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Effects of Noise Exposure and Mental Workload on Physiological Responses during Task Execution

Author

Listed:
  • Yurong Fan

    (School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Jin Liang

    (Marine Human Factors Engineering Lab, China Institute of Marine Technology & Economy, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Xiaodong Cao

    (School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Liping Pang

    (School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Jie Zhang

    (College of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China)

Abstract

Twelve healthy male students were recruited to investigate the physiological response to different noise exposure and mental workload (MW) conditions, while performing multi-attribute task battery (MATB) tasks. The experiments were conducted under three noise exposure conditions, with different sound pressure levels and sharpness. After adaptation to each noise condition, the participants were required to perform the resting test and the MATB task tests with low, medium, and high MW. The electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), and eye movement data were obtained, during the periods when participants were in the resting and task taking state. The results showed that subjects’ physiological responses at rest were unaffected by noise exposure conditions. However, during the execution of MATB tasks, the elevated sound pressure level and increased sharpness were significantly correlated with increased mean pupil diameter and heart rate variability (HRV). These responses suggested that the human body defends itself through physiological regulation when noise causes adverse effects. If the negative effects of noise were more severe, this could damage the body’s health and result in a significant drop in task performance. The elevated mental demands led to increased stress on the subjects, which was reflected in a considerable increase in theta relative power. Either high or low MW was related with reduced saccade amplitude and a decrease in weighted task performance, indicating an inverted U-shaped relationship between workload level and work performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Yurong Fan & Jin Liang & Xiaodong Cao & Liping Pang & Jie Zhang, 2022. "Effects of Noise Exposure and Mental Workload on Physiological Responses during Task Execution," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-21, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12434-:d:929365
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Da Tao & Haibo Tan & Hailiang Wang & Xu Zhang & Xingda Qu & Tingru Zhang, 2019. "A Systematic Review of Physiological Measures of Mental Workload," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-23, July.
    2. Mathias Basner & Sarah McGuire, 2018. "WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region: A Systematic Review on Environmental Noise and Effects on Sleep," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-45, March.
    3. Ulrich Bolm-Audorff & Janice Hegewald & Anna Pretzsch & Alice Freiberg & Albert Nienhaus & Andreas Seidler, 2020. "Occupational Noise and Hypertension Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-24, August.
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