Sound plays a major role in human behavior, regardless of some internal soul or a complex system of chemicals and electrical impulses in the brain causing emotions. An entire world of invisible sound affects our emotional realm. It’s called inaudible frequency.
The human ear can detect sounds up to 20 kHz, a small number considering the vast range of creatable frequency. However, inaudible frequency could, in fact, be the most important piece of the puzzle. It alters emotion and physical health. The military is using it as a weapon despite its promising medical applications.
Using inaudible frequency to manipulate behavior and emotion may seem like something from a forgotten science fiction movie. Conspiracy theorists probably warp the topic, too. However, the scientific community has long since recognized the validity of this science for a wide variety of uses. The University of Japan conducted an experiment based on the use of soundwaves to alter brain chemistry and came up with surprising results. The study confirmed, “we broadly examined the frequency dependency of the hypersonic effect. We found significant difference in Alpha-2 EEG… associated with HFC below 48 kHz.”
This means that certain high-frequency sounds greatly affect the electrical impulses in subjects’ brains. These sounds were played at 48 kHz, well above the audible human range of a mere 20 kHz. Thus, the brain processes sounds the human ear cannot hear. A number of interested parties are examining the wide range of effects researchers continue to discover.
So how can inaudible frequency impact our day-to-day lives? The most common method has been in media, particularly in the horror and science fiction genres. One of the most popular examples comes from the French crime film Irreversible. For the first thirty minutes, the film barrages its audience with “infrasound.” Infrasound falls below the audible range of human hearing. It can create anxiety and fear in the listener.
Composed by Thomas Bangalter, member of Daft Punk, Irreversible’s eerie score pairs with disturbing scenes depicting rape and torture. The film’s viewers report feeling dread, nausea, and paranoia. Upon its release, the film suffered universal backlash due to its disturbing score and graphic imagery. It continues to be one of the most controversial movies of the century. Famed critic Roger Ebert commented that Irreversible is “so violent and cruel that most people will find it unwatchable.”
The debate around this film has led to interesting implications regarding the use of infrasound. Did viewers despise the movie purely for its graphic nature? Or was infrasound a factor? Researchers find it hard to imagine that a film so reliant on its use of inaudible frequency would become a figurehead for controversy purely by coincidence. The biological impact of such sound cannot be denied. In the case of Irreversible, infrasound’s power is clearly apparent.
Unfortunately, some use inaudible frequency for far darker applications than artistic endeavors. Various governments and militaries have weaponized it. According to the BBC, in 2016, U.S. embassy employees in Havana, Cuba began suffering cognitive impairment and headaches related to swelling in the brain. They were later diagnosed with brain damage and, in some cases, permanent hearing loss. In other words, they became victims of “acoustic attacks.” This happens when sound is played at such a damaging frequency, the ear and brain become physically ruptured. The BBC described these very symptoms in its U.S. embassy article.
Still, none of the victims reported hearing any odd sounds. Morevoer, the embassy didn’t own large speakers capable of creating infrasound. This means ultrasound was probably the culprit. Ultrasound acts differently than infrasound. With a sonic range above 20 kHz, it resonates far above the normal human range. The Japanese study used ultrasound to find the results described earlier. In addition, the equipment needed to deliver ultrasound amounts to little more than a common P.A. speaker. This strategy is possible within the embassy, where sonic attacks continue to be carried out on Americans within the building. As of October of 2017, the total number of people injured had risen to sixteen people. They were all injured by a weapon that cannot be seen, felt, tasted, or heard.
Luckily, some people apply inaudible frequency in positive ways. Think of a young couple anxiously awaiting a first image of their unborn child. In fact, doctors and nurses apply ultrasound and infrasound to all sorts of medical procedures. According to the International Electrical Contractors, ultrasound plays a role in certain types of surgery. An ultrasonic surgical instrument produces special sound wave vibrations that result in an extremely precise cut. This also lowers the chances for bleeding in surrounding areas. In addition, doctors use ultrasound to shatter kidney stones. This means patients feel less pain when passing the stones. Ultrasound can even break up plaque on teeth. Everyone wants a big white smile.
Another group of researchers are working on an ultrasound innovation that could change the entire field of medicine. By sending ultrasonic waves directly into the brain, Yusif Tufail of Arizona State University discovered that ultrasound can act as a sort of “neurological defibrillator” for the stimulated brain. The sounds used caused nerve endings to jump start without a large buildup of heat and concussive force.
This procedure could theoretically reshape a person’s brain. In turn, we could remedy neurological problems ranging from Parkinson’s disease to depression. In the process, patients could avoid dangerous drugs and costly long-lasting therapy. Currently, scientists are containing this study to experiments on lab mice. They have yet to move into human testing. This style of treatment will require hundreds of people with different specializations and potentially billions of dollars. However, the result would be one of the largest medical breakthroughs of the century.
The use of inaudible sound carries unbelievable potential for countless medical applications to increasing the power of art. However, the unfortunate truth remains that there is far more information regarding sound as a weapon than there is for sound as medicine. Some powerful minds continue to advance sonic medicine, but they’re make slow progress due to lack of funding.
On the other hand, political and military interests heavily fund sonic weaponry. This stems from humanity’s desperate need to demonstrate power instead of curing deeper issues. Some countries choose to take this limitless potential and apply it destructively. Yet Parkinson’s has inflicted harm on people for decades, with no real cure in sight. Now that the ability to cure it nears, people who can make a difference should make it priority number one.
Inaudible frequency continues to gain attention. While it has found an applicable foothold in multiple scientific communities, it has yet to truly reach its fullest potential. The use of this technology for military applications might be necessary, but this is a waste of the overall application of sound. Modern medicine has come a long way. Still, diseases remain, particularly mental disorders that can’t be touched by modern treatments. Inaudible sound may very well act as the missing piece for curing these issues. It therefore requires further research.
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Jessy Lee Stuebs is a professional musician and Colorado Springs local. In between practice, tinkering with various music equipment, and recording, he reads about new technologies, laughs at conspiracy theories, and talks history and politics with anybody who will listen.
