Laboratory annoyance and skin conductance responses to some natural sounds

Abstract

The influences of spectral properties of sounds on annoyance and electrodermal activity reactions have been studied. In two laboratory experiments, subjects were exposed to some natural sounds in semi-anechoic conditions. Skin conductance and annoyance reactions were determined. The results suggest that electrodermal activity increases when the A-weighted equivalent sound pressure level exceeds 70 dB(A). It is concluded that the width of the spectrum is relevant, and that the greater the fundamental frequency of the harmonic spectrum the more annoying the sound.