In a world full of noise, silence becomes a precious resource for our health. We often underestimate it and indeed we shy away from it and try to cover it in every way, but silence is essential for our brain. It is able to instill calm, to reject negative thoughts, to strengthen our memory and our ability to pay attention: periodically seeking a break in silent places can improve our life and have a positive impact on our mental health.
The benefits of silence
Science says it. There are many researchers who have tried to study the benefits of silence and in some cases the results are surprising. There is, for example, a study by Imke Kirste of Duke University that seems to show that two hours spent with ourselves, away from the noise, allow our brain to produce new cells in the hippocampus, the region of the brain connected with memory, emotions, and learning. In July 2019 the first edition of the international conference on the neurophysiology of silence was held; on this occasion, Adam W. Hanley presented new studies on the role of silence and meditation in the management of anxiety, while Olga Caperci, researcher at the Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies of Cnr, showed a study according to which the absence of sounds allows deaf people to perceive the emotions of others in a deeper way.
In short, silence improves our memory, reduces anxiety and stress and makes us more empathetic, but it also helps our heart. It would, in fact, seem that noise pollution contributes to cardiovascular diseases and is a determining factor for about 3000 heart attacks per year in Europe.
Silent holidays
In everyday life, silence is a real luxury. The city horns, family commitments, the continuous notifications of our smartphones: sound inputs and noises are everywhere. Holidays can be an opportunity to take a break in this sense too. In nature, there are many silent places to stop and take care of yourself. On Ecobnb you can also stay in beautiful huts in the woods, former monasteries, tree houses and many eco-friendly structures immersed in silence.
