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Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

ekin.substack.com

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Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#41

I've worked in private offices, cubicles, open plan offices, coffeeshops, libraries, and now many many hours in home both when other family members are around and when they aren't. I spend a lot of time thinking about sound and focus. The conclusion I came to is that humans have a few emotional needs in order to reach deep focus: 1. We need to not be distracted and we need to feel certainty that we will not be distra…

Is this why I have my best thoughts in the shower?

I prefer to call it the personal wet meditation chamber

Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#42
I think, we should not call a conversation we hear "noise", it disturbs our focus but it's not noise. Noise has no pattern and no meaning. But the most disturbing sound is the sound that repeats in fixed intervals. I believe repeating sounds in high volume is even used as a form of torture. So airplane noise is torture because it's loud and it repeats.

Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#44

Famously, Von Neumann did a lot of his work in front of the TV

And Einstein hated von Neumann playing German march music next to his office.

The question asked in the title pushes a false premise. Humans are different, I for example work fastest in complete silence.

Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#45

I've worked in private offices, cubicles, open plan offices, coffeeshops, libraries, and now many many hours in home both when other family members are around and when they aren't. I spend a lot of time thinking about sound and focus. The conclusion I came to is that humans have a few emotional needs in order to reach deep focus: 1. We need to not be distracted and we need to feel certainty that we will not be distra…

And yet, as a freelancer/work-from-homer, I am told that my coffee shop receipts are not tax-deductible.

you need to reclassify it as temp hourly office space with coffee included (half-joking). coffee shops (implicitly or explicitly) price in the cost table time into the drinks. that’s why they’re like $5 rather than $2.

incidentally that’s also why we should all buy something every hour or two, and buying to-go is basically overpaying (which is fine, especially if you want to support your locally-owned coffee joint).

edit: i should add that i’ve preferred working from a cafe over home (or the library, or even a quiet office) since i started the habit in college. similar to the root comment, it’s because there’s enough familiar noise, but not too many familiar people (but greater than zero people).

Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#46

I've worked in private offices, cubicles, open plan offices, coffeeshops, libraries, and now many many hours in home both when other family members are around and when they aren't. I spend a lot of time thinking about sound and focus. The conclusion I came to is that humans have a few emotional needs in order to reach deep focus: 1. We need to not be distracted and we need to feel certainty that we will not be distra…

> We instinctively feel safest when we hear the chatter and hub-bub of relaxed tribemates puttering around nearby. We know we're not alone, that there are others will also be alerted if something happens, and that they also feel safe.

I can confirm that is false.

If it were an actual instinct, I would possess it as would essentially all people. I do not possess that instinct what-so-ever.

I do not gain an increased feeling of safety from the chatter and hub-bub of relaxed tribemates puttering nearby.

That context annoys me, rather than increasing my sense of comfort.

There are multiple types of primary human personalities, not one. I'm a non-tribalist personality type. That means tribes don't tend to like me and I don't tend to like tribes. The tribe and I are not friends, we're closer to suspicious enemies. I disagree with tribal order. By default my personality rebels against tribal structures and most systems like that. I don't do well following others that attempt to command me (tribal systems always have some manner of hierarchy). I operate at a vastly higher degree of effectiveness without lots of other people around. I'm happier and more productive on my own or in small teams.

This isn't a personality I developed over time through great effort. It has been that way at least as far back as 4-6 years of age. I've also spent my life from 15-40 years of age as an entrepreneur. I can be a decent employee, however I dislike it.

I'm a disagreeable personality (to others), as such I'm poorly suited to government, consensus structures, tribal systems, politics and the like. I also don't enjoy asking permission first and I never seek approval from others, I very rarely get a personal sense of reward from the approval of others. That said, the people I do like, I like immensely; and I'm kind toward others who are kind toward me, I believe manners are important, politeness/kindness are important. I used to refer to myself as a lone wolf personality type, as opposed to a tribalist personality type; however that phrase has a particularly negative connotation these days.

I seek to pile up a lot of money to get away from most aspects of society (in a comfortable manner), rather than to sit on top of society or eg receive prestige from a prominent place in society.

Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#47
Hilarious to see this as I'm loudly listening to music many people would probably classify as "noise" ([0]) ... I've always found that highly dynamic music really helps me focus and somehow really "get into the zone", particularly when programming. I've noticed over the years that the mental stimulation that occurs is pretty substantial. Even music with lyrics/vocals, I don't find it distracting. I'd say it allows the ability to tune out "outside world" stuff and, like someone said above, feel comfortable that interruptions and distractions are not going to occur. I can simply be present and not thinking ahead/back about unrelated things.

[0] https://accesstoarasaka.bandcamp.com/album/port

Re: Why noise is necessary for our brains to perform at a high-level

#48

I've worked in private offices, cubicles, open plan offices, coffeeshops, libraries, and now many many hours in home both when other family members are around and when they aren't. I spend a lot of time thinking about sound and focus. The conclusion I came to is that humans have a few emotional needs in order to reach deep focus: 1. We need to not be distracted and we need to feel certainty that we will not be distra…

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