Plugging In: Exploring The Relationship Between Bass and The Human Brain

Whether you’re enveloped in the subtle rumble of a film’s soundtrack, standing firmly against the guard rails for your favorite artist at a music festival, or dancing underneath the lights and disco balls at a club, the profound impact of bass on the human brain goes far beyond auditory perception. As the lowest part of the harmony in music composition, bass is akin to the bones of a human skeleton – providing the rhythmic and harmonic foundation for the songs you constantly have on repeat. In music, bass adds depth and dictates the groove and feel of a song, driving the sounds toward a distinct style and unique sound.

Scientifically speaking, bass pertains to a range of frequencies within the lower end of the audible spectrum, typically spanning from around 20 Hz to 300 Hz. These frequencies are characterized by their longer wavelengths and lower pitches when compared to higher-frequency sounds.?

In musical instruments, such as electric bass guitars and synthesizers, newfound understanding of bass frequencies have led to the development of instruments, devices, and products capable of producing deeper, more resonant tones with greater precision and clarity.?On the amplifier and speaker front, innovations in science, technology, and design have enabled the reproduction of bass frequencies with fidelity, allowing for the creation of powerful sound systems capable of delivering immersive low-end experiences in concert halls, theaters, and home audio setups.

In recent years, we’ve uncovered fascinating insights that provide us with a clearer understanding of the relationship between bass and the human brain, taking shape in the form of physical sensation, emotional impact, rhythmic foundation, spatial perception, attention, focus, and more.

The relationship between bass and the human brain cannot be confined to a head nod when the beat drops. As an evolving area of study for researchers in various fields, such as music psychology, neuroscience, and auditory perception, our understanding of the relationship between bass and the human brain is only expected to grow.

We’re thrilled to scratch the surface of the relationship between bass and the human brain, while highlighting the incredible science, technology, and recent innovations that enhance audio experiences and bring our collective understanding to new heights.?

Since the Stone Age, humans have been building communities around sound. In late 1960s Ukraine, Soviet historian Sergei Bibikov and his team discovered a number of bones from about 15,000 years prior during an excavation: a mammoth shoulder blade, thigh bone, and a set of jaws; a pair of rattles made from ivory, and a mallet fashioned from a reindeer antler. When unearthed, the bones were found fractured with remnants of red paint. It quickly became clear that these were not ordinary fossils. In fact, they were the critical pieces of a prehistoric drum set and clackers.?

A couple of years earlier, contractor Raymon Dones in El Cerrito, California, received the first patent for a subwoofer designed to augment the low-frequency range of modern stereo systems. A subwoofer is a type of speaker that reproduces low-frequency audio, such as bass and sub-bass. Most often found in audio systems for cars and movie theaters, subwoofers make sound better at a high volume without distortion, improving overall sound quality and providing more immersive audio experiences. In the United States, Dones’ subwoofer was sold under the trade name "The Octavium.” During this time, The Octavium was utilized by several notable recording artists of that era: the Grateful Dead, Monk Montgomery, and the Pointer Sisters. Additionally, The Octavium found its way into select theaters to reproduce low-pitch frequencies for one of the highest-grossing films of 1974, Earthquake. ?

In most music, bass provides the beat that people dance to. We don’t just hear that bass. We feel it, too. Our bodies are loaded with receptors — especially in the skin — that sense movement. - Alison Pearce Stevens

Since the days of The Octavium’s release and the discoveries of prehistoric drums made of bone and animal hide, audio technology has come a long way, offering more innovative, immersive, and bass-heavy products than ever before. Looking at advancements in speaker and subwoofer design, innovations in audio playback devices, and improvements in streaming services, there are many contributing factors to the current audio technology on the market and ones expected in the near future . Below, we’ve listed a few companies and products that are moving the needle and making meaningful changes in games, home theater audio, and listening on the go.?

Brane Audio, Brane X Smart Speaker

• About: Last year, Brane Audio launched the world’s first subwoofer in a portable speaker, breaking Hoffman’s Iron Law , which has historically governed speaker engineering. The Brane X represents a 10x increase in sub-bass sound and a 100x increase in sub-bass efficiency without increasing size or power consumption. In other words, no speaker on the market today can be simultaneously small, efficient, and produce deep bass like the Brane X.?
• The Science Behind It: Brane’s Repel-Attract Driver (RAD) is the first significant innovation in driver technology in a century. It outperforms traditional cone drivers through a novel breakthrough in electromechanics. The RAD uses permanent magnet forces to cancel internal air pressure forces to cancel internal air pressure forces, allowing a significant increase in bass.?

Subpac, Subpac and the Subpac PRO?

• About: Subpac's products utilize innovative tactile bass technology to deliver deep bass directly to the user's body. As a result, users receive tactile feedback that creates a physical connection to the music, enhancing the listening experience and immersing users in a full-body sensation of sound. Created by sound designers and music producers, Subpacs were initially designed to enable music producers to optimize the bass frequency spectrum in their music.?
• The Science Behind It: The Subpac and Subpac PRO devices feature low-frequency transducers specifically designed to create high-quality bass vibrations, letting you feel the bass very clearly and accurately. These tactile vibrations provide users with haptic feedback, creating a physical sensation of bass that complements the auditory experience. In terms of design, the Subpac and Subpac PRO can be worn like a backpack or strapped to a wide range of seats, mainly those of cars, movie theaters, and music studios. The placement of the transducers and the design of wearable or seat-back configurations are optimized to maximize contact with the user's body while minimizing fatigue or discomfort during extended use, allowing for immersive bass experiences without compromising comfort. Subpacs differ from other haptic devices on the market as these devices are most often sold as gaming controllers, steering wheels, mobile phones, and haptic suits .?

Woojer, The Strap 3?

• About: Woojer's Strap 3 is a wearable haptic feedback device that delivers powerful bass sensations directly to the user's body. Worn across the chest like a seatbelt, The Strap 3 is lightweight, portable, and compatible with a wide range of devices, making it ideal for music enthusiasts, gamers, and virtual reality (VR) enthusiasts.
• The Science Behind It: The Strap 3 features a series of high-fidelity transducers strategically positioned along the user's torso, which accurately reproduce low-frequency audio signals as tactile vibrations. These vibrations are precisely modulated to match the rhythm and intensity of the music or audio content, creating an immersive bass experience that transcends traditional audio playback.?

Buttkicker, Gamer Plus-1

• About: The Gamer Plus-1 is the latest sim racing and gaming haptic hardware from Buttkicker, a haptic device producer. At Buttkicker, they reproduce immersive, accurate, and powerful simulation racing, flight simulations, and gaming effects. The Gamer Plus-1 enhances immersion and situational awareness in gaming environments, providing a competitive edge and a heightened sense of realism for gamers of all levels.
• The Science Behind It: Buttkicker's Gamer Plus - 1 is a tactile transducer designed specifically for gaming applications, delivering bass vibrations directly to a gaming chair or seat. The device utilizes patented haptic transducers that move mass to create vibrations that cause the user to feel like they're experiencing real-life conditions, such as engine dynamics, incoming fire, or footsteps in real time. Companies like Buttkicker which are innovating at the intersection of gaming and audio technology are ahead of the curve, as E-sports are on the rise and expected to become a key player in the future of entertainment . As the gaming industry continues to grow and reach new heights as predicted, the ability for players to feel completely immersed in the game will become all the more sought after and standard across gaming opportunities.?

Sonos, The Sonos Sub Gen 3

• About: In 2020, Sonos released the third generation of their Sub, a wireless subwoofer for home theater systems.?
• The Science Behind It:? The Sonos Sub Gen 3 features two force-canceling drivers positioned face-to-face, effectively eliminating cabinet resonance and delivering deep and precise bass with minimal distortion. The subwoofer was purposefully designed to seamlessly integrate Sonos’ ecosystems of speakers, providing users with a cinematic audio experience that fills the room with immersive, theater-quality sound.

Sony, WH-1000X M4 Noise Canceling Headphones?

• About: Following the release of the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones in 2018, in 2020, Sony released the WH-1000XM4 headphones. These headphones are noise canceling and equipped with Sony’s Dual Noise Sensor technology.?
• The Science Behind It: The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are a prime example of optimal bass performance in the headphone market. The Dual Noise Sensor technology features two microphones on each earcup, capturing ambient noise. Using a new algorithm, the headphones’ noise-canceling processor works in real time in a range of acoustic environments. The headphones use Bluetooth to connect to your device and can automatically adjust to the music and background noise. They also fine-tune the sound based on how the headphones fit on your ears, doing this more than 700 times every second for the best listening experience

Though different in their own right, each of these products speaks to the evolution of audio technology. Looking ahead, the continued integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms will have a stronger role specifically, in adaptive audio processing, where audio systems can intelligently adjust bass levels and EQ settings based on environmental factors, user preferences, and content characteristics, furthering the personalization and opportunities to experience immersive soundscapes tailored to the user’s unique preferences .?

The Relationship Between Bass and The Human Brain?

There’s much to be discovered about the relationship between bass and the human brain, however, one thing is for certain: it begins before we are even born.?

According to Karin Stromswold , a cognitive scientist at Rutgers University, a fetus hears mostly low-frequency sounds like the mother’s heartbeat and the rhythm of her voice at about 25 weeks. These bass-like frequencies help in the maturation of the auditory system, facilitate neural development, and prepare the fetus for recognizing and processing speech patterns – crucial factors in a baby’s development and early language acquisition. These early auditory experiences play a significant role in a baby’s cognitive and linguistic development,? highlighting the foundational impact of low-frequency sounds on human development.

Beyond neural, cognitive, and linguistic development before birth, the relationship between bass and the human shows up in many other places– taking shape in the form of everything from evoking strong emotions to improving concentration and alertness. Bass can make us feel a wide range of emotions through physical sensations. Because these deep sounds physically vibrate through our bodies, they can create a whole spectrum of somatic responses.?

• Happy Synapses: Many people find bass-heavy music enjoyable because it can trigger the brain's reward system. Studies using fMRI have shown that listening to enjoyable music, including bass-heavy tracks, triggers dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, otherwise known as “the brain’s pleasure center.”?

• Calming Beats: Bass vibrations promote relaxation in the body through the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, effects of muscle relaxation, improvement of circulation, resonance with the body's natural frequencies, etc. For this reason, environments with bass-enhanced activities, like sound baths and concerts, are enjoyable and therapeutic for many.?
• Rhythmic Recognition: Listening to bass can also influence our heartbeat and breathing, syncing up with the rhythm and potentially calming us down or pumping us up depending on the rhythm, tempo, volume, or intensity of the music among other factors. Here's the science behind why your favorite sports team's pre-game playlist works: some bass rhythms can help us concentrate and stay focused by syncing up with our brainwaves, waking us up, making us anticipate the next beat, boosting brain activity, blocking out distractions, controlling our emotions, and even affecting how our body feels. These effects collectively contribute to a state of heightened cognitive engagement and concentration, making bass-enhanced environments conducive to optimal performance and productivity.

• Healthy Movement: Bass and rhythm often influence how we move. For instance, low bass makes humans 12% more likely to dance at a party. This is also why bass is often a big part of concerts and dance events, helping to create moments of social bonding and shared experience.

Music powerfully compels humans to move, showcasing our remarkable ability to perceive and produce rhythmic signals. Rhythm is often considered the most basic aspect of music, and is increasingly regarded as a fundamental organizing principle of brain function.

- From "Neural tracking of the musical beat is enhanced by low-frequency sounds" Tomas Lenc, Peter E. Keller, Manuel Varlet, and Sylvie Nozaradan

Beyond The Bassline: The Science of Sound

The fields of neuroscience and audio technology offer deeper insights into who we are as people and enrich the experiences of the world and the things we love in it. Paired, these fields hold many possibilities and contribute to a more profound understanding of what it means to be human. They unpack the complex science of how we feel, dream, and remember, and engage in experiences that mimic reality, including favorite songs on big stages or on no stage at all.

The convergence of cutting-edge audio technology and advancements in neuroscience presents unprecedented opportunities for enhancing accessibility and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. For instance, developments in things like brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) enable individuals with physical disabilities to control audio devices directly through their brain activity, fostering greater independence and participation in various activities.?

Additionally, innovations in sound processing algorithms allow for personalized adjustments to accommodate diverse auditory needs, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their hearing abilities , can fully engage and produce audio content. These breakthroughs not only democratize access to audio experiences but also underscore the transformative potential of technology in advancing equity initiatives across diverse communities.

In the near future, sharper neuroimaging, AI-driven data analysis, genetic insights, neuroprosthetics, immersive technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and wearable technology will converge to provide humans with a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between bass and brain function. These innovations will not only advance scientific knowledge, but also improve therapeutic applications and enhanced auditory experiences – offering a thorough understanding of how sound influences, shapes, and enriches our minds, bodies, and experiences.?