Mental Processing of Human Subjects with Different Individual Characters Exposed to Low Frequency Noise

Low Frequency Noise (LFN) is ubiquitous in bothoccupational and general environments. Mental performance of subjects exposedto LFN is expected to be impaired. Individual characters seem to play asignificant role in this process. This study aimed to evaluate the effects ofmoderate levels of LFN (20–200 Hz) on mental performance. Fifty-three subjects(in two groups) were exposed to low and flat frequency character noise each atthe same sound pressure levels of 45 dBA. Personality traits of extro-intraversion andneuroticism were determined using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Thesubjects were asked to carry out two different mental tasks while being exposedto the noise. Subjective reports were collected using questionnaires.Concentration problems, fatigue and noise annoyance during the experiments weremeasured using a numeric ten-point self-rating scales. The results revealedthat LFN impaired mental performance. There was no significant effect of LFN onthe accuracy of mental processing, compared to the reference noise condition.Extrovert subjects performed significantly faster, compared to the introvertsand subjects that exposed to LFN performed slower than reference noise. Morestable personality, with extroversive tendencies is likely for betteradaptation to LFN during mental performance, compared to people with theopposite personality traits. Correlation analysis showed a highly significantnegative relation of extroversion and noise annoyance during mental processing.