The most unpleasant (and satisfying) sounds, revealed

Fingernails on a chalkboard? Not the worst sound out there!

Stars Insider

31/01/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Science

Some sounds can be really annoying. Think of a car alarm going off or the sound of two pieces of polystyrene being rubbed together. Pretty unpleasant, right? But there are worse ones out there—a lot worse.

While fingernails on a chalkboard will likely send shivers down your spine, there are a lot of other really annoying sounds that our brains respond to negatively. A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience looked at these and uncovered some amazing facts about which sounds we find most unpleasant and why.

Then on the other side of the spectrum there are sounds very pleasant to the human ear. These can be soothing, comforting, relaxing, and give us other pleasurable sensations.

Intrigued? Browse through this gallery and discover the most unpleasant and satisfying sounds in the world.

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