The effect of loudness on spatial knowledge acquisition in a virtual outpatient polyclinic

Abstract

This study aims to find out whether changing the loudness level of sound sources creates soundmarks that aid spatial knowledge in a virtual outpatient polyclinic. Furthermore, it aims to examine the effect of loudness on perceptual attributes of the sound environment. In reference to the crossmodal correspondence of brightness and loudness and the positive perceptions associated with brightness, we explore whether the loudness of a sound source alters the perception of the sound environment. In this study, a virtual simulated outpatient polyclinic has been created with varying additions of a sound with different loudness levels. Twenty-four participants were assigned to one of the three groups: a control group (no change in the sound environment of the polyclinic), a normalized loudness group (addition of an announcement and alarm sound with normalized loudness level to the background), increased loudness (announcement and alarm sound were 3dB louder than the background). The results showed that group 3 was rated as more contented, less annoying, and more energetic and stimulated than the other groups. Additionally, there was a trend towards group 3 performing better than the other groups in spatial knowledge tasks.