Can Sound Rewire The Body At A Cellular Level?

What if sound could do more than shift your mood? What if it could actually change your body — at the cellular level?

Recent research from Kyoto University suggests exactly that. Scientists found that exposing cells to specific frequencies, like 440 Hz, altered gene expression, including those related to inflammation and fat cell development. This supports earlier findings (Kumeta et al., 2018) that both audible sound and ultrasound can influence genes tied to healing and bone formation.

Sound as Cellular Communication

Sound isn’t just heard through the ears — it can be detected by cells, trigger responses in the nervous system, and influence how our genes behave. Studies now explore how harmonic frequencies can create positive biological effects, potentially paving the way for non-invasive medical applications in the near future.

Harmony and Health

Pioneers in Sound Healing like Eileen Day McKusick and Jonathan Goldman show how harmonic sound can restore coherence in the body — clearing emotional blockages, regulating the nervous system, and balancing energy fields.

A single session using Tibetan singing bowls, for example, has been shown to reduce stress and pain (Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 2017). Even oncologist Dr. Mitchell Gaynor used Himalayan singing bowls & sound therapy alongside cancer care, reporting reduced anxiety and improved immune function.

TEDx talks by Dr. Lee Bartel, Dr. Neal Kassell, and Anthony Holland all point to the healing potential of sound — from vibroacoustic therapy and focused ultrasound to using frequencies to destroy cancer cells. Sound is gaining serious attention in science and medicine. And it’s only the beginning.

What About Dissonance?

While harmony is restorative, dissonant sounds aren’t always bad. Carefully applied dissonance, especially when with a skilled practitioner, can help surface grief or emotional tension — a technique used in sound healing to support emotional release, as long as it’s followed by resolution (harmony). Although if you are regularly surrounded by chaotic, dissonant noise, such as road traffic noise, construction noise etc, it's recommended to take steps to reduce its impact, by wearing headphones or earplugs, or moving away from it altogether if possible.

Entrainment: How It All Works

At the heart of sound healing is entrainment — the process where our brain, breath, and heart begin to sync with an external rhythm. When you lie in a sound bath, you don’t just relax — your whole system moves toward balance by entraining to the sounds & rhythm of the instruments, bring the body, mind, and energy field back into coherence and homeostasis— the foundation of healing. Harmony is the goal, entrainment is the process, and sound is the tool.

Experience It For Yourself

Whether it’s birdsong, calming music, or joining a guided sound bath, sound has the power to bring us back to ourselves — to coherence, calm, and healing, and to help release emotional pain. In fact, I wrote a blog about how it can make you cry (in a positive way!), which you can read here.

If you'd like to join one of our in person 1-2-1s or group sound baths, we run monthly sessions in Greenwich, and on special dates in Bristol & Chislehurst.

View All Upcoming Sound Bath Events Here or Book a 1-2-1

Table of References & Citations

Author / Source	Title / Description	Type	Year	Link / Publisher
Kyoto University	Your Cells Can Hear: How Sound Waves Rewire the Body	Scientific Study / News	2025	Kyoto University Research
Kumeta et al.	Cell Type-Specific Suppression of Mechanosensitive Genes by Audible Sound Stimulation	Peer-Reviewed Study (PLOS)	2018	View Study
McKusick, Eileen Day	Tuning the Human Biofield	Book (Healing Arts Press)	2014	Healing Arts Press
Goldman, Jonathan	Healing Sounds: The Power of Harmonics	Book	1992	Healing Arts Press
Gaynor, Mitchell L.	The Healing Power of Sound	Book	2002	Shambhala Publications
Treasure, Julian	Sound Affects: How Sound Shapes Our Lives	Book	2024	Hachette Book Group
Treasure, Julian	The 4 Ways Sound Affects Us (TED Talk)	TED Talk	2011	Watch
Emoto, Masaru	The Hidden Messages in Water	Book	2004	Atria Books
PNAS	Dissonant Music Increases Neural Alertness	Scientific Study	2023	Read Study
Bonde, Lars Ole	Health Musicking: Music Therapy or Music and Health?	Academic Journal	2011	British Journal of Music Therapy
TEDx: Dr. Lee Bartel	Music Medicine: Sound at a Cellular Level	TEDx Talk	—	Watch
TEDx: Dr. Neal Kassell	Curing with Sound (Focused Ultrasound)	TEDx Talk	—	Watch
TEDx: Anthony Holland	Shattering Cancer with Resonant Frequencies	TEDx Talk	—	Watch
Journal of Evidence-Based CAM	Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood and Pain