The best sounds for brainstorming
Finding the right background sound can transform your brainstorming experience. This activity engages your Creative + Divergent Thinking cognitive systems, which respond best to specific types of ambient sound.
Research says: Moderate ambient noise around 70 decibels enhances creative thinking compared to both silence and loud environments. The slight processing difficulty at this level pushes the brain toward abstract thinking.
— Journal of Consumer Research (2012)
Recommended sounds
coffee shop sounds
The Chicago study (Mehta et al., 2012) specifically measured creative ideation. Cafe noise at 70 dB was the optimal environment for generating novel ideas.
Recommended: 60-70 dBlofi music
When brainstorming alone, lo-fi's gentle rhythm prevents the restless energy that can make solo ideation feel aimless.
Recommended: 45-60 dBocean waves
For blue-sky thinking where you need spaciousness. Waves create a sense of openness and expansive possibility.
Recommended: 40-55 dBTry it now
Listen on Softly
Pro tip
Brainstorming has a specific optimal noise level: 70 dB. This is louder than most people listen at for focus work. During brainstorming sessions, deliberately push your ambient volume higher than usual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does background noise help brainstorming?
Processing disfluency. At 70 dB, your brain has to work slightly harder to process information, which pushes thinking from concrete and detail-oriented to abstract and conceptual — exactly the mode brainstorming requires. Below 50 dB, thinking stays narrow. Above 85 dB, it collapses.
What does research say about sounds for brainstorming?
Moderate ambient noise around 70 decibels enhances creative thinking compared to both silence and loud environments. The slight processing difficulty at this level pushes the brain toward abstract thinking. (Mehta et al., Journal of Consumer Research, 2012)
What volume should I use for brainstorming?
For brainstorming, set your volume to 60-70 dB. This range is based on acoustic research — loud enough to mask distracting noise, quiet enough to avoid auditory fatigue during extended listening.