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Jan 2022
4m 14s

Why does the sound of nails on a chalkbo...

American Public Media
About this episode

Are there certain sounds that you just can’t stand? Maybe it’s the sound of someone chewing, or brakes screeching on a bus. Most of us really dislike the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard, but what is it about that sound that sets us on edge? We asked Adrian KC Lee, a neuroscientist who specializes in hearing, to explain why that squeal is so particularly painful.

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