Effects on spatial skills after exposure to low frequency noise

• A study of spatial skills was conducted with 27 male and 27 female participants. The aim of the study was to examine the post-exposure effect of a complex low frequency noise (21 Hz) on a mental rotation task. It was hypothesised that reaction time and number of errors would increase after 20 minutes exposure to noise exposure compared to performance after a control condition, and that groups exposed to higher intensity noise would exhibit greater impairment. Three groups of participants were exposed to a control condition and a noise condition (either, 77, 81 or 86 dB (A)). After each exposure, subjects completed a mental rotation task where the stimulus consisted of one of three letters presented in five different rotations, showed either normally or mirrored. The participants were asked to respond as quickly and accurately as possible, affirmatively if the letter presented was not mirrored and negatively if it was mirrored. Statistical analysis revealed that the medium intensity level generated significant post-exposure effects while no effects were seen at the low or high intensity levels

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Produktionsteknik, arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Engineering Psychology

Teknisk psykologi

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)