sleep can change over time. The study’s findings are a “significant pivot” from the sound machine trend, and it’s a good idea to take a closer look at what we’re using to help us sleep.
REM sleep is important for memory consolidation, emotional regulation, and brain development, and it’s concerning that we may be unknowingly sacrificing segments of our REM sleep.
It’s a good idea to be cautious when using sound machines or apps to aid sleep, and to consider the potential impact on our sleep patterns.
The study’s limitations, including its small size and lack of investigation into long-term use, mean that more research is needed to fully understand the effects of pink noise on sleep.
For now, it’s a good idea to use pink noise at the lowest sound level that still works, and to consider alternative methods for improving sleep.
Author: Evan Null
