Claim reviewed: Listening to natural sounds may help reduce signs of stress.
What do we know?
In a meta-analysis within a review of 36 publications, natural sounds were linked to lower stress and annoyance. A meta-analysis of 15 studies of live or recorded natural sounds found lower anxiety scores, heart rate and blood pressure; another meta-analysis against a quiet environment favoured natural sounds on some physiological measures.
What don't we know?
The studies used real or recorded natural sounds; whether synthesised rain, stream or wind textures have the same effect has not been tested. That is why the app's nature-textured sessions are not linked to this claim. Heterogeneity is high, and perceived stress did not change against a quiet environment.
Wording we use in the app: The effect of natural sounds on relaxation is being researched; the app's textures are synthesised and are not linked to this evidence.
Sources (3)
Buxton ve ark. 2021 · Meta-analysis · 36 studies
A systematic review of 36 publications on the health effects of natural sounds; a meta-analysis of 18 of them found reduced stress and annoyance and improved health and positive affect.
Stress and annoyance: g = −0.60 (95% CI −0.97 to −0.23)
Buxton RT, Pearson AL, Allou C, Fristrup K, Wittemyer G. A synthesis of health benefits of natural sounds and their distribution in national parks. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021;118(14):e2013097118. doi:10.1073/pnas.2013097118 PMID 33753555 Go to source
Zhu ve ark. 2024 · Meta-analysis · 15 studies · 1,285 participants
A meta-analysis of 15 studies (1285 participants) of listening to live or recorded natural sounds: reductions in anxiety measures, heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate; no consistent result for cognitive recovery. Heterogeneity between studies was marked.
Zhu R, Yuan L, Pan Y, Wang Y, Xiu D, Liu W. Effects of natural sound exposure on health recovery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Total Environ. 2024;921:171052. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171052 PMID 38373459 Go to source
Fan ve Baharum 2024 · Meta-analysis
A meta-analysis comparing natural sounds with a quiet environment: differences favouring natural sounds in heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate; no difference in perceived stress, mean arterial pressure or oxygen saturation. The authors note the evidence is somewhat inconsistent.
Fan L, Baharum MR. The effect of exposure to natural sounds on stress reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Stress. 2024;27(1):2402519. doi:10.1080/10253890.2024.2402519 PMID 39285764 Go to source
Last reviewed: 3 October 2026 · Next review: 3 April 2027