See science tips for choosing the perfect alarm clock sound

Getting up in the morning is an almost impossible task for many people. Because of this, alarm clocks have become great allies for those people who cannot wake up early. However, even with this tool, awakening can still be a lot of work for some. Fortunately, science was able to define the perfect alarm clock sound.

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How did scientists arrive at this solution?

Basically, the researchers came to this conclusion by analyzing different frequencies and sound beats. In this way, they were able to identify the most effective sound to stimulate alertness. That's because these alarms reach very important areas of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex. Therefore, although this region takes a little longer to wake up normally, this process can be accelerated when using the ideal frequency and beat.

In addition, the effectiveness of the alarm also depends on other factors such as the age of individuals. Young people between 18 and 25 years old, for example, need louder sounds to wake up, while older people need quieter sounds. Even pregnant women wake up more easily to high-pitched sounds, as they are very sensitive to babies' cries.

What are the best alarms?

For those looking for the best alarm, iPhone users can be happy (or not). According to research done by Australian scientists, tones with a frequency of 500 Hz are much better at keeping people alert. Fortunately, this is precisely the default alarm frequency on Apple devices.

Even alarm ringtones that have a “singable” melody appear as an excellent option to wake people up. Because of this, some famous songs, such as Viva La Vida, by Coldplay or ABC, by the Jackson 5, are great to wake up to after a night's sleep. However, it is very likely that you will come to hate them after a while. If the alarm has 100 to 120 beats per minute, it can be even more effective.