Inside Orfield Labs: The Quietest Place on Earth

Описание: Is the quietest room in Minnesota actually a conduit to psychic healing?

Thirty years ago, Steven Orfield built his lab, with its anechoic chamber known as the quietest place on earth, to research acoustics and lighting. His research always considered the user first, and over time, he came to a conclusion: The user prefers modest levels of stimulation, where things are perceptually simple rather than complex, perceptually quiet rather than loud.

“We’re happiest when our bodies are experiencing the levels of stimulation that are found in nature,” he says. “But what the world is giving us is incredibly high levels of stimulation, and therefore fewer chances to relax.”

For the last three years, his granddaughter, Emma Orfield Johnston, has been full time at Orfield Labs, but it wasn’t until the beginning of 2024 that she had the idea to formally begin booking the anechoic chamber for therapeutic experiences. The success of her program has led to Orfield Labs’ pursuit of joint research with the University of Minnesota and the VA Hospital—a formal study of the potential for the anechoic chamber to treat PTSD in veterans.

Our society’s never been more consumed by noise. “We’re addicted to it,” Steven Orfield says, “whether it’s our politics, our entertainment, or the screens on our phones.” In this way, has our society ever been more in need of quiet? Can the Orfields somehow bring their anechoic chamber to all of us?

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Video by Bill Phelps