An interesting side effect of this cascade of hormones it that the memory part of the brain
- the hippocampus - shuts down to preserve the vital organs, such as your heart. This is
the body’s natural protective mechanism that is needed during times of emergency. However, when you engage in prolonged and frequent stimulation like a horror movie, some very disturbing effects begin to set in that lead to permanent damage.
Not only does the music of the tritones cause a disruptive response, but the screams and
other sound effects also contribute to the damage being done. Celeste B. continues to
write: “Unfortunately, today scientists and horror composers are collaborating together
using musical tools and frequency to induce fear, both in an art form and a science.
Sound and frequencies are modulated to use familiar sounds in unusual ways. This distortion of reality unsettles us even if what we’re hearing is, in many ways, obscured.
The sounds that do this to us aren’t always unusual; but their deep rumblings or highpitched squeals signal danger almost - if not actually - instinctively. Distressed animal
calls, women screaming, and other nonlinear sounds, which are irregular noises with large
wavelengths, often found in nature, can trigger a biological response.
One unsettling and hidden sound is infrasound: a low-frequency sound that cannot be heard, but literally unsettles human beings down to their bones. Infrasound, which exists at 19 Hz and below, can be felt, but not heard. The human ears begin to hear sound at 20 Hz. Infrasound exists in nature and is created by wind, earthquakes, and avalanches. It is also used by elephants to communicate over long distances. At a high enough volume, it may be possible for humans to perceive sound as low as 12 Hz.
I am excited to announce the release of
my latest recording, “Living Water”!