New parents know the drill. When faced with an inconsolable collicky baby, play a white-noise CD and see the cries calm down gradually. Better yet, play ocean sounds and you get the same results with a natural background. Ocean sounds are incredibly soothing, zen, and calming - it's just a fact. Could there be more to it than meets the ear? Now, thanks to scientists studying the effects of the ocean on the human brain, we are discovering that we are affected by the ocean more deeply than we ever suspected. Who knew?
On June 3, 2011, the California Academy of Sciences hosted BlueMind, a summit on brain and the ocean where neuroscientists, artists, ocean activists and ocean lovers talked about what they knew best with an ocean perspective. From emotions to futuristic ideas and physiological senses, participants deconstructed our relationship with the ocean to better understand how better to preserve it. For indeed, we protect better what we know and love best.
“The sound of the sea is one of the most evocative for humans,” said Dr. Shelley Batts of Stanford University, “It is perceived both as cooling and calming.” Sounds have the potential to modify our bodies and moods in a powerful way. Thus the calming effect of seaside camping on the coast or lying in the sand listening to waves licking the shore.
In the baby realm, the ocean sound CD is the best example of a soothing effect, even when the ocean makes a phony appearance in the crib as a lullaby-playing plastic aquarium with brightly-colored plastic fish. Waves gently crashing on the shore and their lower wavelength and rhythmic quality make them the perfect soothing sound.
Sound is only one human sense affected by the sea but others are affected just as strongly. According to Dr. Amir Vokshoor, M.D. at the Institute of Neurosurgical Innovation, we rely on our vision to experience life and in the case of the ocean, the color blue is key to an array of feel-good sensations. Blue is typically associated with concepts of calm, cooling, expansive, liberating and protective.
In fact, scientists have found evidence of the healing power associated with the neurotransmitter changes that result from our interaction with the ocean. On that basis, just watching a blue liquid horizon, a landmark free horizon, could qualify as stress reduction therapy.
To add a culinary dimension to the ocean discussion, Loretta Keller, chef at the Moss Room, explained how memory is triggered by the sense of taste and smell. Very few kids are lucky enough to enjoy seafood right off the sea but if they could, each fish bite would bring wonderful memories of the ocean. Not the Filet-O-Fish fish variety ind you - the real thing and if you want to make nutritionists (and your body) happy, skip the frying process. Fish should taste like the ocean because that's where it comes from. Do you think about the ocean when you pack your kids lunch boxes dried seaweed packets, shrimp chips or fresh sushi? If not, it's time you took a trip to a fishing community.
An ocean adventure wouldn’t be complete without the fun element. Some people like to take the fun to the extreme. Big wave Mavericks surfer Jeff Clark talked about his connection with the sea. As a kid living in a home on the California coast, he ate his breakfast cereals looking at the waves outside. “Quit looking at those waves!” his parents told him time and time again. Attracted to the sea like a magnet, surfing was the logical thing for him to do as he grew up. Even as he worked his way up to the mavericks level, he knew his limits and understood the right conditions. “Always listen to the feedback the ocean gives you,” he said.
Jaimal Yogis, author of Saltwater Buddha and surfer, expanded on the magic juju associated with coming in contact with the sea. “The experience resembles being something small in something big,” he said. “We’re much more like a wave, we’re this big mass of energy with consciousness.”
Finally for the story lovers in us, Fabien Cousteau of Plant-A-Fish described how a certain generation has lost touch with the ocean since the era of Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his TV series “The Undersea World.” More kids experience ocean via a TV or computer screen than feet in the sand and hands in the water. If kids don't see the ocean at least once, how can they start to understand and like it?
"Live like you love the ocean” is the motto of Blue Marbles co-founder Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, master brain behind the BlueMind summit. Next time you take the kids to the beach, think about all that. Reflect on how the ocean makes you feel and how you would like your kids to experience the sea when they come of age.
The ocean is a wonderful thing and we have to preserve it for the future generations so that they in turn, can hear, see, taste, smell and touch it in the same primal way the first humans experienced it. And that ocean sounds baby CD? Save it for when your kids get out of bed because they can't relax and fall asleep. It might come in handy again.
Important Dates
June 8 is World Oceans Day. Find a way to celebrate on this page.
Five Easy Steps Kids Can Take To Protect the Ocean
- Pick up your trash after a day at the beach. Be super careful about plastic bottle caps and plastic bags, they tend to fly away easily.
- Wear waterproof sunscreen – the non-waterproof kind dissolves in the sea directly.
- Leave seashells and marine animals alone – this is their home, don’t take it away.
- Sign up for the next beach clean-up day near you. The Parks Conservancy organizes monthly beach clean-ups
- Talk to your friends. Tell them what you know.
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