The influences of individual sensitivity, sound frequency and soundpressure level on cognitive performances of students

Low-frequency noise is annoying even at lower levels and affects cognitive functions ofindividuals. Some individual differences, such as sensitivity, can reduce or increase the effects ofnoise on cognitive performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of noisesensitivity on cognitive performance in the presence of low-frequency noise. In this experimentalstudy, research population was all students who were studding at Hamadan University of MedicalSciences. For this purpose, 120 students were selected through purposive sampling (60 studentswith high sensitivity and 60 students with low sensitivity). All participants were exposed to noiselevels of 50, 60 and 70 dB from frequencies of 125 and 250 Hz for 40 min, during which, thecognitive performances of the subjects were examined using the integrative visual-auditorycontinuous performance test (IVA CPT). Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 software,independent t-test and ANOVA tests.The results showed that the low-frequency noise negativelyaffected the components of cognitive performance, and it decreased the cognitive performanceswith increasing the sound pressure level (SPL) from 50 to 70 dB and from 125 to 250 Hz.(P<0.05). The effect of the sensitivity of individuals and gender showed that in female subjectswith high sensitivity, cognitive performances were more affected than male subjects with lowsensitivity (P <0.05). The results indicated that the components of attention and work qualityreduced with increasing SPL, and this negative effect of low-frequency noise was higher inwomen with high sensitivity.

The influences of individual sensitivity, sound frequency and soundpressure level on cognitive performances of students Keywords:

low frequency noise , Individual Sensitivity , Cognitive performances