Your Brain Craves Silence – Here’s Why

(AscendHealthy.com)- Are you looking for a fool-proof stress reliever that will help you get your thoughts in order and do more work? The answer may be as simple as silence. According to a 2013 study, complete silence generates new cell growth in the hippocampus region of the brain. It also relieves stress, boosts the brain’s processing capacity, and replenishes brainpower.

Silence Relieves Stress

Noise has been linked with increased stress, anxiety, and depression in the general population. As noise levels rise, stress responses rise as well, which means that people who are exposed to high levels of noise on a regular basis are more affected than those who are exposed to low noise levels. However, even low-level background noise, like that associated with highway traffic, can wreak havoc on your state of mind.

Silence — true silence — has the opposite effect. Just 2 minutes of silence can be more relaxing than listening to soothing music. It has also been shown to lower blood pressure and improve blood circulation in the brain.

Silence Replenishes Brain Power

Silence replenishes cognitive resources, which translates into brainpower. When your brain is being bombarded with noise, it doesn’t perform as well. It has too much to focus on. This can have a profoundly adverse effect on attention span, memory, and problem-solving. Silence, on the other hand, has the opposite effect.

When the brain has too much to concentrate on, it can’t process information effectively. When it’s silent, however, the brain can process difficult information and reflect on it, evaluate it and internalize it. This can vastly improve problem-solving and decision-making.

Silence Regenerates Brain Cells

Two hours of silence per day can have a positive impact on cell regeneration in the hippocampus region of the brain. Responsible for memory, social behavior, and flexible cognition, the hippocampus plays a profound role in navigation, imagination, social bonding, empathy, decision-making, creativity, character judgment, and more.

In a study involving mice, researchers found that silence stimulated the growth of new cells that eventually became functioning neurons, thus, regenerating the hippocampus region of the mice’s brains.

As you can see, silence is very powerful, especially when it comes to your brain. If you want to enjoy increased brain function and a less stressful life, regular periods of silence may help you achieve your goals.

~Here’s to Your Healthy Ascension!

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