Live data from Hacker News

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

ekin.substack.com

101–110 of 158 posts

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

#102

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…

Having mature dogs is fantastic in this regard. They generally won't bother you unless there's a good reason, but you can feel assured that a tiger will not be able to sneak up on you without the dogs warning you about it.

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

#103
post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

I’ve been programming to their rain on tent. I don’t get sleepy, but it’s a little jarring when I pull off the headphones, I want back in my tent!

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

#104

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…

Having mature dogs is fantastic in this regard. They generally won't bother you unless there's a good reason, but you can feel assured that a tiger will not be able to sneak up on you without the dogs warning you about it.

Are tigers a typical concern where you live?

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

#105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having mature dogs is fantastic in this regard. They generally won't bother you unless there's a good reason, but you can feel assured that a tiger will not be able to sneak up on you without the dogs warning you about it.

Are tigers a typical concern where you live?

Haha, no, but there may be some subconscious comfort in knowing the dogs have my back.

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

#106

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…

Holy cow you have articulated what I've been feeling for decades. This is great!

Having the ambient noise and not feeling alone and vulnerable but also feeling safe and amongst people is like the perfect set up for deep concentration for me.

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

#109

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…

Having mature dogs is fantastic in this regard. They generally won't bother you unless there's a good reason, but you can feel assured that a tiger will not be able to sneak up on you without the dogs warning you about it.

This does happen occasionally, in this case last May -

"Tiger loose in Houston for a week finally captured":

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/tiger-loose-in-houston-...

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

#110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having mature dogs is fantastic in this regard. They generally won't bother you unless there's a good reason, but you can feel assured that a tiger will not be able to sneak up on you without the dogs warning you about it.

Are tigers a typical concern where you live?

This does happen occasionally, in the following case last May -

"Tiger loose in Houston for a week finally captured":

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/tiger-loose-in-houston-...

Post reply on HN