Human cells can detect and respond to sound waves

In a 2025 study from Kyoto University, scientists found that human cells can detect and respond to sound waves, even in the audible range. According to SciTechDaily and Kyoto University’s official release, researchers bathed cultured cells in acoustic waves using a custom setup involving vibration transducers and audio signals. They observed that sound pressure could alter gene expression, suppress fat cell formation, and influence cell adhesion, all without any physical contact.

The team identified around 190 sound-sensitive genes, suggesting that cells aren’t just passive structures but may actively respond to mechanical vibrations like sound. This challenges the traditional view that sound perception is limited to specialized organs like ears and brains. According to lead researcher Masahiro Kumeta, sound is “non-invasive, safe, and immediate,” making it a promising tool for future acoustic therapies in medicine.

This discovery opens up new possibilities for non-invasive treatments that use sound to modulate cellular behavior, from controlling inflammation to influencing tissue regeneration.