From: veritasium
The experience of extreme silence, particularly within specialized environments like anechoic chambers, can elicit a range of psychological responses and sensory perceptions. Anechoic chambers, designed to eliminate echoes, are often described as the quietest places on Earth [00:00:21].
The Anechoic Chamber Environment
An anechoic chamber, a term derived from Latin meaning “no echo,” achieves its unique acoustic properties through the extensive use of foam wedges on walls and floors [00:00:29]. These wedges absorb sound: low-frequency sounds bounce within the shapes until they dissipate, while high frequencies are absorbed directly into the foam [00:00:48]. The floor is often a spring floor, with wedges underneath [00:00:36]. This design totally changes the quality of sound, as demonstrated by the deadening of claps when the doors are closed [00:01:02].
Reported Psychological Effects
Reports suggest it’s “impossible” for individuals to remain sane in these rooms for extended periods [00:01:30]. The record for staying inside is reportedly 45 minutes [00:01:34].
Commonly reported psychological reactions include:
- Claustrophobia and pressure The lack of reverb, which normally signals “space” to the ear, can make the room feel tiny and confining, like a coffin [00:01:51].
- Anxiety and panic Individuals are accustomed to surrounding sounds, and their absence can induce panic [00:02:02]. This anxiety can escalate into stress [00:02:11].
- Disorientation and physical discomfort Some people report becoming disoriented, dizzy, and nauseous to the point of being unable to stand up [00:03:10].
- Auditory hallucinations It is suggested that the brain may try to “make up for what they are used to that isn’t there” by creating sounds or hallucinations [00:02:16]. A violinist reportedly banged on the door to get out within seconds [00:03:07].
Amplified Internal Sensations
In the absence of external noise, internal bodily sounds become significantly amplified [00:02:34].
- Clothing and fluids Rustling of clothing or sounds of fluids in the mouth or throat become distinctly audible [00:02:34].
- Blood flow and heartbeat The longer one stays, the more one can hear the blood flow through the brain, described as a ringing or pulsing sound [00:02:46]. Some individuals can also hear their heartbeat from their chest [00:03:01]. The presenter experienced feeling each pulse, radiating up the chest like a wave [00:05:28].
- Body vibrations The presenter also reported feeling their body shake slightly with each heartbeat, like a device with a small motor [00:06:25].
- Ear hiss A low-pitched hum or hiss in the ears might be perceived, potentially due to hearing loss [00:04:46].
The brain appears to recalibrate in silence, making even very small sounds seem much louder [00:06:10].
Personal Experience
Despite the prevalent “myth” that one cannot stay in an anechoic chamber for more than 45 minutes without going crazy [00:01:30], the presenter spent nearly an hour in a BYU anechoic chamber, mostly in complete darkness [00:04:02].
His experience differed from common reports:
- He felt “quite comfortable” and found the silence “relaxing” [00:04:29].
- He did not fall asleep but found it a “nice quiet space” [00:07:20].
- He believed he could stay for five hours and get work done [00:07:31].
- He experienced no weird hallucinations or feeling of going crazy [00:09:28].
The presenter concluded that the “myth” regarding the 45-minute limit is busted, but acknowledges that individuals who find small, confined spaces or pitch-black rooms uncomfortable might find the experience unnerving [00:08:29]. The experience is not “pure silence” due to the internal body noises that become prominent [00:08:46].
Sponsorship
Audible.com is mentioned as a platform for audiobooks for those who “really hate silence” [00:09:50].