Several studies confirm that bird sounds can alleviate anxiety and depression and improve mental clarity
Several studies confirm that bird sounds can alleviate anxiety and depression and improve mental clarity.
Recent research has shown that simply listening to birdsong can have positive effects on mental health.
Studies indicate that these natural sounds increase feelings of well-being and mental clarity, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in people.
The ancient ritual of using cinnamon in the bathroom to attract prosperity and cleanse negative energies.
Spending time in nature has long been associated with physical and emotional benefits, but recent research shows that it is not necessary to be physically in a natural environment to obtain some of these beneficial effects; it is enough just to listen to the sounds of the environment, especially birdsong.
Why is this sound so special?
According to Cindy Frantz, a social and environmental psychologist at Oberlin College and Conservatory, quoted by “National Geographic”, humans are social beings: ‘we are programmed to want to connect with things’. In other words, our brains seek to create bonds not only with other people, but also with elements of the natural environment, including birds.
A study conducted in 2022 with more than 1,300 participants and published in Scientific Reports found that people who listened to or saw birds reported a significantly better sense of mental well-being, even beyond the positive effects of being in contact with green areas or bodies of water (such as seeing trees or hearing the waves of the sea). Encountering birds prolongs the boost to mental health for hours.
However, another study conducted the same year with 295 people, published in the same journal, highlighted the contrast between listening to the sounds of nature and urban environments. Those who listened to six minutes of birdsong through headphones reported feeling less depressed, anxious and paranoid.
Similarly, research conducted in 2020 by California State Polytechnic University played recordings of birdsong on trails in Boulder, Colorado. Participants who walked the trails with this ‘ghost choir,’ which lasted only 10 minutes, felt greater cognitive restoration and improved mental clarity.
The brain’s response to birdsong
The study’s experts argue that birdsong acts as a signal of safety. In contrast, a silent forest can signal danger to the brain. This ancestral interpretation could explain why natural sounds generate a sense of calm.
In addition, listening to birds helps you focus on the present. Scientists associate this with a type of attention called ‘soft fascination,’ which engages the senses without overloading them, unlike intense urban stimuli.
Researchers agree that direct experience with nature offers the greatest benefits, although recordings of birdsong can also be useful. According to Frantz, ‘Learning the names of birds can strengthen your connection with nature.’ Stopping to listen and recognise their songs, he concludes, can be a simple and effective way to look after your mental health.
