Residual Performance Effects of Simulated Sonic Booms Introduced During Sleep
Abstract
Twenty-four male subjects were tested on a complex performance device involving monitoring, mental arithmetic, and pattern discrimination. Three age- groups were used: 20 to 26, 40 to 45, and 60 to 72. Subjects were tested for 30 minutes each morning and each evening for a 21-day period. On the sixth through the 17th nights, subjects were exposed to eight simulated sonic booms with an 'outdoors' overpressure level of 1.0 psf presented at 1-hour intervals during sleep. The results provided no evidence that exposure to simulated sonic booms during sleep produced measurable consequences with respect to complex performance. A significant age effect was found for five of the ten measures. Significant differences (apparently a learning effect) were found in performance across the three phases (pre-boom, boom, and post-boom). There was also a significant interaction between age and phase for five of the measures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0747989
Entities
People
- Georgetta West
- W. Dean Chiles
Organizations
- Federal Aviation Administration