Aftereffects of Random and Fixed Intermittent Sound on Human Performance,
Abstract
Recent research suggests that unpredictable noise can adversely affect human performance subsequent to the noise exposure. Three groups of subjects were exposed to various unpredictable noises in three experiments. The noise stimulus used in the first experiment was the sound of an automobile horn, and in the last two experiments various mixed sounds were presented. In each experiment there was (1) a control condition, (2) a fixed intermittent condition, and (3) a random intermittent condition. Testing was conducted for a 30 minute period on an arithmetic addition task during each noise exposure. Subsequent to the noise exposure, performance was measured for 15 minutes on a proofreading task in Experiment 1 and 2 and on a serial search task in Experiment 3. There were no adverse effects of noise on performance of the addition task in any of the three experiments. Similarly, no adverse aftereffects were obtained in Experiment 1 or in Experiment 3. However, in Experiment 2 the mixed sound stimulus produced an adverse aftereffect on performance of the proofreading task. The fixed intermittent noise condition produced statistically significant less efficient proofreading performance than the control condition and the random intermittent noise condition.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA033468
Entities
People
- C. Stanley Harris
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory