In:
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Acoustical Society of America (ASA), Vol. 19, No. 1_Supplement ( 1947-01-01), p. 292-292
Abstract:
Exposure to intense airplane noise (115 db) for periods as long as 7 hours did not affect the performance of 5 subjects on a wide variety of psychological, physiological, and psychomotor tests. The noise was sufficiently intense to cause marked temporary hearing losses and tinnitus. It interfered seriously with communication and was reported as “annoying” by the subjects, but its effects on general efficiency were apparently nil. Following an extensive training period designed to minimize subsequent change in performance due to learning, the subjects were tested throughout 16 seven-hour sessions, half of which were “noisy.” Eighteen different measures were applied to sample such functions as: motor coordination, reaction time, muscular tension, metabolism, breathing, speed of eye movement, speed of accommodation, dark adaptation, coding, reversible perspective, steadiness, etc. For many of the tests the data were so extensive that differences in performance of the order of 1 percent could have been detected with high reliability. Other functions, particularly those of a physiological nature, depended so much on the individual tested that generalizations were impossible. In general, the results of these experiments agree with common sense: although as a subjective experience noise is disagreeable and tiring, most types of mental, motor, and physiological activity are affected very little by noise as such. This research, begun under an OSRD contract, is continuing under contract with the U. S. Navy, Office of Naval Research. A full report of the present study is available from the Publications Board, Dept. of Commerce, Washington, D. C. (PB No. 8334, OSRD No. 274).
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0001-4966
,
1520-8524
Language:
English
Publisher:
Acoustical Society of America (ASA)
Publication Date:
1947
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1461063-2
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