Do Cells Respond to Sound? What the Latest Research Reveals About Gene Expression and Sound Therapy

For decades, sound healing has been associated with relaxation, emotional well-being, and even physical recovery. But now, scientists are uncovering evidence that goes beyond anecdotal experience—suggesting that audible sound may influence biological activity at the cellular level. So, do cells respond to sound?

Emerging research suggests they do. Rather than “hearing” in the traditional sense, cells can detect mechanical pressure from sound waves and respond through changes in gene expression and cellular behavior.

How Sound Acts as a Mechanical Stimulus

Sound waves are mechanical vibrations that travel through air, water, or solid materials. When sound reaches the body, these vibrations can penetrate tissue, creating pressure fluctuations that are mechanically detected by cellular structures. This process aligns with what biologists call mechanotransduction—a mechanism by which cells convert mechanical signals into biochemical responses.

Recent reviews in the field of sonobiology confirm that cells are equipped with several mechanosensitive structures, including:

• Ion channels
• Integrins and focal adhesion complexes
• Cytoskeletal networks

These structures allow cells to “sense” mechanical stimuli like vibration, pressure, or stretch—whether from physical movement or, intriguingly, from sound waves within the human hearing range.¹

Sound Changes Gene Activity in Cultured Cells

In a groundbreaking 2025 study, researchers at Kyoto University exposed mouse myoblast cells to audible sound frequencies (440 Hz, 14 kHz, and white noise) and measured changes in gene expression. The results were striking:

• Over 140 genes showed measurable changes after just 2–24 hours of exposure
• These genes were linked to adhesion, migration, signaling, and mechanosensory functions
• Notably, sound exposure suppressed adipocyte (fat cell) differentiation, a significant biological effect^2,4,5

The gene Ptgs2, often associated with inflammatory responses, was activated by sound through focal adhesion kinase signaling, reinforcing the idea that sound acts via known mechanosensory pathways.²

This was one of the first studies to demonstrate that audible sound—not ultrasound or other high-frequency stimuli—can modulate gene expression in living cells.

Mechanotransduction: The Biological Pathway Behind Sound Response

The concept that cells convert mechanical forces into biochemical signals is not new. Mechanotransduction is well-established in areas such as:

• Bone remodeling (response to weight-bearing)
• Tendon and cartilage adaptation
• Cardiovascular responses to blood flow

However, the application of this concept to sound is a novel and expanding area. According to a 2024 review in Biophysical Reviews, sound waves may serve as biologically relevant mechanical inputs, especially at carefully controlled frequencies and pressures.³

Mechanotransduction pathways are believed to include:

1. Deformation of the cell membrane
2. Opening of stretch-sensitive ion channels
3. Signal transduction cascades involving enzymes and gene regulators
4. Gene expression changes that affect cell behavior

This process explains how mechanical signals from sound might eventually alter how cells function over time.

What This Means for Sound Healing and Therapeutic Applications

These findings open new doors for understanding how sound healing practices may work at a cellular level. While clinical evidence in humans is still emerging, the in vitro data suggest sound therapy may not only influence emotional states but also engage biological processes directly.

Here’s what the research implies:

• Sound may stimulate or suppress cellular processes, depending on frequency and intensity
• Frequencies within the human hearing range are biologically active, not just inaudible ultrasound
• Cells respond to sound mechanically, not through “hearing,” but by sensing vibration and pressure
• There may be potential to optimize therapeutic sound frequencies for specific biological responses

That said, it’s important to recognize the limitations:

• Current research is mostly lab-based, using cultured mouse or human cells
• We do not yet have large-scale human studies proving these effects in vivo
• Sound pressure used in lab studies (around 100 Pa) is often higher than in typical sound healing sessions

Still, this body of evidence helps validate the idea that sound healing could work through more than just stress reduction—it may be engaging the body at a cellular level.

Cells Respond to Sound (Just Not the Way We Hear It)

So, do cells respond to sound? Yes—but not with ears. They respond via mechanical sensing systems that detect pressure waves and convert them into biochemical messages. These signals can lead to changes in gene activity, cellular function, and possibly long-term health outcomes.

As we learn more about the intersection of physics, biology, and therapeutic sound, we may discover new ways to use sound as a targeted wellness tool grounded in real cellular science.

Want to experience the effects of sound healing for yourself? Schedule a consultation and begin exploring the subtle yet powerful impact of sound on your body and mind.

References

1. D. del Rosario-Gilabert, A. Valenzuela-Miralles, G. Esquiva. Advances in mechanotransduction and sonobiology: effects of audible acoustic waves and low-vibration stimulations on mammalian cells. Biophysical Reviews. Published online October 7, 2024. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12551-024-01242-1
2. Kumeta M, Otani M, Toyoda M, Yoshimura SH. Acoustic modulation of mechanosensitive genes and adipocyte differentiation. Communications Biology. 2025;8(1):1-11. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07969-1
3. Makin S. Cells Can “Hear” Sounds—And Respond Genetically. Scientific American. Published June 30, 2025. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cells-can-hear-sounds-and-respond-genetically/
4. Sahana Sitaraman, PhD. Sound Waves Can Change Fat Cell Fates. The Scientist. Published April 22, 2025. Accessed January 13, 2026. https://www.the-scientist.com/sound-waves-can-change-fat-cell-fates-72936
5. Kyoto University. Your cells can “hear”: Uncovering the relationship between life and sound. Phys.org. Published April 16, 2025. Accessed January 13, 2026. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-cells-uncovering-relationship-life.html