The Science Behind Sound

There was a time when I understood sound purely as something external, mainly through my love of music since a young child (listening to the likes of Queen, UB40, Otis redding, and a lot of Bob Marley - thanks to my parents for their pretty epic vinyl collection), listening to the birds, and definitely a noticing of vibrations during conversations. However over the past few years, that understanding has shifted completely.

Sound has become something I experience physically and somatically. Something that moves through me rather than simply towards me. In many ways, it has become one of the most transformative parts of my journey.

A few years ago, I met an incredible sound healer and astrologer in Cornwall - at an EPIC location called Kudhva (check it out if you can - dreammmmmy). The meeting felt meaningful at the time, though I didn’t yet realise how significant it would be in shaping my path. Cornwall (Kudhva especially) carries a certain atmosphere, elemental, grounded, expansive & deeply curious…and it felt like the right environment for something to open up.

Not long after, I attended my first sound bath, where there were many gongs. I remember lying on the floor covered in blankets and all sorts…unsure what to expect. When the first deep tone moved through the room, it wasn’t just heard, it was deeply felt. The vibration travelled through my head, my chest, my belly, my spine. It felt as if something internal was being gently reorganised. That experience and many experiences since have changed my relationship with sound.

It became clear that sound is not only auditory — it is vibrational and physiological. It interacts directly with the body in many ways including that of the nervous system. From there, my curiosity deepened into both embodied experience and most love of science (I’ve popped some epic book recommendations below for those who love delving more into the realms of science).

The science behind sound healing

Sound is vibration. Vibration creates pressure waves. Those waves travel through air, and through the body. Because the human body is made up of roughly 60–70% water, it is highly conductive to vibration. Sound waves travel efficiently through fluid and tissue, influencing cells, fascia, organs, bones and the nervous system.

One key area of research looks at brainwave entrainment. Studies show that rhythmic auditory stimulation can influence brainwave activity. Certain frequencies, particularly slow, sustained tones, have been associated with increased alpha waves (linked to relaxed awareness) and theta waves (associated with deep meditation, creativity, and subconscious processing). What’s really cool is when the brain shifts into these states, the autonomic nervous system often follows, moving from sympathetic activation (stress response) toward parasympathetic dominance (rest, digestion, recovery).

There is also growing research into vagal nerve stimulation through sound and breath. Low-frequency vibrations and slow rhythmic patterns appear to support vagal tone, which plays a key role in emotional regulation and resilience. Strong vagal tone is associated with better stress adaptation and cardiovascular health.

Another super important concept is entrainment, this is something I first learnt when I embarked on my year long sound healing in Wales.

Entrainment describes how rhythmic systems synchronise over time. This phenomenon is observed in physics, biology, and neuroscience. For example:

• Two pendulums placed near each other eventually swing in sync.
• A steady external rhythm can influence heart rate variability.
• Repeated auditory pulses can influence neural firing patterns.

In sound healing, entrainment suggests that coherent frequencies may support the body in returning to more regulated rhythms. Pretty frikkin cool!!! It also makes me think of who we are drawn to and vibe with and how we entrain with one another when together for a certain amount of time.

There is also research exploring how sound affects the release of stress hormones like cortisol and impacts inflammatory markers. Some studies around gong therapy and singing bowl sessions have shown measurable reductions in tension, anxiety scores, and perceived stress after exposure, with loads more large scale research now underway - it’s actually one of the fastest growing research areas!

From a cellular perspective, mechanobiology research shows that cells respond to mechanical vibration. Mechanical stimuli can influence gene expression, tissue repair, and cellular communication. While this field is still evolving, it reinforces the idea that vibration is not abstract…it is biological.

My personal experience alongside the science

After my first sound bath in Cornwall, I didn’t immediately think about brainwaves or vagal tone, I simply noticed that I felt different. Over time, I noticed deeper sleep, emotional and mental shifts, and a heightened sensitivity to vibration in everyday life - which really helped change my choice in environment. Sound became something I really paid attention to, not just in formal sessions but in nature, in environments, in silence.

That curiosity led me to commit to a year-long intensive sound training. I wanted to understand the foundations properly — anatomy, trauma-informed practice, frequency theory, acoustics, instrument technique, safe facilitation, alongside deep embodiment (hello crystal bowsl & tuning forks).

That training in the beautiful countryside of Wales grounded the experience in structure and responsibility. It also reinforced something important: while research supports many physiological effects of sound, the work is not about forcing outcomes. It’s about creating conditions where the nervous system can recalibrate naturally.

In practice

In 1:1’s, Couples & Group Sound Bath’s and Sound Healings, individuals often report:

• Deep physical relaxation
• Emotional release
• Sensory experiences (light, colour, imagery)
• Shifts in body temperature or tingling sensations
• Mental clarity after deep rest

From a neurological perspective, these responses align with shifts in autonomic regulation and altered brainwave activity. From a human perspective, they simply feel meaningful and very much needed in the current times we are experiencing.

Sound remains both art and science for me. It feels a lot like a playground at times, and it continues to teach me how profoundly we are shaped by the vibrations we live within.

If you feel the calling to work with Sound, feel free to reach out - I would love to welcome you in!

With love,

April x