Why Velop is built this way

Public interest in colored noise for ADHD has grown quickly, but the direct lab evidence currently supports white and pink noise more clearly than brown noise. The frameworks most often used to explain the effect are stochastic resonance and the Moderate Brain Arousal (MBA) model, proposed by Söderlund, Sikström, and colleagues.

The idea: in an underaroused brain, adding a moderate amount of external noise can help weak neural signals rise above the detection threshold. The noise fills gaps in the brain’s internal stimulation, which may improve focus and reduce restlessness.

A 2024 meta-analysis by Nigg and colleagues found that white and pink noise improved cognitive task performance in participants with ADHD or elevated ADHD symptoms (effect size g = 0.249), while the same noise had a small negative effect on non-ADHD participants (g = −0.212). Notably, the meta-analysis found no eligible brown noise studies, so while the mechanism plausibly extends to brown noise, the direct lab evidence is currently for white and pink.

Lin et al. (2022) found that white noise improved attention performance and reduced hyperactive behavior in preschoolers with ADHD. This matters because it suggests sound isn’t just about abstract “focus”; it may help some people settle their bodies too.

However, response to noise is not uniform. In a 2024 study of children with clinically diagnosed ADHD, white noise did not improve performance across the full sample overall, but children with relatively more inattentive traits tended to benefit while those with relatively more hyperactive/impulsive traits tended to perform worse (Söderlund et al., 2024). This is exactly why Velop offers multiple noise colors and intensities rather than a single default.

Velop includes nature sounds alongside synthesized noise, and the reason goes beyond preference.

A 2021 meta-analysis by Buxton and colleagues, published in PNAS, reviewed 36 publications and meta-analyzed 18. They found that natural sounds were associated with decreased stress and annoyance (effect size g = −0.60) and improved health outcomes and positive affect (g = 1.63). Water sounds scored highest for health and positive affect. Bird sounds showed the strongest association with stress reduction, though this finding came from relatively few studies.

Separately, Gould van Praag et al. (2017) found that naturalistic sounds were associated with increased parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) nervous system activity and different large-scale brain connectivity patterns compared to artificial soundscapes.

Velop also supports layering nature sounds with brown or pink noise. No study has directly tested this exact combination as a dual intervention, but the individual evidence for each component informed our decision to offer it. We think of it as a design hypothesis worth exploring, not a proven mechanism.

Velop isn’t just an audio tool. Every mode includes generative visuals, and there is indirect research behind that choice.

Taylor and Kuo (2009) found that children with ADHD concentrated better after walking in a park compared to other settings. Berman et al. (2008) showed that even viewing pictures of nature improved directed-attention performance in the general population. If natural environments support attention, then nature-inspired visuals may offer a lighter version of the same benefit, though that specific application has not been directly tested in generative visuals like Velop’s.

Research on fractal patterns (the branching, self-similar shapes found in trees, coastlines, and clouds) has found that mid-range fractal dimensions, roughly 1.3 to 1.5, are associated with reduced physiological stress markers in experimental settings. This is the complexity range found in natural landscapes. Several of Velop’s visuals use noise-driven organic geometry inspired by these principles.

The visual component also serves a practical purpose: it gives the brain something to anchor to. For people who struggle with “just listening,” a slowly moving visual may make it easier to stay with the experience without demanding focused attention.

Every visual in Velop responds to touch. This isn’t decorative.

Research from Cardiff University’s Multisensory Experience Lab found that when autistic children could control sensory changes in a multisensory environment (light, sound, and touch), they showed improved attention and fewer repetitive and sensory behaviors compared to environments where the sensory input was not under their control. The same study found no significant effects on social behavior, anxiety, or positive affect, so this is not a cure-all. But the attentional finding matters for a product built around sensory support.

When you can influence what you see and hear, attention and behavior may shift differently than when you are passively receiving input. Velop is built around this principle: every slider, every pinch gesture, every touch interaction gives you agency over your sensory environment.

In early user testing with neurodivergent participants, touch interaction was the most frequently requested feature. One participant described it as a “closed-loop sensory experience that is much more effective for regulation than just listening to noise.”

Velop follows accessibility conventions commonly recommended for users with dyslexia, autism, and sensory processing differences.

The interface uses off-white and dark grey instead of pure black and white, because high contrast can cause discomfort for some users with visual sensitivities. Typography uses increased letter-spacing and generous line height, following dyslexia readability guidance. All language is literal and concrete, with no idioms or implied meaning.

The app’s library and customization system exists because sensory preferences vary widely. What soothes one person might overwhelm another. What helps at 9 AM might not work at 3 PM. Rather than prescribing a single sensory approach, Velop provides the building blocks and lets users find what supports their comfort.