Quietude

At Quietude, we don't just "guess" that silence is good for you. We build our technology on a foundation of peer-reviewed neuroscience and cardiovascular research. Below is a curated collection of the primary studies that drive our product philosophy.

1. Silence & Brain Growth (Neurogenesis)

The Claim: Absolute silence can stimulate the growth of new brain cells in the hippocampus, the region responsible for memory, emotion, and learning.

The Research: In a landmark study conducted at Duke University, researcher Imke Kirste and her team investigated the effects of various auditory environments on the brains of mice. They compared silence to white noise, Mozart, and pup calls. To their surprise, 2 hours of silence per day proved to be the most effective stimulus for hippocampal neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons).

2. The Physiology of "Real" Recovery

The Claim: Silence induces a deeper state of physiological relaxation than "relaxing" music, lowering blood pressure and brain blood flow velocity.

The Research: Luciano Bernardi and his colleagues analyzed the cardiovascular and respiratory effects of music and silence. They found that while music can induce arousal (concentration), the pauses (two-minute periods of silence) inserted between musical tracks induced a state of relaxation that was significantly deeper than the baseline state before the music started. This suggests that silence acts as a powerful "release" mechanism for the autonomic nervous system.

3. Noise as a Cardiovascular Stressor

The Claim: Chronic exposure to noise levels above 55 dB is linked to elevated stress hormones and oxidative stress, even if you "get used" to the noise.

The Research: A comprehensive review in the European Heart Journal established the biological mechanisms by which noise affects the heart. Noise acts as a non-specific stressor that activates the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This leads to increased levels of cortisol (stress hormone) and angiotensin II, causing vascular dysfunction and increased blood pressure.

4. The Cost of Interruption

Beyond biological health, noise is the primary enemy of productivity.

• 66% of office workers cite noise as the main reason for lost productivity.
• It takes an average of 23 minutes to return to a deep state of flow after a significant interruption.

Our Solution: Quietude resets your focus session when noise intrudes, training you to treat your acoustic environment with the same discipline you treat your task list.