Does low frequency noise affect human mental performance?

To study the influence of low frequency noise (LFN) on mental performance and subjective well-being, 192 male subjects, categorised in terms of sensitivity to noise in general, and to LFN in particular, worked with four standardised psychological tests. Three different acoustic condit...

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Main Authors: M. Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska, A. Dudarewicz, M. Waszkowska, W. Szymczak, M. Kameduła, M. Śliwińska-Kowalska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences 2004-01-01
Series:Archives of Acoustics
Online Access:https://acoustics.ippt.pan.pl/index.php/aa/article/view/478
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author M. Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska
A. Dudarewicz
M. Waszkowska
W. Szymczak
M. Kameduła
M. Śliwińska-Kowalska
author_facet M. Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska
A. Dudarewicz
M. Waszkowska
W. Szymczak
M. Kameduła
M. Śliwińska-Kowalska
author_sort M. Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska
collection DOAJ
description To study the influence of low frequency noise (LFN) on mental performance and subjective well-being, 192 male subjects, categorised in terms of sensitivity to noise in general, and to LFN in particular, worked with four standardised psychological tests. Three different acoustic conditions were used in the experiment: the background laboratory noise, LFN, and the broadband noise without dominant low frequency content (reference noise) at a level of 50 dB(A). The influence of exposure and/or noise sensitivity on the tests' results or their interaction were found in three of the four performed tests. Poorer results in the LFN (compared to other noise conditions) were observed in person classified as high-sensitive to noise in general and low-sensitive to LFN in the Signal Detection Test (more erroneous responses). The annoyance of LFN and reference noise was rated higher than that of the background noise. Subjects high-sensitive to noise in general reported the highest annoyance due to LFN. In conclusion, LFN at moderate level could be perceived as annoying and adversely affecting attention and visual perception, particularly in subjects high-sensitive to noise.
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institution DOAJ
issn 0137-5075
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language English
publishDate 2004-01-01
publisher Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences
record_format Article
series Archives of Acoustics
spelling doaj-art-5880163029894e09bdf1bc1a7e21d31a2025-08-20T02:39:11ZengInstitute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of SciencesArchives of Acoustics0137-50752300-262X2004-01-01292Does low frequency noise affect human mental performance?M. Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska0A. Dudarewicz1M. Waszkowska2W. Szymczak3M. Kameduła4M. Śliwińska-Kowalska5Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Department of Physical HazardsNofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Department of Physical HazardsNofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Department of Work PhysiologyNofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Department of Environmental EpidemiologyNofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Department of Physical HazardsNofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Department of Physical HazardsTo study the influence of low frequency noise (LFN) on mental performance and subjective well-being, 192 male subjects, categorised in terms of sensitivity to noise in general, and to LFN in particular, worked with four standardised psychological tests. Three different acoustic conditions were used in the experiment: the background laboratory noise, LFN, and the broadband noise without dominant low frequency content (reference noise) at a level of 50 dB(A). The influence of exposure and/or noise sensitivity on the tests' results or their interaction were found in three of the four performed tests. Poorer results in the LFN (compared to other noise conditions) were observed in person classified as high-sensitive to noise in general and low-sensitive to LFN in the Signal Detection Test (more erroneous responses). The annoyance of LFN and reference noise was rated higher than that of the background noise. Subjects high-sensitive to noise in general reported the highest annoyance due to LFN. In conclusion, LFN at moderate level could be perceived as annoying and adversely affecting attention and visual perception, particularly in subjects high-sensitive to noise. https://acoustics.ippt.pan.pl/index.php/aa/article/view/478
spellingShingle M. Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska
A. Dudarewicz
M. Waszkowska
W. Szymczak
M. Kameduła
M. Śliwińska-Kowalska
Does low frequency noise affect human mental performance?
Archives of Acoustics
title Does low frequency noise affect human mental performance?
title_full Does low frequency noise affect human mental performance?
title_fullStr Does low frequency noise affect human mental performance?
title_full_unstemmed Does low frequency noise affect human mental performance?
title_short Does low frequency noise affect human mental performance?
title_sort does low frequency noise affect human mental performance
url https://acoustics.ippt.pan.pl/index.php/aa/article/view/478
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AT mkameduła doeslowfrequencynoiseaffecthumanmentalperformance
AT msliwinskakowalska doeslowfrequencynoiseaffecthumanmentalperformance