Source: NBC News
“Pink noise, a staticky sound that’s supposed to help people fall asleep, may actually worsen your rest, a new study found. … University of Pennsylvania researchers conducted a seven-night sleep lab study involving 25 healthy adults, mostly younger women, to determine the effects of environmental noise, pink noise and earplugs on sleep quality. … The study, published Monday in the journal Sleep, found environmental noise mainly disrupted Stage 3 sleep, reducing it by 23.4 minutes on average. Stage 3 is the deepest sleep state and is important for cognitive function and memory. The study also found that pink noise reduced the time spent in REM sleep by 18.6 minutes, a crucial sleep stage for mood regulation and mental focus.” (02/04/25)
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/pink-noise-worse-sleep-quality-study-rem-rcna257099