Detrimental Effects Of Noise Research Articles

Navigating through the noise: The effect of color‐coded performance feedback on decision‐making

AbstractMany companies use color codes in their internal performance reports to highlight how current performance compares to performance in a previous period. We examine whether the use of color coding affects managers' decision‐making in a resource allocation task. We argue that managers' decision accuracy will be lower if they receive noisier feedback, but that this detrimental effect of noise can be mitigated through color coding. Using two experiments, we find evidence consistent with our theory. Managers who receive reports in which performance increases are color‐coded green and performance decreases are color‐coded red are less affected by noise than managers who receive feedback reports without color coding. Supplemental analyses suggest that color coding induces managers to process feedback in a more holistic manner, which reduces the adverse effect of noise on managers' learning processes. Our findings have several important implications for research and practice.

Decision made, good feelings fade? How noise and multitasking affect decision confidence and well-being

Objectives. This study aimed to examine the influence of office noise and multitasking on decision confidence, overconfidence, satisfaction, calibration and affective well-being. Detrimental effects of noise and multitasking on perceived annoyance and concentration are well documented. Little is known about whether decision confidence and well-being during decisions are also affected. Methods. The study was a between-subjects laboratory experiment (n = 109) involving a noise condition with office noise presented through headphones (A-weighted equivalent sound pressure level of LA eq = 60 dB), a multitasking condition with an email-sorting task as the primary task and a control condition. Results. Compared to the control condition, subjects in the noise and multitasking conditions exhibited overestimation of confidence. There was also a significant decrease in well-being for people in the noise condition. Calibration was not affected. Conclusion. In the case of noise, well-being is affected even before the thresholds of workplace legislation are reached. Undue overconfidence can have detrimental effects upon subsequent decisions and risk-taking. Findings suggest that there should be greater consideration of environmental influences during decision-making in work environments.

Effects of noise on anxiety related to dining in restaurants

The noise environment impacts wellbeing, and most research focuses on hearing, sleep, performance and cardiovascular health. Investigations of detrimental effects of noise on mental health show conflicting evidence in relation to depression, anxiety and chronic stress. Furthermore, studied about noise impacts on everyday activities such as restaurant dining are lacking. Our study investigates the relationship between noise exposure and anxiety in the indoor restaurant environment, exploring the predictive value of individual noise sensitivity, noise annoyance and personality factors on self-reported anxiety levels while dining in a restaurant. This mixed methods survey using validated measures with a random sample (n=274, >18 years), predicts high scores in noise sensitivity and noise annoyance corresponding with increased levels of anxiety, and anxiety levels in attending a restaurant predicted by Big Five Personality characteristics of Extraversion and Neuroticism. Regression analysis results show statistically significance for noise sensitivity and noise annoyance as strong predictors of self-reported anxiety. Neuroticism predicted anxiety, while Extraversion and Agreeableness did not uniquely predict of anxiety. Conscientiousness had a significant negative relationship with anxiety experienced in restaurant dining. Individual characteristics of personal experiences of restaurants diners are discussed, suggesting design and layout implications for restauranteurs in addressing noise effects in their establishments.

Binaural speaker identification using the equalization-cancelation technique

In real applications, environmental effects such as additive noise and room reverberation lead to a mismatch between training and testing signals that substantially reduces the performance of far-field speaker identification. As a solution to this mismatch problem, in this paper, a new binaural speaker identification system is proposed which employs the well-known equalization-cancelation technique in its structure. The equalization-cancelation algorithm is employed to enhance the input test speech and alleviate the detrimental effects of noise and reverberation in the speaker identification system. The performance of the proposed speaker identification system is compared with unprocessed identification systems and a traditional binaural speaker identification system from the literature. The proposed system is evaluated in both anechoic and reverberant conditions using different types of noise at various azimuthal positions. Simulation results show the superiority of the proposed method in all experimental conditions.

On the feasibility of simultaneous identification of a material property of a Timoshenko beam and a moving vibration source

This paper presents a computational study for investigating the feasibility of simultaneous identification of a material property of a Timoshenko continuous beam and a moving vibration source on the beam by using the data of measured vibrations on it. This work employs the finite element method to solve the wave equations of a Timoshenko beam subject to a moving vibrational source. It uses the Genetic Algorithm (GA) as an inversion solver to identify the values of targeted control parameters that characterize a material property of the beam and a moving vibration source on it. The numerical results show that, first, the presented inversion method can detect the characteristics of a moving wave source as well as the spatial variation of the elastic modulus of a Timoshenko-beam continuous bridge model, which is set to be piece wisely homogeneous in this work. Second, the GA-based joint inversion is effective even when the moving vibrational source’s moving velocity is not constant over time. Third, the detrimental effect of noise in measurement data on the accuracy of the inversion becomes more significant as the number of control parameters increases. By using the presented method, engineers can take advantage of vehicle-induced ambient vibrations on bridges measured by modern sensors for the sake of passive wave source-based structural health monitoring (SHM).

A two-pronged approach to reduce noise levels in the neonatal intensive care unit

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a visual noise feedback system and “quiet time” in reducing noise levels in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). DesignA prospective cross-sectional study was performed in a combined level II/III NICU at a Canadian tertiary care hospital. Noise levels were recorded continuously for three weeks without and then three weeks with visual noise feedback system. Noise levels were compared after one year of using visual feedback, and subsequently with the addition of two “quiet times.” ResultsVisual feedback reduced noise levels from 54.2 dB (95% CI 53.8–54.7 dB) to 49.4 dB (95% CI 48.9–49.8 dB; P < 0.0001) and increased the amount of time spent under 45 dB from 0 to 25% (P < 0.0001) after three weeks of use. However, this effect was not sustained at one year of visual feedback, with noise levels at 54.7 dB (95% CI 54.5–55.0 dB, P = 0.55). Quiet Time did not further reduce daily noise in the NICU (average noise levels 54.7, 95% CI 54.4–55.0 dB, P = 0.836). ConclusionsWhile visual noise feedback system reduced noise levels in the short term, these effects were not sustainable at one year and could not be remediated with the addition of a Quiet Time initiative. Continuing education regarding the detrimental effects of noise is paramount to ensure persistent noise reduction in the NICU.

The Effect of Noise on Cortical Auditory Evoked Potential in Cochlear Implant Users

Purpose Cochlear implant (CI) users typically complain of impaired ability to understand speech in noise. Previous studies indicate that the detrimental effects of noise can be measured by the change of neural activities. The current study examined the noise effect on psychoacoustic measures while at the same time used cortical evoked potentials to quantify the change of neural processing of speech sounds caused by noise. Methods Ten adult CI users and fourteen normal-hearing subjects were participated in this study. Cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) were recorded from 64 scalp electrodes in both quiet and noise conditions each during passive and active listening. Speech stimuli were synthesized consonant-vowels with 0 ms and 50 ms voice onset time (VOT). N1/P2 amplitudes and latencies were analyzed as a function of VOT and listening condition. Behavioral measures as well as a variety of speech perception tasks were conducted. Results For good CI users, speech perception scores in noise condition significantly decreased compared to those in quiet condition for most speech perception tasks. N1 and P2 latencies became prolonged with noise masking compared to the quiet condition. However, unlike what we expected, attentional modulation of CAEPs was not revealed in noise listening. The P2 latency measures were correlated with vowel and consonant perception in noise. Conclusion The effects of noise masking on temporal processing can be reflected in cortical responses in CI users. These results suggest that N1/P2 measures to VOT stimuli with noise masking may represent the change of neural activities in challenging listening situations. Key Words: Cochlear implants, Speech perception in noise, Cortical auditory evoked potentials, Voice onset time 중심 단어: 인공와우, 소음하 ë§ì§€ê°ë ¥, 대뇌피질 청성 ìœ ë°œì „ìœ„, 음성 개시 시간

The Influence of Noise on Autonomic Arousal and Cognitive Performance in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This study examined the impact of noise on cognitive performance in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), while concurrently measuring sympathetic responses. Adolescents with and without ASD completed visually presented span tasks in a 2 × 2 experimental manipulation of noise (quiet vs. 75dB gated broadband noise) and task difficulty (easier vs. harder). Analyses revealed a significant noise × difficulty interaction on performance, and a significant group × noise × difficulty interaction on sympathetic arousal. Correlational analyses indicated an adaptive effect of noise and increased arousal on performance in the easier condition for the control group and a detrimental effect of noise and increased arousal in the harder condition for the ASD group. Implications for sensory processing research and intervention development are discussed.

Increasing Motor Noise Impairs Reinforcement Learning in Healthy Individuals.

Motor variability from exploration is crucial for reinforcement learning as it allows the nervous system to find new task solutions. However, motor variability from noise can be detrimental to learning and may underlie slowed reinforcement learning performance observed in individuals with cerebellar damage. Here we examine whether artificially increasing noise in healthy individuals slows reinforcement learning in a manner similar to that seen in patients with cerebellar damage. Participants used binary reinforcement to learn to rotate their reach angle in a series of directions. By comparing task performance between conditions with different levels of added noise, we show that adding a high level of noise—matched to a group of patients with cerebellar damage—slows learning. In additional experiments, we show that the detrimental effect of noise may lie in reinforcing incorrect behavior, rather than not reinforcing correct behavior. By comparing performance between healthy participants with added noise and a group of patients with cerebellar damage, we found that added noise does not slow the learning of the control group to the same degree observed in the patient group. Using a mechanistic model, we show that added noise in the present study matched patients’ motor noise and total learning. However, increased exploration in the control group relative to the group with cerebellar damage supports faster learning. Our results suggest that motor noise slows reinforcement learning by impairing the mapping of reward to the correct action and that this may underlie deficits induced by cerebellar damage.

Variability in Children’s Working Memory Is Coupled With Perceived Disturbance: An Ambulatory Assessment Study in the School and Out-of-School Context

The detrimental effect of noise on cognitive performance particularly for younger children has been repeatedly demonstrated in numerous experimental and few field studies. We examined whether children’s daily working memory (WM) performance is affected by daily perceived disturbance in the school and out-of-school context. In an ambulatory assessment study, 110 third and fourth grade students completed WM tasks and reported on their perceived disturbance on smartphones three times daily in and out of school for four weeks. Disturbance varied systematically within children and increased levels of disturbance were associated with decreased WM performance, independent of context.

Role of Scoparia dulcis linn on noise-induced nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression and neurotransmitter assessment on motor function in Wistar albino rats.

Noise pollution is one of the most widespread and fast growing environmental and occupational menaces in the modern era. Exposure to noise above 100dB is not adaptable through the brain homeostatic mechanism. Yet, the detrimental effects of noise have often been ignored. Developing reliable animal models to understand the neurobiology of noise stress and advance our research in the field of medicine to impede this growing stressor is needed. In this study experimental animals were divided into four groups, (i) Control and (ii) S. dulcis extract (200mg/kgbw) treated control group. (iii) To mimic the influence of noise, animals in this group were exposed to noise stress (100dB/4h/day) for 15days and finally, (iv) Noise exposed treated with S. dulcis extract (200mg/kgbw) group. Rota-rod and narrow beam performance results showed impaired motor co-ordination in noise exposed group on both 1st and 15th day when compared to controls. This impaired motor function on exposure to noise could be attributed to the altered norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin levels in both the striatum and cerebellum. Moreover, the motor impaired associated changes could also be attributed to upregulated nNOS and iNOS protein expression in the cerebellum resulting in increased nitric oxide radical production. This increased reactive free radicals species can initiate lipid peroxidation mediated changes in the cerebellar Purkinje cells, which is responsible for initiating inhibitory motor response and ultimately leading to impaired motor co-ordination. Treatment with S. dulcis extract (200mg/kgbw) could control motor impairment and regulate neurotransmitter level as that of control groups when compared to noise exposed group. One key aspect of therapeutic efficacy of the plant could have resulted due to attenuated lipid peroxidation mediated damages on the cerebellar Purkinje cells thereby regulating motor impairment. Thus, targeting the antioxidant and free radicals scavenging properties of the plant could serve as a potential therapeutic to combat this environmental stressor.

In the Heat and Noise of the Moment: Effects on Risky Decision Making

Two studies, comprising 128 participants, were conducted to examine possible detrimental effects of noise and moderate heat stress on decision making. Three tasks involving risky decisions were used: a lottery choice task, the Balloon Analogue Risk Task, and two risk scenario questionnaires. Study 1 ( n = 97) involved three noise stressors presented at 60dB(A) and a quiet condition. Compared with all other conditions, a radio podcast about the jubilee of museums caused a significant increase in risk aversion in the Choice Dilemma Questionnaire task. Study 2 ( n = 31) compared two groups that completed the aforementioned tasks either in a warm (≥ 30°C) or neutral (≤ 25°C) ambient temperature condition. Participants made significantly riskier decisions in the warm ambient temperature condition in all tasks except the lottery task. Effects were more pronounced among female subjects. Especially elevated ambient temperatures should, therefore, be monitored in office environments to prevent impairments of decision making.

Les effets du bruit sur la santé mentale : recension des écrits

Any human activity generates noise. It is considered as a risk factor for people's health. The present review of literature has assessed the impact of noise on mental health; it is summarized into four points: objective, methods, results and conclusion. The main objective of this study is to expose the actual knowledge state of noise effects on mental health after overview and critical analysis of literature to identify the acquired and shortcomings, to reflect on research direction in terms of noise pollution in the future. The literature review was conducted based on: research of keys words in articles published, research of the number of quotations of articles in Journal Citation Reports (JCR), published in web of science, research of impact factor of journals. One hundred articles were selected, after analyzing contents, items were classified into: fundamental studies (25%), experimental studies (50%), and epidemiological studies (25%). The fundamental studies have verified the hypothesis according to which noise generates stress. Researchers have dosed hormones of stress in plasma, urine and saliva in individuals exposed to noise of different decibels. The results found were unanimous: The rates of stress hormones found, were significantly high in three liquids. This means that noise causes stress. For experimental studies, researchers have experienced the role of noise on memory, attention and performance. Human subjects were exposed to different decibels to assess level of disruption to their memory, attention, and performance. The results revealed that noise disturbs memory, distracts attention and decreases performance. Experimental studies are the most abundant and constitute 50% of the current literature review.The epidemiological studies have evaluated the intellectual performance of students in schools located in noisy environments and residents in areas surrounding airports, railways and highways. RESULTS have revealed that students in schools located in noisy environments have presented cognitive impairment. This review of literature on noise effects on mental health lead to the following conclusion. It seems to exist a consensus in fundamental and experimental studies on the detrimental effect of noise but results from epidemiological are not convincing and require further studies.

Quantitative technique for robust and noise-tolerant speed measurements based on speckle decorrelation in optical coherence tomography.

Intensity-based techniques in optical coherence tomography (OCT), such as those based on speckle decorrelation, have attracted great interest for biomedical and industrial applications requiring speed or flow information. In this work we present a rigorous analysis of the effects of noise on speckle decorrelation, demonstrate that these effects frustrate accurate speed quantitation, and propose new techniques that achieve quantitative and repeatable measurements. First, we derive the effect of background noise on the speckle autocorrelation function, finding two detrimental effects of noise. We propose a new autocorrelation function that is immune to the main effect of background noise and permits quantitative measurements at high and moderate signal-to-noise ratios. At the same time, this autocorrelation function is able to provide motion contrast information that accurately identifies areas with movement, similar to speckle variance techniques. In order to extend the SNR range, we quantify and model the second effect of background noise on the autocorrelation function through a calibration. By obtaining an explicit expression for the decorrelation time as a function of speed and diffusion, we show how to use our autocorrelation function and noise calibration to measure a flowing liquid. We obtain accurate results, which are validated by Doppler OCT, and demonstrate a very high dynamic range (> 600 mm/s) compared to that of Doppler OCT (±25 mm/s). We also derive the behavior for low flows, and show that there is an inherent non-linearity in speed measurements in the presence of diffusion due to statistical fluctuations of speckle. Our technique allows quantitative and robust measurements of speeds using OCT, and this work delimits precisely the conditions in which it is accurate.

What is the biggest threat to health and safety: Quiet or noisy vehicles?

It is assumed by US federal authorities that vehicles, driven in electric mode, either hybrid or pure electric vehicles, are so quiet that they are a safety hazard for pedestrians and cyclists in traffic. A regulation on this topic is already proposed in the United States, and in Europe, the Parliament has voted in favor of a similar regulation. ISO has worked out a measuring method for the “quietness” of vehicles; assuming that this can be used to require quiet vehicles to have some sound added. Based on earlier publications on this subject by the author, and reviewing some recent papers and reports, the author explores the assumed problem, and puts it in the perspective of traffic safety as well as the detrimental effects of noise on humans. Special concern is given to the relation between “quiet” and “noisy” vehicles. It is argued that it is far more justified to work in toward reducing the noise emission of the noisiest vehicles in traffic than adding noise to the quiet ones, as in any traffic situation, masking by other sounds is more important than the sound level per se, and masking is largely influenced by noisy trucks, busses, and motorcycles.

How to Overcome the Detrimental Effects of Noise: The Benefits of Tolerance

How to Overcome the Detrimental Effects of Noise: The Benefits of Tolerance

Using the effect of alcohol as a comparison to illustrate the detrimental effects of noise on performance

The aim of the present research is to provide a user-friendly index of the relative impairment associated with noise in the aircraft cabin. As such, the relative effect of noise, at a level typical of an aircraft cabin was compared with varying levels of alcohol intoxication in the same subjects. Since the detrimental effect of noise is more pronounced on non-native speakers, both native English and non-native English speakers featured in the study. Noise cancelling headphones were also tested as a simple countermeasure to mitigate the effect of noise on performance. A total of 32 participants, half of which were non-native English speakers, completed a cued recall task in two alcohol conditions (blood alcohol concentration 0.05 and 0.10) and two audio conditions (audio played through the speaker and noise cancelling headphones). The results revealed that aircraft noise at 65 dB (A) negatively affected performance to a level comparable to alcohol intoxication of 0.10. The results also supported previous research that reflects positively on the benefits of noise cancelling headphones in reducing the effects of noise on performance especially for non-native English speakers. These findings provide for personnel involved in the aviation industry, a user-friendly index of the relative impairment associated with noise in the aircraft cabin as compared with the effects of alcohol. They also highlight the benefits of a simple countermeasure such as noise cancelling headphones in mitigating some of the detrimental effects of noise on performance.

Beauty and the noisy beast

Elegant but extremely delicate quantum procedures can increase the precision of measurements. Characterizing how they cope with the detrimental effects of noise is essential for deployment to the real world.

Noise in the critical care environment

The subject of excessive noise levels within critical care is not new and has been identified on numerous occasions in the literature. Research illustrates the detrimental effect of noise on patients both physically and psychologically. Our interest in this field stemmed from Fundamentals of Care audits which described noise as being too high and disturbing for patients.

Optimality, stochasticity, and variability in motor behavior

Recent theories of motor control have proposed that the nervous system acts as a stochastically optimal controller, i.e. it plans and executes motor behaviors taking into account the nature and statistics of noise. Detrimental effects of noise are converted into a principled way of controlling movements. Attractive aspects of such theories are their ability to explain not only characteristic features of single motor acts, but also statistical properties of repeated actions. Here, we present a critical analysis of stochastic optimality in motor control which reveals several difficulties with this hypothesis. We show that stochastic control may not be necessary to explain the stochastic nature of motor behavior, and we propose an alternative framework, based on the action of a deterministic controller coupled with an optimal state estimator, which relieves drawbacks of stochastic optimality and appropriately explains movement variability.