Silence has been the source of many reflections over time, while saturating the places where we live with so much noise that it is increasingly difficult to find it, so more and more people have the experience of living. not hearing noises fall into an abyss in themselves.
We have a noise that is currently overstimulant. The most serious thing is that almost all these auditory stimuli that we receive from the outside are more or less alarming: car noises, hums, loud music, hissing, signs, in any case, nothing that inspires tranquility.
- “The sand of the desert is the same for the weary traveler as the incessant conversation for the lover of silence.
- “Persian Proverb.
In addition to focusing on our emotional state, science has also been shown to affect the brain. According to research conducted in Germany by the Dresden Centre for Regenerative Therapies Research, there are brain processes that can only be performed in silence.
Until recently it was thought that neurons were unable to regenerate, however, with the development of neurogenesis, it has been shown to be a mistake. It is not yet known exactly what promotes neurological and cerebral regeneration, but there are already valuable clues to it. this, including silence.
German researchers first experimented with a group of mice, the quest was to leave them in complete silence for two hours a day and, at the same time, an observation was made of their brains to see if this generated any changes.
The result was brutal. After undergoing this routine for some time, it was observed that in all the rats studied, there was an increase in the number of cells in the hippocampus, a region of the brain that regulates emotions, memory and learning.
Experts also found that new nerve cells were gradually incorporated into the central nervous system and quickly specialized in different functions, in conclusion, silence has led to a very positive change in the brains of animals.
The brain never rests, even in a state of calm, or when we are completely silent or asleep, this wonderful organ continues to function, but differently, when the body rests, other processes begin to develop that complement those that are performed when they are active.
Basically what is happening is that a kind of purification occurs, the brain evaluates the information and experiences to which it was exposed during the day, so it organizes and incorporates relevant information and rejects what is not important.
This process is completely unconscious, but has conscious effects, so sometimes we find answers while we sleep, or we can see things from a new perspective after having been resting for a few hours.
The interesting thing about all this is that a similar process also occurs when we are silent, the absence of auditory stimuli has almost the same effect as rest, silence, in general, leads us to think of ourselves, which purifies emotions and reaffirms identity. .
Silence not only makes us smarter, more creative and safer, but also has very positive effects on anguish. Human beings are very sensitive to noise, so much so that we often wake up surprised by the fall of an object or by a stranger. Sound.
Research from Cornell University has found that children living near airports have high levels of stress. And that’s not all; they also have higher blood pressure and high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.
Fortunately, the opposite is also true. This was demonstrated by a survey conducted by the University of Pavia, where it was found that only two minutes of absolute silence are more rewarding than listening to relaxing music, in fact, it became clear that blood pressure was decreasing and that people could feel more alert and calmer after this little silence.
In the end, silence has great advantages, both intellectual and emotional, one could say that staying silent, at least for small periods a day, is a determining factor for brain health and, with it, a decisive element in improving our emotional state. our health and quality of life.
Images courtesy of Magdalena Berny.