Written by the Cambridge Sleep Sciences team, drawing on the work of Colin Aston-James, creator of the SleepEngine™ technology. Last reviewed: June 2026.
The development of Cambridge Sleep Sciences' SleepEngine™ technology was founded on the scientific principle that sound can influence our brain activity. In this article, we explore how sound has been used throughout human history for therapy, and the science behind the amazing connection our brains have with sound in all its formats.
Sound therapy: drawing on historical evidence for modern techniques
We've all experienced the healing power of sound, whether we realise it or not. It is that feeling of calm listening to rainfall as we drift off to sleep, it is the euphoria as we hear our favourite song on the radio, it is the inner peace we feel as we hear the birdsong first thing in the morning. Our mother's voice, the sound of a well-played cello, the wind in the trees. It is no accident that most of us experience these things as calming, inspiring or energy-inducing.
Colin Aston-James is an expert in the science of sound and is the creator of the SleepEngine™ technology.
"Sound is a very powerful and effective means of changing brain state and improving mood. It is understood that low frequency sounds are linked to relaxing brain states, while higher frequencies encourage alertness and focus. When we combine the right sounds in the right way, we can train the brain to behave in more effective ways to suit our needs."
Professions in the healing sector understand this strong sound and brain connection, and have long used sound to create the perfect environment for connecting with our bodies and improving our health.
What is Sound Therapy?
In modern times we have described the use of sound as a healing force through the term Sound Therapy. The concept revolves around the idea that a person can feel mentally, physically and emotionally unwell when their "life vibrations" are out of balance. Sometimes this disharmony is caused through injury or stress and is exhibited through a number of physical and mental ailments including insomnia, allergies and even physical pain. Using sound waves to counter this imbalance is thought to achieve harmony and bring about healing.
Some forms of sound therapy direct sound waves at certain parts of the body, in a similar way to acupressure, taking advantage of the fact that sound waves travel through the water in the body at four times the speed they travel through the air. These sound waves can be created in several ways, but often tuning forks, chanting bowls or even electronic equipment are used. Some therapies are also designed to create harmony between the left and right brains, while others aid in the practise of meditation, forming part of a religious or spiritual experience.
These approaches are thought to help with conditions such as stress, anxiety, high blood pressure and low mood. Certain types of music therapy have also been explored for more specific conditions such as Alzheimer's, ADHD and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Other sound therapies are encouraged for women in labour, such as hypnobirthing and the repetition of positive affirmations, and for those undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy, for their relaxing and calming effects. These approaches are generally considered low-risk, and many people find them relaxing, though the strength of the clinical evidence varies from condition to condition.
The history of sound in a religious context
These days we can physically see how the brain lights up when listening to different sounds while undergoing an MRI. In ancient times, however, sound was recognised to elicit altered states and emotional responses that were harnessed to improve health and wellbeing. This began as soon as humans interacted with each other. The use of sound as a healing technique is as old as recorded history and is mentioned in the oldest spiritual texts. The creation story talks of a boom, and ancient rituals often involve chanting and drumming to bring about emotionally charged states.
Most of us are probably aware of the Tibetan or Himalayan healing singing bowls known as rin gongs or suzu gongs. These are widely used in mindfulness practises and yoga studios or as part of Buddhist rituals. These bowls are thought to have ancient histories; however tradition tells us that ancient Tibetans were much more likely to have used bells and chimes, rather than bowls, during their religious ceremonies. The bowls used today are a more modern interpretation of these sound-creation techniques.
Christianity has also long embraced sound as part of its tradition. In the Bible we hear "In the beginning was the Word" and "make a joyful noise unto the Lord". It is also thought that cathedrals and churches were designed to create an acoustic opportunity to talk to God, literally enhancing the singing and chanting to a more spiritual level. Yet these spaces are also designed for quiet reflection and silence.
Use of sound in a healing context
The didgeridoo has been used by Aboriginal Australians as a ceremonial and healing instrument for well over a thousand years. Yogic and Chinese traditions also use certain spoken sounds known as "bija" as part of their chants, mantras and meditations on different body parts. Chanting is particularly powerful in healing. It is thought to create an opiate effect in the body that can help to overcome mental and physical pain and injury.
The Greeks were also known to use music to heal. Pythagoras is usually credited as a mathematician; however, he was also known as the Father of Music. He discovered the beauty of harmonic intervals as a mathematical concept, bringing together the idea of certain sounds creating a pure and understandable sensation. It is said that he used his harmonies to elicit sleep for his disciples when needed, and energy when required, through different musical arrangements that were considered to be Divine.
Moving forward to more recent times, it is said that in the late nineteenth century physicians began to note a connection between music and wellbeing, observing that it could influence circulation and mood. Music therapy became more widely used during the 1940s to help rehabilitate soldiers returning from the Second World War, and this work led to the founding of the American Music Therapy Association.
This led on to sound wave therapy that was developed from the 1950s by pioneer British osteopath Sir Peter Guy Manners. He developed the first machine designed to produce sound vibrations for healing. Placed directly over the part of the body that required treatment and set to match the vibration frequency of healthy cells for that region, it was thought to return the cells to a healthy state. By the 1990s Manners had developed the first computerised system to treat a range of conditions. This was followed by Dr Alfred Tomatis and Dr Guy Berard, who created auditory integration therapy designed to support a range of issues including anxiety and learning difficulties.
More recently, science has begun to codify some of these ancient and modern techniques through studies that look into how sound affects us. Much of this work focuses on how "feel good" chemicals are produced in the reward centres of the brain when listening to music or certain sounds. Research using brain imaging has shown that listening to deeply enjoyable music releases dopamine in the striatum, the same reward system engaged by other pleasurable experiences (Salimpoor et al., 2011).
Treatment of ailments via sound is known historically and in a more contemporary sense. We are only now beginning to understand the mechanisms that result in real change for our mental and physical wellbeing. Our ancestors understood the outcomes even where they could not explain them. Sound results in changes that they may not have been able to describe, but that many people clearly experience.
How these principles were used in the development of the SleepEngine™ technology
The SleepEngine™ technology uses neuroscience and exclusive sound technology to help improve the quality of sleep. Our researchers investigated how soundwaves can influence our brain activity, even when we're asleep. By developing scientifically engineered soundwaves at the right frequencies and in a programmed order, they discovered it was possible to guide our brain through a textbook sequence of sleep cycles and sleep stages.
Hearing vs Listening
For the SleepEngine™ technology to be effective at guiding us through healthy sleep cycles, we don't even need to listen to the sound. The soundwaves just need to be received by our brain via the auditory pathways.
Colin Aston-James recalls the early development stages of the SleepEngine™ technology: "We started out using sounds from singing bowls and pan pipes which sounded lovely, but people were actually listening to those sounds. So we started using pure tones. It has to be as boring as possible so people don't actually listen to it. The sound needs to disappear into the background for it to be effective."
He adds: "We're only just beginning to uncover some of the health benefits of carefully crafted sounds. By harnessing the brain's natural response to certain sound frequencies, the SleepEngine™ technology guides the brain through good quality sleep cycles in the correct order, thus helping with falling asleep, staying asleep and waking feeling refreshed."
The first application of the SleepEngine™ technology was in the ground-breaking SleepHub® Home product, a bedside sleep aid which delivers SleepEngine™ Sounds using a pair of premium speakers and controlled by a high quality 7" LCD touch screen. However, the potential of the technology is now starting to be realised through the development of licensing opportunities with a range of leading brands in the bedding, audio and hospitality sectors, where the technology is embedded into products or streamed wirelessly to deliver SleepEngine™ Sounds.
Where to try it for yourself
SleepEngine™ is what came out of this research: a sound technology developed with sleep scientists. Two independently run clinical studies, 53 participants, 94% slept better.* It is built into SleepHub® and the SleepEngine™ POD. If you're wondering how this stacks up against sound healing more broadly, we've broken down what the evidence actually shows. And if you're weighing up devices rather than techniques, we've compared earbuds, headbands and the wearable-free options on price, evidence and what you have to wear. And if you already own a white noise machine, here's what the research says it can and can't do.
*Based on two independently run clinical studies (n=53 total). “Sleep better” refers to participants’ self-reported improvement during the study period when used as instructed. Individual results may vary.
Manufacturers and retailers: SleepEngine™ is licensed for integration into pillows, mattresses and bedside devices. Partner with us to discuss it.
References and further reading
- Salimpoor, V.N., Benovoy, M., Larcher, K., Dagher, A. and Zatorre, R.J. (2011). Anatomically distinct dopamine release during anticipation and experience of peak emotion to music. Nature Neuroscience, 14(2), 257 to 262.
- Goldsby, T.L., Goldsby, M.E., McWalters, M. and Mills, P.J. (2017). Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being: An Observational Study. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine, 22(3), 401 to 406.
- Bradt, J., Dileo, C., Myers-Coffman, K. and Biondo, J. (2021). Music interventions for improving psychological and physical outcomes in people with cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CD006911.
- American Music Therapy Association. Music Therapy and Military Populations. musictherapy.org
- National Endowment for the Arts (2017). Music for our Military. arts.gov
