The researchers studied a group of 13 volunteers and found that sounds with a frequency of between 2,000 and 5,000 Hz, the range at which our ears are the most sensitive, were the hardest to bear.

The study also shows that sounds in the higher-frequency range of around 2,000 to 5,000 Hz were rated as most unpleasant. "This is the frequency range where our ears are most sensitive,” says Kumar.

Brain imaging has shown that when we hear an unpleasant noise, the amygdala modulates the response of the auditory cortex, heightening activity and provoking our negative reaction.

Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to examine how the brains of 13 volunteers responded to a range of sounds they rated from the most unpleasant -- the sound of a knife on a bottle -- to ...

Why noise pollution is bad for your heart (Image credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images) By Cypress Hansen 15th March 2021 From Knowable Magazine ...