• Text size      
  • Send this article to a friend
  • Print this article

Scientists find an answer to dislike of scraping sounds

Scientists have found an answer to why the sound of nails scraping down a blackboard is so unpleasant that it makes us wince.

Heightened activity between the emotional and auditory parts of the brain explains why we grimace when a knife is scratched against a bottle.

Newcastle University scientists have revealed the interaction between the region of the brain that processes sound, the auditory cortex, and the amygdala, which is active in the processing of negative emotions when we hear unpleasant sounds.

Contextual targeting label: 
Education

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.