Science

Fingernails + Chalkboard = Cringe, But Why?

Do you hate the screech that’s associated with fingernails running down a chalkboard? Are you already cringing just thinking about it?

If you have ever wondered why this sound is so horrible, a new study is saying it‘s not just your ear disliking it but you probably don’t like to visualize it either.

Let’s do a quick experiment.

Listen to this (Warning: you’re about to get goosebumps):

Download Music | Free Sound Effects music at EZ-Tracks.com

Now watch this:

Was one worse than the other?

Believe it or not, there have been several studies as to why so many people don’t like this sound. According to Wired, theories have ranged from it being similar to a primate warning call to a general aversion to medium pitch sounds. But the latest research by musicologists from the University of Vienna and Macromedia University for Media and Communication in Cologne, Germany, is that both our anatomy and psychology react negatively to the sound.

Wired explains:

[Researchers] looked at other sounds that generate a similar reaction — including chalk on slate, styrofoam squeaks, a plate being scraped by a fork, and the ol’ fingernails on blackboard.

Some participants were told the genuine source of the sound, and others were told that the sounds were part of a contemporary music composition. Researchers asked the participants to rank which were the worst, and also monitored physical indicators of distress — heart rate, blood pressure and the electrical conductivity of skin.

They found that disturbing sounds do cause a measurable physical reaction, with skin conductivity changing significantly, and that the frequencies involved with unpleasant sounds also lie firmly within the range of human speech — between 2,000 and 4,000 Hz. Removing those frequencies from the sound made them much easier to listen to. But, interestingly, removing the noisy, scraping part of the sound made little difference.

From a psychological standpoint, if subjects were told the sound was coming from nails on a chalkboard, they were more likely dislike the sound compared to those who were told it was part of a musical composition. Perhaps this is because if you know the source of the sound, you can picture it and even imagine doing it. If you’ve ever ran your own fingers down a chalkboard, you know it doesn’t feel good.

So, what’s worse to you: the sound of it or the feeling (watching) of it?

Comments (47)

  • mcgrawactor1
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 7:20pm

    Nails on a chalkboard? I agree with other posters, (those that I have read so far) that hearing Obama speak is just as grating, if not more! Being an actor, I have tried to analyze why, and I think I know. Number one, he has an annoying cadence! Forced, and he emphasizes words that don’t warrant emphasis, they just happen to be in the right place in the sentence. He drops his voice at the ends of sentences. But THE MOST annoying thing he does is his cyllabent “s” !!! Ugh, all I can think of when I listen to him is the cartoon gopher. It’s a high-pitched, annoying malaclusion!!! It’s not a lisp but a whistling noise that he makes. NAILS ON A CHALKBOARD I could take!!!!!!! Obama’s delivery~~ack! How did he EVER get a rep as a great speaker???

    Report Post » mcgrawactor1  
  • like2click
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 6:00pm

    glass on stainless steel does that to me besides fingernails on chalkboards and cardboard. Oh, and Obama‘s and all his cronies’ speeches….(urp)

    Report Post »  
  • cemerius
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 2:08pm

    Sounds and touching of brown paper bags does the same thing to me……

    Report Post » cemerius  
  • Cold War Vet
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 1:20am

    I still think it sounds better than Obama speaking.

    Report Post » Cold War Vet  
    • AmericanStrega
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 1:40am

      You got that right Cold War Vet! Everytime I hear his voice I just wanna up-chuck.

      Report Post »  
    • Kaoscontrol
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:09am

      Scietific fact: Fingernails on a chalkboard are in the same frequency range of Nancy Pellosi’s voice.

      Report Post » Kaoscontrol  
  • truthbased
    Posted on November 7, 2011 at 12:12am

    people folding paper with their fingers bugs me a lot cause i make me think of paper cuts. But chalkboards dont bug me at all. So IDK

    Report Post »  
  • cyclops
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 9:50pm

    Actually the only thing that gives me the cringe is when a Nurse gives me a shot, because I hate syringes……LOL!!

    Report Post » cyclops  
    • AmericanStrega
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 1:18am

      If the nurse knows what she’s doing, you shouldn’t feel anything but a little pressure in the area of the injection. I’m a phlebotomist. My job is to draw blood from a persons vein. To do this, one has to be able to accomplish the procedure without or with as little pain to the party being drawn. If you know what you’re doing, and have compassion for the person being impaled, you can achieve this goal with little difficulity. It’s all in the technique. (ooo, sorry for the poor spelling. Vampires get tired too you know. lol)

      Report Post »  
    • cyclops
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 6:39am

      @AMERICANSTREGA,

      Thanks for the suggestions and I‘m gonna need to tell the Nurses the next time I’m told by DOC that I need a shot before my travels. Guess what though, despite what I said to these Nurses, they seemed to enjoy seeing me cringing because they think it‘s cute and they said that I’m the only one who gets restless among my buddies prior to getting the shot and then makes funny faces when I turned my head to the side, during the ordeal……….I can feel your sympathy for me…..Thanks…..LOL!!!!!!!

      Report Post » cyclops  
  • ConservativeFirst
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 4:52pm

    I just put two and two together. Glenn Beck has an infatuation with chalk boards, and people don’t like the sound. (Not sure of the significance of that yet…..). Perhaps we should arm the police at the OWS Events with chalk boards to surround the camps? Perhaps Glenn will have some further insight on Monday?

    Just Say’in!

    Report Post »  
    • Alfred F. Jones
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 8:00pm

      Lol! And Glenn would have enough chalk boards to serve an army! Best idea ever xD

      Report Post » Alfred F. Jones  
  • COFemale
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 11:49am

    Personally, I think it is the decibels and pitch of sound it gives out. I got the chills just looking at the guys hands on the chalkboard. Also the sound played automatically and so fast, I didn’t realize what it was until it was almost over, so my reaction to that was not as great as seeing the image. However, I am not going back to test the sound.

    Report Post » COFemale  
  • standuppeople
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 11:00am

    Rap music.

    Report Post »  
  • mr.goodvibe
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 10:42am

    Hey want to hear the most annoying sound in the world?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi6vWpc3Hs0&feature=player_embedded

    Report Post » mr.goodvibe  
    • AmericanStrega
      Posted on November 7, 2011 at 1:20am

      OMG! When I saw your post I just KNEW that was what you were referring to. HA! Great post!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • Eliasim
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 9:59am

    If the government confirms E.T or contact, then the Nanny-State becomes marginalized, and if they do not confirm it then people remain under their spell as people will still believe they have an alien craft. It is therefore win win for the state to remain silent and therefore it comes down to what you personally believe.
    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45176460/ns/technology_and_science-space/

    Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 10:08am

      But for some strange reason there are people who have said they want to put battle stations on the moon.

      Report Post »  
  • drago
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 9:35am

    obama speaking, and moochelle eating a bucket of chicken have the same affect on me…….

    Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 9:27am

    When I hear our Marxist president or Pelosi,Biden,or any progressive speak I hear the chalk board noise,followed by dry heaves.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • Cold War Vet
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 3:26pm

      I’m not really sure anymore. I think Nancy Pelosi is on such a high frequency that only dogs can hear her now. And even they disagree with her!

      Report Post » Cold War Vet  
  • Meyvn
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 9:14am

    Hmm. The sound does not bother me. The sound of wet squeaky rubber does though.

    Report Post » Meyvn  
    • tradexpertbuysell
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 9:21am

      Obama’s speaches have the same effect on me.

      Report Post »  
    • YepImaConservative
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 9:22am

      Yeah, but it’s a good form of prevention for unwanted Liberal pregnancies. Any alternative is good in getting them to not reproduce…

      Report Post » YepImaConservative  
  • SageInWaiting
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 9:12am

    What’s worse? The sound of a politician (or government) saying “I’m here to help you.”

    Report Post » SageInWaiting  
  • YoungBloodNews
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 8:48am

    Dirty progressives and hipsters + communism driven protests = cringing

    Report Post » YoungBloodNews  
  • YepImaConservative
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 8:43am

    A nation-wide online and opinion poll was just conducted by Libertarians for the GOP and the topic was… “Which do you prefer, the sound of thousands of fingernails running down a chalkboard, the collective voices of the women on the View, Nancy Pelosi giving a speech or Ron Paul talking about the Fed Reserve.

    Overwhelmingly it was “Ron Paul talking about the Fed Reserve” as the GOP participant’s largest preference.

    And then the poll directs you to the Libertarian Quiz…

    And a

    Report Post » YepImaConservative  
  • skitrees
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 8:02am

    @raderby

    - “Instinctive reaction, bred into us.” – sorta like a typical white woman’s reaction when she sees a black guy walking down the street? (Can you believe this guy is our president?!)

    Report Post »  
  • captainbars
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 7:33am

    don’t know why, but it’s never bothered me, and I don’t see this as newsworthy (unless tax dollars were used to research). Rap and heavy-metal music, now there’s something that makes me cringe! Can’t turn it off fast enough!

    Report Post » captainbars  
  • notreally
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 7:31am

    Obama speaking has the same effect on me.

    Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 7:40am

      Do you mean you don‘t like the way he whistles that sound that is music to some people’s ears? They should just name Obama “HARP.”

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 7:48am

      ObamaSpeak is just…. Blah, Blah, Blah… or Yta, Yta, Yta… and it annoys me, because there is no transfer of information. If I had a BS Meter… it would explode off the Scale!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • OhSuzieQ
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 9:00am

      OMG! Me too!!!

      Report Post » OhSuzieQ  
    • OhSuzieQ
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 9:03am

      @NotReally….OMG! Me too!!!!

      Report Post » OhSuzieQ  
    • palmettopalflorida
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 9:07am

      The reason I can’t stand his voice is because he practices that old adage that goes: “IF YOU CAN’T CONVINCE THEM WITH TRUTH, BURY THEM IN B.S.” Well, I have a very low tolerance for B.S., and have become like Pavlov’s dog, knowing that when I year the Dear Leader’s voice an avalanche of B.S. will quickly follow. Sadly, we have a President who is an adept liar and no friend of Truth.

      Report Post »  
    • OLDBIKEFIXER
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 9:27am

      I can‘t even stand to hear Obama’s voice when it’s used in anti-Obama political advertisements. When my TV or radio plays a news clip of him giving one of his over-rehearsed and teleprompter driven speeches, I have to leave the room or change the channel. If I try to “tough it out”, I end up either in the bathroom barfing or in my garage smashing my fists against the brick walls and screaming incoherently.

      Report Post » OLDBIKEFIXER  
  • KingCanon
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 7:27am

    Probably stems from way back when frustrated migrants or backwoods kids were told to find the sum of 33 + 67 (sum was also one of the first homonyms). Or perhaps when asked to spell their names on the chalkboard. Back then nails were not trimmed as often and educated teachers had to be taught a lesson, well, at least until the PADDLE came out.

    Today, teachers don‘t have the student’s attention long enough for that same frustration to take place. Actual correct spelling of names (but NOT aliases) doesn’t matter any more. And worse the paddle is in the National Archives with no hope of revival. Hmmmmmm.

    Report Post » KingCanon  
  • dadadadio
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 7:12am

    With me, it’s chewing gum. God how I hate chewing gum. Especially smokers who take it up trying to quit. I’d rather have the smoke. Chalk on the blackboard doesn’t bother me at all.

    Report Post » dadadadio  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 7:25am

      For me it’s people who always have jokes and sarcasm, because they camouflage their real angle. Another name for them is snake. But most astute people can see right passed their flimsy shield.

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 7:36am

      To me they are in the same category of false people who are always winking, because apparently other people are not smart enough to see their intentions although some people wink and have constant sarcasm because they don’t even trust themselves and so some part of them is gracious enough to warn other people of their devious intentions. And yet other times it’s because they do not view themselves as being intellectually worthy, and therefore cover their nakedness with a shield of deceit because they see people are entertained by it, and certainly if people laugh then it must mean the joke teller has intellect.

      Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 6:59am

    These sounds are found in the native speech emitions… of the Galactic Confederacy of Xenu! So, we hate them!!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • hidden_lion
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 7:08am

      My ex wife’s voice sounds just like that

      Report Post » hidden_lion  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 7:09am

      Oh yeah that must be it. I think the point is that if there are sounds we don’t like, then there must be sounds that also control. All some people want to do is do their time, and get done, but they have to keep screwing with them.

      Report Post »  
  • raderby
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 6:48am

    studies years ago came up with the theory that a predator’s claws on a rock or nearby sand/gravel were signals of immediately possible death for our distant human relatives. Instinctive reaction, bred into us.

    How about this? Ever get grit in your food, and bite down on it and get squeak-scrape sound from your teeth ? yowsah.

    Report Post » raderby  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 6:54am

      Or how about the way over-head light’s buzz in class-rooms?

      Report Post »  
  • Eliasim
    Posted on November 6, 2011 at 6:46am

    I think it‘s more likely people do not like the sound because it’s all-consuming. Or you can just tune it out. They always have to connect it to the primate idea. Let me guess: in reality they are doing the study so they can devise some sort of weapon? Just as they study smells so they can build weapons. It’s always about weapons. Because weapons can be sold to governments and governments have all kinds of money at their disposal based on human value. They should just be called body snatchers.

    Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on November 6, 2011 at 6:50am

      Why can’t they just leave people alone? They are always messing around and they continue to try to match things to the human frequency. Leave me alone.

      Report Post »  

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