We’re surrounded by a universe of sound. Classical guitar, nails on a chalkboard, jackhammers, and even a cat’s meow affect one’s emotions, mindset, and physical health. But can sound possess special physical and metaphysical properties? Do good vibrations truly exist? Some claim that “om,” a sacred sound from Eastern spiritual traditions, may hold the key.
How Sound Waves Work
Why are some sounds higher or lower pitched? And how do cats and dogs hear sounds that we cannot perceive? The answer lies in one simple word: frequency. We won’t rehash high school science here, but a quick lesson in the physics of waves can help you understand how sound works.
Energy waves in our universe come in one of two forms: transverse and longitudinal. Light waves are electromagnetic, but they’re also transverse. In contrast, sound waves are longitudinal and must travel through a medium. Vibrating particles create pressure waves that disturb the medium through which they move. That disturbance moves in the same direction as the waves themselves. These particles bump into adjacent particles and eventually reach our ears. Our eardrums detect these vibrations and translate them into the sounds we hear.
What’s the Frequency, Brahman?
Humans, cats, and other organisms with eardrums hear sounds. We perceive them as high or low pitches because of their frequencies. Frequency refers to oscillation rates or the number of times a sound wave repeats itself each second. We measure these frequencies in Hertz–one Hertz equals one cycle per second. Most humans can hear sounds between 20 Hz and 20,000 kHz. For reference, human speech falls between 85 Hz to 1.1 kHz. Musical notes on a standard 88-key piano range from 27 Hz to roughly 4.2 kHz.
So how could “om” factor into all of this? Discover Magazine’s Donna Sarkar explains that this sacred morpheme vibrates at 432 Hz when properly chanted. This chant consists of three primary syllables: “ah,” “oh,” and “mm.” Some claim that a fourth silent syllable should follow–yoga teacher Sam Saunders calls it “the deep silence of the infinite.” Yogapedia refers to it as “anagata,” a blissful state of silence and unity after the “mm” syllable itself has faded.
When Hertz Can Hurt–And Possibly Heal
Humans have already documented health impacts from sound. The Australian Academy of Science mentions noise pollution’s negative effects, such as lack of sleep, stress, hearing loss, and even cardiovascular disease. Yet the right type of sounds can also do us plenty of good. Multiple studies reveal that chanting “om” can induce relaxation, relieving stress and anxiety.
Sarkar emphasizes that most of these benefits manifest by repeated practice, not after a single session. Yet there are even some short-term benefits. VeryWell Fit cites a 2018 study in which participants produced more theta brain waves when they chanted “om” loudly for 30 minutes. An additional study showed that chanting “om” was also linked to increased delta wave production. Theta waves are linked to deep relaxation, while delta waves typically exist with restorative sleep.
Om’s frequency of 432 Hz is hailed as a “miracle tone,” as Vice UK editor Daisy Jones puts it. But are there any physiological benefits from sound frequencies? Jones mentions a 2013 study revealing that non-auditory cells exhibited fluid pressure changes in response to sound waves. Other evidence shows that sound’s physiological outcomes may not stop at pressure. Jones points to a 2016 Brazilian study in which dissonant sounds led to cellular death, but resonate sounds had no such impact.
Sound Theories, Missing Facts
Skeptics take aim at claims that 432 Hz is the mystical frequency of the cosmos. Meanwhile, we’re wondering if sound can heal the body. We still don’t have concrete answers to that question, and more research is needed. For now, we can understand the effects of sound on the human psyche.