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

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

#61

Post by hutzlibu »

Uberphallus wrote: post #17
munificent wrote: post #16

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 need to feel certainty that we will not be distracted. This, so, much. Working from home with a young kid around, it always feels like something's gonna fall, the cat is gonna fight back, mom is gonna get mad at him for some reason, or simply he needs me to go play with him. I never know if I have 5 minutes or 3 hours. Nowadays I tend to not work so much during the day as I don't have the means to focus, then wo…

"Nowadays I tend to not work so much during the day as I don't have the means to focus, then work into the night. "

And be nevertheless woken up early in the morning by your toddlers ...

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

#62

Post by twofornone »

adventured wrote: post #46
munificent wrote: post #16

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 f…

>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 don't think it's necessarily valid to expect that all peoples have evolved the same set of instincts. Particularly given adaptation to vastly different environments over the last 200k or so years after leaving africa. This particular instinct would not likely be a prerequisite for survival and may not have occured even among all members of a given tribe.

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

#64

Post by ssully »

Karawebnetwork wrote: post #39
ladyattis wrote: post #14

For me, it's not so much noise but temperature and air freshness. I don't know why but if the stale is a tad too stale in my home office I just get distracted and can't focus well so I wind up opening the window before starting work so I can freshen the air and then close it to minimize the amount of city noises from creeping in. But I'll also say sound is important as well. It's why I like having a more clicky keybo…

Have you ever tried to monitor your CO2 levels? I thought it was all about temperature until I got one and learned that my home office climbs up to 2500 ppm. At this level, it creates: "Fatigue, loss of focus and concentration, uncomfortable 'stuffy' feeling in the air"

I worked with a group whose office was basically a big supply area converted into an office to hold around 7 cubicles. Zero windows, and while I am sure the HVAC system cycled in fresh air, I doubt it was enough because by lunch time I was ready to fall asleep whenever I worked in there.

Biggest perk of working from home was having control over my environment. Because of that, I think I feel the best I have in years.

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

#66

Post by throw_nbvc1234 »

twofornone wrote: post #62
adventured wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 f…

>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 don't think it's necessarily valid to expect that all peoples have evolved the same set of instincts. Particularly given adaptation to vastly different environments over the last 200k or so years after leaving africa. This particular instinct would not likely be a prerequisite for surviva…

Or OP is simply the kind of person who would end up dead 200k years ago. But a more civilized world allows them to survive and potentially thrive.

Technology (especially medical) and civilization are forces that act against evolution; to the extent that they probably seek to stop human evolution.

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

#67

Post by bcrosby95 »

Uberphallus wrote: post #17
munificent wrote: post #16

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 need to feel certainty that we will not be distracted. This, so, much. Working from home with a young kid around, it always feels like something's gonna fall, the cat is gonna fight back, mom is gonna get mad at him for some reason, or simply he needs me to go play with him. I never know if I have 5 minutes or 3 hours. Nowadays I tend to not work so much during the day as I don't have the means to focus, then wo…

Sounds like you guys haven't established any work boundaries. It can be impossible if both of you work. But if not....

I've worked at home for about 17 years now. I have a 6 year old, two 3 year olds, and my wife is a stay at home mom. I don't get interrupted, and there's never been an age range where I would regularly get interrupted. At the most frequent, maybe once per week. Definitely not even once per day though.

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

#68

Post by munificent »

bcrosby95 wrote: post #67
Uberphallus wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> we need to feel certainty that we will not be distracted. This, so, much. Working from home with a young kid around, it always feels like something's gonna fall, the cat is gonna fight back, mom is gonna get mad at him for some reason, or simply he needs me to go play with him. I never know if I have 5 minutes or 3 hours. Nowadays I tend to not work so much during the day as I don't have the means to focus, then wo…

Sounds like you guys haven't established any work boundaries. It can be impossible if both of you work. But if not.... I've worked at home for about 17 years now. I have a 6 year old, two 3 year olds, and my wife is a stay at home mom. I don't get interrupted, and there's never been an age range where I would regularly get interrupted. At the most frequent, maybe once per week. Definitely not even once per day though…

You may have established boundaries, but you almost certainly have your wife to thank for 99% of the enforcement of them.

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

#69

Post by munificent »

adventured wrote: post #46
munificent wrote: post #16

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 f…

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

The existence of variation does not disprove the existence of trends.

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

#70

Post by rob74 »

rootusrootus wrote: post #54
uptownfunk wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Personally, I think so. I get the same effect if I'm in the hot tub with the jets running. White noise blocks distractions pretty well, so my brain can get lost in thought.

You don't need a shower or hot tub for that, there are online noise generators with hundreds of different flavors such as https://mynoise.net/ - I prefer music most of the time however, the "rain sounds" are so relaxing that they make me sleepy...
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