Traffic Noise Can Drown Out the Mood Benefits of Birdsong

New research suggests traffic noise can weaken the stress and mood benefits people get from listening to natural sounds such as birdsong.

Mind

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Birdsong can make natural environments feel calmer and more pleasant, and research has linked natural soundscapes with lower stress and anxiety and better mood. A newer study examined what happens when those sounds are mixed with road traffic. More than 1,500 people listened to simulated soundscapes containing different combinations of birdsong and traffic noise and then reported how the sounds affected their wellbeing. The results suggest that traffic noise can reduce the positive effect of natural sounds, even when the traffic is not especially loud. Earlier research has also found benefits from birdsong compared with traffic-heavy soundscapes, including improvements in anxiety and mood. The broader picture is not that birdsong acts like a treatment for mental health, but that the sounds surrounding people in everyday environments can influence how relaxed or stressed they feel. The findings also raise a practical question for cities: access to green spaces may matter not only because of what people see, but because of what they are able to hear. Reducing unwanted traffic noise could make it easier for people to experience the natural soundscape that is already around them.

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