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Human Senses TV Programmes

Programme 5 - Hearing

Sound can have a very powerful effect on how we feel about the world and Nigel Marven is on a quest to track down the sounds which have the most powerful emotional effects on us.

Our sense of hearing is the one sense that never sleeps

Our sense of hearing is the one sense that never sleeps. It evolved to protect us from ambush at night. At the Sleep Laboratory in Swansea, Dr Mark Blagrove plays sounds to sleeping volunteers. He finds that, although they can shut out sounds when asleep, their sense of hearing is constantly alert.

Another sound we respond to strongly is the human voice. Dr Sarah Collins, a behavioural expert at Nottingham University, studies the effect sexy voices have on people. She explains why deep voices are so attractive to the opposite sex.

Sounds are far more than just sex and danger. Music has extraordinary power to manipulate our emotions. The most basic feature of all music is rhythm. Scientists believe we have certain automatic responses to rhythmic sounds, because many of our basic body processes work to a beat - the heart pumping or the legs and arms moving as we walk.

Nigel travels to Hawaii to meet an animal which might help unravel why music has such a powerful effect on us. Once a year, hundreds of humpback whales meet up to sing their hearts out. Nigel discovers that the mating male whales sing because it's the best way to convey simple emotions to other males like 'back off' or 'you're my friend'. For us, music is all about conveying emotions.

In search of the ultimate high, there may be another even more powerful way in which sounds can affect us. Back in England, Nigel watches enthusiastic Status Quo fans who are clearly entranced by the very loud music. He discovers why, according to at Manchester University, it may be the volume of the of the music rather than the timeless Status Quo songs that really get the audience going.