In a noisy environment, a siren blends into the background, making it less noticeable. But in complete silence, the contrast stands out, triggering a stronger alert response. The brain experiences stress from the mismatch between expectation and reality, which amplifies the reaction.

The combination of environment and stimulus can easily rewrite our perception of comfort and discomfort. Ultimately, our sensory experience is shaped by how we design our surroundings, and in the end, we’re just being deceived by the way change happens.

Contrast—relative change—dominates human physiological responses. nostr:note10jtaxwmuduwmzl9xua2c4jk5xpm84aqpshg5etqt6gpv39383wcs678s0h