#Noise

A growing body of research is shedding light on a curious phenomenon: certain everyday sounds—including seemingly harmless ones like typing, chewing, and even the repeated beeping of a microwave—can provoke intense irritation or even anger, especially among highly intelligent individuals. These findings have important implications for how society, including Thailand, understands noise sensitivity in work, school, and public life, challenging cultural norms and opening up new debates about tolerance, productivity, and well-being.

A growing body of research suggests a surprising link between everyday sounds and how the highly intelligent brain processes the world. Innocuous noises like typing, chewing, or a microwave’s beeps can trigger strong irritation or anger, especially for creative and high-achieving individuals. For Thai readers, this reframes workplace, classroom, and public life—challenging norms about tolerance and productivity and inviting a nuanced conversation about well-being.

At the center is misophonia, a condition marked by intense emotional reactions to specific sounds. Once seen as a fringe complaint, misophonia is gaining recognition within the scientific community. In recent years, psychologists, neuroscientists, and educators have begun to explore its prevalence and impact. The topic has entered mainstream discourse through articles that examine how people with high cognitive or creative abilities may be particularly sensitive to sound, prompting reflection on social expectations and personal health.