Analysing the effects of

White Noise on Sleep Quality

What did we do?

The goal of our study was to examine the impact of white noise and ambient temperature on sleep quality using sensor-based data collection. Over a 3-week period, participants slept in their natural environments with two differing conditions: without white noise and with white noise played at an agreed-upon volume. With our sensors, we measured vital signs such as heart rate and oxygen saturation to construct our findings.

  • 04/2025 [10 weeks]

  • Python (Jupyter), Wearable sensors, Temperature sensor, Humidity sensor

  • N.G. Casseres, M.M. Carpio, Z. Rahmeh, S. Sakerwala, R. Yu

  • Math, Data & Computing, Technology & Realisation

Objectives

  • Investigate the effects of white noise on sleep quality

  • Utilise wearable sensors in the form of Mi bands to collect data from the participants

  • Conduct detailed analysis including data visualisations and hypothesis testing on the collected data

Final Research Outcomes

  • A visual evaluation of the violin plots shows that the plots of P1, P3 and P6 display a lower variability in heart rate with the white noise turned on. These plots also show a slightly lower median heart rate with the white noise on, which can be interpreted as the white noise creating a calming effect and an improvement in quality of sleep.

  • Participants 1, 5 and 6 rejected the null hypothesis, displaying significantly lower heart rates through the night with white noise played in the background. P1 and P6 displayed a small to medium effect as proven by the Cohen’s d values of 0.115 and 0.297 respectively.

Read more about this project by reading the report!

Learn more...
Previous

Design Research Paper - ARTIFICE
Next

InMotion - Business Model Design